The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-04-06
BY HAROLD CARTER.

OF all Nathanson's antagonists
among the owners of diamond dig
gings at Kimberley, South Africa,
none viewed him with more non
chalance and less fear than McPher-
son, the close listed millionaire
Scotchman.
in business life," he said, ma
thanson is the same to me as any
other man, and I'll fight with him
or against him, as my interests die
tate. But We don't want him or
his kin in our social affairs"
Whereupon they blackballed Mrs.
Williamson from the new ladies
club. Mrs. Williamson went home
weeping, and Williamson smiled.
"I'll pull down his house about
his ears unless they admit you," he
said; and Furthermore he published
this metaphor far and wide, indi-
eating that he was out for revenge.
When Williamson was bent upon re-
venge he usually said nothing, and
this alone ought to have put Nc
Pherson upon his guard. But Nc
Pherson took up the challenge, and
they joined issue in thousand de-
tails of business affairs, with vary
ing success. Presently Mcpherson
learned that Nathanson's agents
had located a new diamond field
which babe fair to eclipse the most
prosperous Of all the mines in the
district. There he saw his chance;
he waited for the call for shares,
and secretly instructed his dummies
to purchase as many as possible.
should the venture seem likely to
succeed.
At last the prospectus was issued.
The location of the new field was
a secret. it said for obvious rea-
sons. But Williamson would be
willing at any time after the shares
had been issued, to repurchase
them at their par value, should the
subscribers become dissatisfied.
This was gilt edged security;
Williamson was practically guaran-
teeing investors against all loss,
and Mcpherson rose to the bait. He
purchased secretly, and, when the
whole issue had been taken up,
found that he actually controlled a
majority. Mcpherson chuckled and
went into the first board meeting,
at which Williamson was du.y elect
ed president. with himself as vice
president and secretary.
Williamson unrolled a blue print
map.
"The field is an extremely small
one," he announced. land covers an
area Of only a half acre, being, in
fact, nothing but the outlet of a
diamond pipe which extends deep
into the earth. Nevertheless. the
blue ground indicates the promise
of rich returns. The location, which
will be divulged shortly. is a very
short distance from the outskirts OF
the city. BY the way, the site Is
occupied by miners shanty; !
propose that we pay him liberal
sum to vacate. He is friend OF
mine"
The thrifty Mcpherson sprang to
his feet.
Wen pay him. he said emphat.
ically, lust the assessed value OF
his shanty and not penny more.
That is our right under the mining
laws, and he has no redress"
"Why, Mr.. Mcpherson" said Ma
thanson, blinking his eyes, "it's the
poor fellows home and he doesn't
want to vacate."
1.-THE assessed value and no
more" retorted Mcpherson, and
called q vote. The dummy stock
holders rolled up a majority for
Mcpherson, who smiled in triumph
at his first victory over his enemy.
Verify. Williamson had outreached
himself. The president sat blinking
amiably at the broad grins upon the
faces of the stockholders.
And now" he announced. Il will
divulge the locality OF the mine"
He traced his finger along the map.
1T is, as / said. a short distance
from the outskirts. 1t Is, in fact,
right in the residential section Of
Kimberley. and covers few build
ing lots. The precise situation is "a
Syndicate street"
Mcpherson turned white. my