El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-08-15
Living on His Prospects
By Kenneth Harris

, brother busted himself with coffee pot
! and skillet.
In short time a repast of bacon, po-
tatoes, flapjacks, mOlaSses and canned
peaches was prepared and the two sat
down and ate. Virgil sparingly, Joseph
with a fine. hearty appetite that never
theless did not interfere with his cheer
full flood of question and comment.
TN leave the dishes till morning"
he said at last. Come outside and we'll
sit down and have a good visit"
They went out and Virgil drew a cigar
from a bunch that nestled in his waist
coat pocket, in close proximity to his
toothbrush and pocket comb. AS he lit
the end, he said with some asperity: L
guess I've come on a fools errand. You
told me If I come, you could put me in
the way of making a barrel of money.
You told me you was thinking of coming
back yourself and buying back the old
homestead and fixing it up in style
He paused and spat out the end of his
cigar.
~well?" asked Joseph. with wide open
innocent eyes. ;
We'll, it don't look much like it,"
says Virgil bitterly.
Don't you worry about me-" said
Joseph, with supreme confidence. I'm
all right. l wouldn't take a cool million
for my holdings right now Tell ne
about yourself. You amt doing well, are
you?"
"I Guess I'm Worth $4,000
Il don't know as youcould say that"
answered Virgil piqued I've got two
hundred acres of the best land in the
state I've got good brick house on
il and a barn as big as that mill down
there. I've got stock and I've got
money out on interest. l wouldn't say
1 wasn't doing we'll"
How much would you sell out for
altogether asked Joseph. calmly puff
ing at his pipe
4 guess I'm worth $4,000 OF $40, 600"
Joseph gave a short laugh of good
natured contempt. Thirty or $4,000"
he repeated. Thirty or $4,000 and
you've been 40 years, close on, maxim
it. I'll bet you've worked hard, too"
There was pity in his glance
"Of course, I've worked hard" replied
Virgil You don't suppose a man gets
TO be worth what / am, by settin still
and foIdin' his hands. Yes. sir, I've
worked early and I've worked late, and
I've made others work"
And you're only worth $4,000 or
100000" sighed Joseph We'll, some
folks are just naturally unlucky. Listen.
When they started placer in Garnet
Gulch, 1 washed out over $1,000 in one
week What do you think Of that?
Why, 1 sold my interest in the Shave
Tail for $500 two days after L located
it. Ny partner took out over 100000
before he sold out.
You've heard of the Bob Cat? Well.
I suppose you haven't It's refractory
but, jimminy, it's rich I guess there's
enough gold taken out of the Bob Cat
every cleanup to buy half the state
of Ioway. 1 owned the Bob Cat once
III tell you about that some time An
other time L struck an old flune on
Yaller Creek, and l washed out a pan
of the gravel, and says r.
Where have you got all your mon
ey?" interrupted Virgil.
Where Josepb's Wealth Was
Where have 1 got it," repeated JOS
eph. I've got it in other properties,
of course. Lemme tell you, brother;
1 amt no hand to brag, but I've got
some of the best properties that there
is in the Hills.
I've got a mine only Is miles out
from the Alabama smelter with a good
trail, that going to start a stampede
when L begin to work il. I've called
it the Alma after Alma Roberts
Then / have a third interest in the
Pearl of Price We're doing assess
nent work on that right now, and we've
struck some $50 rock
Me and six others has got a control
ing interest in the Niger DOLL and
I've four good claims in the Carbon
ate
And listen here You've worked 80
years, sweat and stinted to get $50. 900.
went out on the Bucktooth range one