The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-29

the first place we'd starvc If We were
stranded out here. In the second place
we've carried this drilling to point
where VIC are likely TO hit oil any day
Now, here's what propose doing.
don't know whether either of Won
know old man Merritt dcwn at Los
Angeles He is a queer genius He
has fair bit Of money and he is
good hearted I'm going to eleot
hi mangel. He may roar bit
about having the wings pinned on TO
his old hide. but some one has to wear
them. and see no reason why he
shouldn't"
Anything. however prepcstercus,
W ould have sounded good to the two
detected men who listened to Mallory
All three knew 1t was no use 10 APP
peal to any of the oil men in the san
Joaquin Valley, for a few straEgiers
who had come In from those parts had
tolu them all the oil people were laugh
ing at them for their folly or We're
indignant at the man who had swim
died them.
called on Mr.. Merritt He didn't make
his story long It is not wise to do so
when YOU have sharp eyed, alert man
listening to YOU.
So YOU want money! said Merritt,
strengthening his long, thin body up
IN his chair. We'll I knew it the
moment you entered the otnce. \ cure
in the wrong pew, my boy. I've grub
staked a hundred men in my time. I've
lent a small fortune to honest but
misguided people like YOU and *our
two friends, but I'm all through There
are holes in the ground. gold pros
knows what. all the way from Pata-
gonia to the Arctic Circle that are
monuments TO my folly in money mat
tiers. but there won't be any more. l
never made dollar through .a--inis
anybody or going in with anybody.
What I've got made by my lonesome.
don't want to be curt TO You. but
you're wasting time when you talk to
nc You're nice young fellow and
you talk mighty we'll. You may land
some one hero in town. but you'll have
TO pass me ur. Good day"
Mallory laughed and went away.
That evening he met Merritt again
Merritt thought the meeting was acct
dental. 1t was not. Mallory had
learned something about the old mans
habits and haunts.
well wlrat luck?,' asked Merritt
.sI met my man replied Mallory.
yet. but he's going TO come in with us.
Who Is it?" inquired Merritt.
Ellis name is Merritt" said Mallory
The old man looked tho young man
in the eye Then he laughed. say"
he remarked, "if had your nerve I'd
be rich Then he walked away.
IN the morning Mallory wandered
into Merritts office. The old man
frowned when he saw him. At noon
Mallory was there again. in the af-
tcrnoon Mallory was a tho door when
Merritt went out to visit a friend. In
the evening Mallory was OIL the street
when Merritt started on his custom
airy stroll.
1t was the same thing the next day.
encountcring Mallory. The young man
was not obtruSive, hut the old man
felt there was no escaping him.
This Kept up for four days, ard then
Merritt lost his patience. Sec he:e,
Mallory" lie exclaimed, this thing has
to end You arc annoying me- / want
You to stop
earnestly. Its life or death - .hrcc
Of us. Heavens, man, it's more ,,!.
pleasant to me to do this than it is to
yo, to be subjected to it, but sniptr
have to get yoI to help us out
Tho old man scowlcd. said something
bitter and walked of, hut lntei. IL til.
day Mallory was in the office again.
I1N 1OONeu SO uOWnCfSt ana 81 Ill tlut
Merritt's heart was touched, and 10
asked a few questions about tho lr:il
work. Mallory went over the whole
subject, and Merritt. before he real
lied what he was doing, virtually had
promised to hclp him out. Then. an
Cry with himself FOR his weakness. he
went to The other extreme ana an
nOunced that If he advanced any money
to continue the work he would have 10
have 81 per cent. Of the property Mall
Tory, in no position to refuse. told him
that was satisfactory. and Merritt
thercupon agreed to stand responsible
for the cost Of further drilling, but
reserved the right TO Withdraw al any
time If the prospect seemed dubious.
Back 10 he Rosita Valley went Nal.
Tory with the glad tidings Cassidy,
with the assurance OF Merritt's money.
resumed operations
Hour by hour and day by day the
three lungcrs watched the work. The
further the drill went the slower was
tho progress. When l.0d0 feet was
reported Mallory felt that tho end
must be near, but at LOO 10 was not
SO sure. II 1900 he was angry.
Cassidy bccamc iocose. lie never had
seen so dry n hole. There was not
even II sign Of water.
There's oil down there sure liz
would remark with Wrinkle. "and &c
old Merritt will only stick I'll strike
A u 4. -