Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-19
"ARE YOU READY 2" AsKE
WEATHER.
ASKED STARK


the Missouri river except the revolver.
His purpose was, having crossed the
continent, to grubstake himself and
his family on this money while he
prospected for gold.
In the train was a man about Stark
weather's age, Joel Bryant, who by his
smooth way of talking gained his fell
gregarious and prefer to work-espe-
cially to take risks-in company, and
when Bryant told Starkweather that
he calculated to reach the gold ground
with $1,000 it occurred to the latter
that they might pool their funds and
buy property in which gold had been
located, thereby greatly increasing
er agreed to the proposition, and the
Starkweathers toiled on over plain and
mountain with frightened prospects.
On reaching their journeys end
the Starkweather family lived in a
tent while Starkweather and Bryant
prospected and kept an eye open for
localities where gold had been struck
III paying AT ldSI Iuty
found an opportunity. Some men with
out means had secured a vein that
promised well and. being operators
rather than developers, were ready to
SELL Bryant was anxious that he and
SSarkweather should buy them out,
byt he said his money had been sent
round the Horn to q San Francisco
hon nh rxy0rlId ffr1na
to get it. He begged Starkweather to
put up the necessary funds. and he
would produce his share as soon as
possible. Fearing to lose the purchase.
Starkweather bought the mine in be-
half of Bryant and himself, share and
share alike.
The mine looked well, but there was
a hitch in the payment of Bryant's
portion of the purchase money due to
his partner Bryant showed a good
deal Of Impotence about its nonarriv-
al and finally concluded to 60 to San
Francisco to discover what was the
trouble Before leaving he spent some
time with a shyster lawyer, though
Starkweather knew nothing about this.
the mine began to produce gold in
largely paying quantities Bryant was
absent several months. then returned
with story that struck his partner
with CONSERVATION.
He had learned that the parties who
had sold them the mine were not its
legal owners. The real title to the
| ~ had hnrnhf hu
| ties in San Francisco who had organ.
ized a company and appointed him
/ Bryant their agent He produced
/ the papers. Starkweather shovel
I them to a lawyer and was informed
| that. while they gave evidence of very
sharp practice. Starkweather's interest
iE the property could only be substan
tiated III at alb at the end Of long
legal contest. The defrauded man was
advised to accept his loss, for, having
paid all his money for the mine, he
had none to carry on a suit whict
would probably go against him in the
end He surrendered to Bryant who
was really his own agent and ownel
of the property under the name of the
Excelsior Gold Mining company. =
Several years passed. during which
the sufferings of the Starkweathel
family were in proportion to the in
creasing prosperity of the Excelsio
Mining company. Bryant who ha,
used Starkweather's money-the stor,
of his own funds was a myth-to bu,
the mine waxed lat and sleek He wa
known and respected throughout tn
gold region as a man prominent In th
development Of the mining interests o
California. Starkweather was pitie
as a poor devil who had neither bus
ness capacity nor luck: but. encourage
by plueky wife. he went to work o
the margin Of . creek washing for gol