The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-04-05
CHAPTER VII.

In no blaze OF glory did Burnt
Daylight descend upon San Francisco.
Not only had he been forgotten. but
the Klondike along with him. The
world was interested In other things,
and the Alaskan adventure. like the
Spanish War. was sn old story. He set
tied down In st. Francis Hotel, was
interviewed by the cub-reporters on
the hotel-run, and received brief para
graphs Of notice for twenty-four
hours.
Several months passed In San Fran
cisco, during which time he studied
the game and its rules, and prepared
himself 10 take hand.
firing OF being merely an onlooker.
hs ran up to Nevada. where the new
gold.mining boom was fairly started
-just to try a flutter," as he phrased
u to himself. The nutter on the To.
nopah Stock Exchange lasted Just ten
Ing. wild-bull game played ducks and
brakes with the more stereotyped
gamblers, and at the end OF which
time, having gambled Floridel Into
his fist, he let go for a net prcf1t OF
hak million. Whereupon, smacking
his lips. he departed for San Fran
cisco and the ST. Francis Hotel. II
tasted good, and his hunger for the
game became more acute.
And once more the papers sensa.
tcnAlized him. BURNING DAYLIGHT
was a big-letter headline again. In.
reviewers flocked about him. Old
dies OF magazines and newspapers
were searched through, and the TO.
mantle and historic Elan Harnish,
Adventurer of the Frost. King OF the
Klondike, and Father OF the Sour.
coughs, strobe upon the breakfast Ia.
BILE Of million homes along with the
toast and breakfast foods. Even be.
= fore his elected time, he was forcibly
launched into the game. Ffnanciers
and promoters, and oil the fotsam and
jetsam Of the sea OF speculation
surged upon the shores OF his eleven
millions. In self-defence he was com.
PEELED TO open Offices. He dabbled IN
little things at flrst-"stalling for
tme," as he explained II to Holds.
worthy, friend he had made at the
Alta-Pacifc Club. Daylight himself
was a member OF the club. and Holds.
worthy had proposed him. And It was
well that Daylight played closely at
frst, for he was astounded by the
multtudes Of sharks-"ground.sh sharks"
he called them-that focked about
him. He saw through their schemes
readily enough, and even marveled
that such numbers OF them could find
sdficient prey to keep them going
Their rascality and general dubious.
ness was so transparent that he could
not understand how any one could be
taken IN by them.
So II was that he resolved to leave
the little men. the Holdsworthys,
alone; and. while he met them In good
fellowship, he chummed with none,
and formed no deep friendships. He
did not dislike the little men, the men
OF the Alta-Pacific, for instance. He
merely did not elect TO choose them
for partners in the big game in which
he intended to play What this big
game was. even he did not know. He
was waiting to find II. And In the
meantime he played small hands, in.
vesting In several arid-lands reclama-
- On projects and keeping his eyes
open for the big chance when Il
should come along
And then he met John Dowsett. the
great John Dowsett. II was the first
big magnate Daylight had met face to
face. and he was pleased and charmed.
i There was such kindly humanness
about the man, such a genial demo.
craticness, that Daylight found II hard
10 realize that this was the John Dow.
sett. president OF string OF banks.
Insurance manipulation. reputed ally OF
the ieutenants Of Standard OIL, and
known ally OF the Guggenhammers
Nor did his looks belle his reputation
ana his manner. Physically, he guar.
anteed all that Daylight knew OF him.
Despite his sixty years and snow.
white hair. his hand-shake was firmly
hearty, and he showed no signs OF
tscrepitude, walking with a quick.
Uappy step, making all movements
eeflniteiy and decisiveiy.
Il was not long afterward that Day
lght came on to New York. A letter
pom John Dowsctt had been the
puss-a simple little typewriter let.
- - ssvsrA llnsA HUT DayligAt