The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-09-06
Daily Short Story
Sxtan's Endowment.

Sxtan's e
After gazing fixedly at the placard
Tor several minutes. Quinby entered
the store. a feeling akin to despair
gripping at his heart and a huge lump
rising In his throat-for the placard
read
CLOSING OUT sAIEl
EVERYTHING GOING AT COST
Such an announcement could mean
only one thing: Colonel Brannon in
tended leaving Yakima for the east.
To Quinby the east meant New
York-snd Virgins. Confound him!
The thought was narrowing.
Not that Quinby really cared vheth-
er Colonel Brannon himself remained
In Yakima. II wasn't the colonel
But the colonel's daughter,
Miss Brannon. presiding as cashier
In snug little brass cage near the
center OF the floor. smiled pleasantly
al Quinby's approach.
Florence" he exclaimed. what
does that sign In the window meant"
IL meant just exactly what he had
surmised: Business was dull-yery
dull Since the boom had become an
event OF the past-since the zinc craze
mad subsided-the prosperity OF Wa
klnna had been on the wane. FamI.
Hes were daily leaving town, and an
oppressive lull was gradually taking
the place OF the livelier times when
the miners. by the hundreds. had
sought. In vain. for the mythical
riches of the hills.
Accordingly. Colonel Brannon had
lad %.
would probably be year or more be-
iore he could dispose of his stock, IL
business continued to decrease
Quinby sighed. Poor. easy going
Quinby. who had never known trouble.
who had been content to enjoy what
pleasures he might from the bountiful
allowances OF his father. and who had
never lost minutes sleep grieving
over the rapidly diminishing popula-
ton Of Wakinna-he actually sighed.
simultaneously his mind reverted TO
New York and the Virgins.
Virgins. representing n large cloth
Ing firm. had visited Yakima semi.
annually. such visits being the source
or great discomfort 10 Quinby. and
being human. he was at times the vic
tim ~ jealousy. And while n little
b" endured. the very thought OF his
sweetheart slipping from him and 20
Ing 10 the city where this fellow Wig
gins resided was enough TO drive him
To- distraction
Under ordinary conditions. Ouin.
BY could have watched Yakima dwin.
de into nOthingness without "A single
rang Put present conditions were
not ordinary. Something, anything.
must be done 20 hold Colonel Bran.
non. and incidentally Miss Brannon.
in town.
Even with his liberal allowance
Cuinby dislikked to ask Miss Brannon
10 become his wife until he had. nj
least. demonstrated 10 the Colonel that
no was good for something else be.
sides spending his fathers money
Yet. in reality. what else was he ca.
p1ble Of DOING
His existence had been remarkably
free from toll OF any description.
physical or mental Being a sufferer
from rheumatism. his excuse for en-.
, gazing in no manual labor was ex.
ccileut
When he Let the store his condi
I ton was no more che -ful than II had
been when he entered And for the
next week no wore a EloOmie- express
sion than be- had ever worn before
Wan as b" might. he could conceive
n possible means by which Colonel
T. non could be persuaded 20 remain
~ Yakima
In his reetlcssness he strolled or
rather limpcd. about the littIeyillare
gazing with disappointment at the d..
serted mines from which had been
taken unsightly heaps of clay ana
stone but li'tle n any mineral
His own property. the Sucker Flat
Land. so named by a wac who claim
"i that more suckers had zone nat
h'k' there than on any other land
in ne district. lay deserted between
steep. rocky hills. Since work on he
property had ceased. lake OF nns
ron. blue mud had formed over n
large portion Of the area. and this.
being fed by numerous steamine hoi
. SPRINGS that had AZ one time been tho
source o. great annoyance 20 tho
miners. was kept I'm a constant staro
~ vapory moisture
QUirhy ono day. eyed HIS roqsas.
sion dieru. todly
y couidnt sell o. for 20 cents an
acre he rruub led
\ few hours later. BY some miracle
~ chance. Qu.nhy became intcr-s. -
IN q marazine article pertaining 10
diamonds and 20 diamond mining. and
"Hrn POI" learned that %" precious
stones were often found beneath DO.
posts ~ blu" mud the thought Hash,
81 acfo7s bis mind that tho mud on
h' own land Wa ~ blush tint
Alihou@h Do" idea was absurd m
~" "N'rom". Qunbv reasoned that o.
vas possible that diamonds might be-
h"adquar'ers Boo the schaub building