The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-07


until he finds the trunk, he has bonan-
"a. What Stratton had come across was
stringer from the tip Of a branch.
The carpenter worked on his mine at
odd times. The streaks of gold and sill
yer were little more than threads. Oc-
casonaliy, when he could afford it, he
had an assay made. The report was
not reassuring. Once he got out as much
as carload of ore. This didn't bring
him a days wages. Then instead of wild
ening, the little Veins OF metal seemed to
peter out the deeper he went.
Stratton worked for Several months and
then became convinced that the mine was
OF no account, or at least no account
for a man who didn't have enough
money to carry the shaft deeper into the
earth than he could afford. He was
about at the end of his resources. He
had to earn some money to pay debts
he had contracted and pay for his daily
fare. He did a little carpentering and
worked as a day laborer in other mines.
Meanwhile he looked around to find some
one, to whom he could sell his hole in
the gronud. No one had much confidence
in his property, but there is nothing like
perseverance, and after a weary search
he finally dug up a person who agreed
to pay $500 for the two claims. The pur
chaser was very careful. He didn't mean
to get stung. He paid $100 down and
later If the mine was all right, he was
safe. If 1t wasn't, all he could lose would
be the 500 and the work he put in.
Stratton was very happy when he got
that hundred dollars. 1t was a lot of
money just then.
The purchaser of the Stratton claims
was not so happy He proceeded to get
what stuff he could out of the mine. He
didn't get much. If he worked "a hours
a day 4le might get enough gold or silver
to pay for one good meal but not much
moro. He was dogged sort of individual
and the more he thought about that $100
of his good money that had gone to
Stratton, the harder he labored to get
even. There was no use, however. When
the six months were up and Stratton
called on him to produce the other $500,
the man was angry enough to fight. He
said he wouldn't give cents for quit
claim deed to the properties. Stratton
offered to compromise, but there was no
compromise possible. Reluctantly Strait
ton had to take the mine back.
Stratton let the mine lay idle for eight
or nine months, and then, having nothing
better to do. he went back and worked
it. He could just get out about enough
to make him hopeful at times. but not
enough to live on. Every time he found
a stranger in Cripple Creek VINO was
likely candidate to buy a hole in the
landed one person after a long effort and
managed to close a deal with him that
seemed heavenly to Stratton. The stran-
ger agreed to take the mine for $1,000. He
was to pay $3.50 d6wn and $3.50 at the
end OF the year.
This second purchaser did some earnest
work. He had fair amount of money
and spent several thousand dollars in
extending the shaft and opening the thing
UP. 1t was no use. The ore he got didn't
pay expenses. The threads didn't widen
beyond threads. There was only streak
of metal to be fonud and the outlook was
hopeless His year rolled around and
when the time came for him to pay the
$3.50 he told Stratton to go hang.
BY this time the Stratton mine was
camp joke. Some OF the old timers used
to say that at the rate Stratton was 60
ing he would make good living. He got
S40O the first year out of it, they ex-
planned, $3.50 the second and there was
no reason why he couldn't keep on and
get $500 the third and a thousand the
fourth and, In the course of time, derive
a large income. All that was necessary
was to dig up each year one OF those
gentlemen of the easy variety. 1t was
too bad however, that Stratton was so
old. they thought. He was 80 now and
he would be nearly so before he could
get real big money out OF the mine.
But he was making progress, they pointed
out
Stratton had been ridiculed for So
many years that he was becoming
used to 1t. He went back to his mine
the following spring and took up the
work where the second purchaser hac
left Off. He hadn't been at the Job more
| than a month when the thread of gold
suddenly widened into pocket II
| looked at first as II he had struck
Ebranch. a big branch, Of the tree OF
ore. There was some excitement when
the news got out that Stratton. poor old
Stratton they had laughed obout SO
much. had really struck 1t rich.
Men went up and looked at the ore
disclosed and nodden their heads signi-
ficantly. 1t looked good to them. STRAIT
ton didn't have to go hunting easy
| marks now to purchase or lease his
property. Experienced miners and men
with money came after him. They
knew the hazards and the possibilities
of the game. One OF them. Bill Far
/ ish offered $4,000 TO Stratton As
usual this WAS not all cash. There
was to be an initial payment Of $4,000