Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1919-09-27
FAT JACK" JONES
 TAKES THE CASH
A Tale of High Finance h. volving James A. Murray of Butte, Montana.

VI ANSeS3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 Here is story, clipped from the Anaconda Standard, concerning James A. Murray, that may interest readers of the Miner.
 So many stories are told of James A. Murray and of "Fat" Jack that it is refreshing to hear new one. Des- pite his adamantine exterior, intimate friends of Murray relate that his ben factions are numerous. "Fat" Jack, like many an old-timer in distress, has occasion to remember him gratefully. The two were in the lobby of the Thornton last week at the same time when General Warren came in and told the Standard man the following story, subsequently, corroborating it by reference to both the principals.
 Long before the days of the taxi cab, Jacks team and hack were reach ing the stage he describes as "pas- say" Jack concluded to stake him. self to an entire new outfit and after he had reconnoitered in the neigh borhood of the Murray bank for sev- eral days, he boldly presented his proposition. He would pay so much a month out of the earnings from the fashionable conveyance and would give his note for the amount which he estimated would not exceed $1,5O0. The bargain was closed; the interest rate is not mentioned in the story. Jack says that didn't worry him. It didn't.
 For the first few months Jack paid the interest and a small-a very small-portion of the principal. Months passed into years and Jacks sole relations with Murray were to meet him occasionally at the depot as he arrived from California and haul him up to the hotel, promptly and regularly collecting his fare, towit 50 cents in coin of the republic.
 One stormy Christmas night, Jack waiting for the North Coast sat in his high seat, his head and beard bur jed in the collar of his old buffalo overcoat while the snowflakes settled all over him from the tip of his silk hat to the toes of his generous over shoes. The train hissed and groaned and with the last whine of the air brakes familiar figure swung down from the observation car. It was Jim Murray He made bee line for Jacks hack,
 Thornton, Mir. Murray?"
 ,"Yes, Jack"
 Jack toted the Murray grip into the hotel.
 Have a Christmas drink?"
 Jack said it would be easy to take,
 The bar just glowed with Christ mas cheer. Jack shook himself while the snow fairly radiated from his fuzzy coat and fell in great flakes on the bright tiled floor.
 "Tom and. Jerry?" said the barten- der, hardlyiwaiting for a reply.
 "Merry Christmas, MT. Murray" Jacks dark eyes fairly twinkled as he glanced around at the knots of con vivial merrymakers who were doing justice to the "Tom and Jerry, He was proud to be seen with Jim Mur- ray-taking a Christmas drink with one of the richest men in the West. | Cigar, Jack?"
 Jack lit the perfecto and blew con centric rings at an imaginary point with the ease and grace of a con noisseur.
 This was the life.
 "How much do I owe you, Jack?"
 It wasN evident the tete-a-tete was about to be brought to an abrupt end.
 "Just the same, MT. Murray, 50 cents." ..EE
 Murray fumbled in his vest pocket. Then he reached deep into the ge- cesses of his inside pocket. From it he drew a heterogeneous collection of letters, cards memoranda. From them he selected small multi-folded slip of paper, which he opened with studied deliberation. It was Fat Jacks note renewed and augmented because of delinquent interest. It stipulated in seven different legal phrases that John Jones, alias "Fat Jack" some 10 years earlier prom ised to pay to James A. Murray the sum of $1,700 in gold coin, the same to be paid in the city of Butte.
 It was Christmas night and Jack