The Delta independent., 1921-06-24

sition. There was quickly stamped
upon his face the lines of firmness
(which seldom come until mature
years. 1t was impossible for strang-
ers to have recognized him from the
best description that could have
nbeen written.
| In the early COS he arrived in
Cripple Creek. He became so firm
in the determination to succeed
that every good precept he had ever
learned from his mother, or his
father, or from any other source
whatsoever, became the ruling pas
iarity with bad companions, bad
whiskey, vicious habits, as he would
shun rattle snakes. He kept his
business to himself; but was friend
ly, in a certain sense, with those
about him. There was something in
his person which caused one to feel
an instructive sensation to make no
inquiries. He listened to the stories
that were current at the time,
learned what he could, became sus-
picious of everybody who would
I'lclSu 1Ilcuuohip, ooNOo hAo hiohcyb
and attended to his own business.
In 1898 Sam went to Alaska. Was
successful Made one hundred thous-
and dollars from few placer claims
Then he returned to the United
States where he placed his money In
the savings department of various
banks throughout the country. He
considered 1t best that no one bank
should know all about his business,
and he would be less likely to lose
his money; for all the banks would
mot be likely to fail the same time.
For a few years he travelled extern
sively, and never allowed his ex-
penses to exceed the comparatively
small income from his money which
was drawing interest. After spend
ing a few years in travel he came
to the conclusion that he had seen
enough of the world. and came to
the conclusion that If he ever in
tended to accomplish anything worth
while he had better be about it.
When Sam left home, he had Just
entered high school. From that time
on his education ceased, except what
with people, and by reading. He
was now nearly thirty years Of age.
and much of his energy had been
expended in the accumulation OF
money. For little time past he
had been enjoying life, as some
would term it, and was living on the
interest He was beginning to feel
that he ought to be doing something
for society in return for that which
he was receiving-even the interest
on his own money.
There was a stranger who came
into the Ward Creek Valley in search
of work This strangers name was
John Miller, and he seemed to be
very inquisitive sort OF character,
He seemed especially interested in
irrigation and its relation to crop
| production, soil analysis. dairying,
marketing. Then there we're many
people surprised when he bought the
Simple coal mine. He paid cash
for this property. AS far as the peo-
pie around the neighborhood were
concerned, he might or he might not
have any money left. He was such
fellow that nobody had ever sus-
pected he was worth much money;
and yet, when he wanted to buy any
thing, he always paid the cash He
kept his business absolutely to
himself.
Soon after acquiring the Simple
coal property. he made an examina-
ton of the county records. and found
that there were many of the homes
in the Ward Creey Valley that were
mort gagged. 1t was common talk that
some of these places would soon be
jforeclosed AS fast as these mort
cages became due, he went to the
iowners Of the land and offered to
furnish the money at very reason
able rate of interest, and give them
a chance to redeem their homes. In
stead of demanding cash in payment
of interest, because he held mort