The L'Anse sentinel., 1921-03-04
CHAPTER xI-Continued.


Dolores voice broke In upon his cum
ming reflections. "But Billy tells me
you already have a fortune sufficient
for the needs of caliph without a
court. Why risk your precious life TO
acquire moref Money isnr everything
In life"
"No, but the game Is"
.What gamer MiningT
"The game Of life"
-But this IL the game Of death"
(which makes life all the sweeter
n can beat the game. Perhaps 4 can
better Illustrate my point Of view with
q story. Some years ago ] was sent
to Arizona to examine mining prop
erty and report upon II; II advised
its purchase, my principals were pre-
pared to buy at my valuation. Well.
when ! arrived, found a miserable
shanty clos> 70 a shaft and dump, and
In the ssanty found weather-beat-
en- csprie The woman was probably
foyey but looked fifty. The man had
never been anything but a hard-rock
miner-$4 a day had been the limit Of
his earnings In any one day until he
stumbled on some float, traced II up,
and located the claims was there TO
examine and try TO buy.
Ellis wife had been miners daugh-
ter, knowing nothing but drudgery and
poverty and continuing that existence
after marriage. For 20 years she had
been darning her husbands socks,
washing his clothes. and cooking his
meals. Even after they uncovered the
ledge, II wasn't worth any more than
the country rock to them unless they
could sell Il, because the man had
neither the money nor the ability to
develop II himself. He even lacked
the ability to sell II. because II re-
quires real ability to unload any kind
OF mine for $1,000.000, and real
nerve on the part Of the man who
buys. examined the mine, decided
Il was cheap at 81 l,OO0O0Q, and 30 re-
ported to my principals. They wired
me TO close, and so took G0-day
option In order to verify the title.
swell, time passed. and one bright
day ] rode up to that shanty with
deed and certified check for $1,000
600 In my pocket: whereupon i dis
covered the woman had had O change
OF heart and bucked over the traces
No, stree! She would not sign thet
there deed-and inasmuch as the claim
was community property. her sigma
ture was vitally necessary. She asked
me 10 many questions, however, as to
the size OF the stamp mill We would
install and how many miners would
be employed on the job, that finally l
saw the light and tried shot In the
dark. MY dear Mrs. Skaggs," ] said.
IF you'll sign this deed and save US
all n lot OF litigation over this option
you and your husband have given me,
TIL do something handsome. ! will
on my word Of honor-rll give you the
exclusive boarding house privilege at
this mine"
"And what did she say. Caliphf"
-She said: Give me the pen, Mr..
Webster, and please excuse my hand
writing; I'm that nervous In business
rcAtters.'"
Dolores sllvery laughter rippled
through the room. "But don't see
the point" she protested.
"We will come TO 1t presently. ]
was merely explaining one persons
point OF view. I'ou would not, Of
course, expect me TO have the same
point Of view as Mrs. Skaggs Of Ari-
Sona."
Certainly not"
-Al right Listen to thisl In 1907,
st the height Of the boom times in
Goldield, New. was worth S1.0O0,000
On the first day OF October could
have cashed in my mining stocks for
$1,000, ,0O0-and had a lot OF cash In
hnnk. too. Hut I'd always worked so
bard and been poor so long that my
wealth didn't mean anything to me.
I wanted the exclusive privilege OF
more slavery, and so staked copper.
prospect. which later I discovered to
consist ct uncounted acres OF country
r,ck and about S25 worth of copper
stain. In order TO save 500 did my
own assessment work. drove pick
INTO my foot. developed blood poison
went 10 the hospital. and was nice anc
helpless when the panic came alons
TIE middle OF tho month. The bark
went bust. and my ready cash west
vfth Il: couldot give my miniNg
socks away. Everybody knew was
panper-everybcdy hut the doctor.
ne persisted II regarding me as mil
iscnaire am. sent me a bill for $1,000"
How perfectly eutrageousi why.
CAliph, would have let him sue me"
= would have, too-but I didn't.
inssuced him to eettle for 100000
shares Of stock In my copper prospect.
TAe par value wa, 81 share. and
vas going to sell block st 10 cents.
bot IN view Of his high professional
standing let him have II for q nickel
q share. I imagine he still has II. !
hougirt back later all the other stock
Z sold. because the property was
worthless. and In order 10 be a sport
I offered him $500 for his block. but
Ne thought was trying to swindle
him and asked $1,000
rOh. Csliphr
swonderful game. imt ft--this
Gxme Of life. SO sweet when a fel-