The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-02-05

standing beside him in anticipation OF
a compliment. as Webster got out his
portable assay outfit.
For three days Webster worked.
determining the values of each SAM
pie, only to find that his assays con-
firmed Billy's. "You were right, son"
he finally announced. ''This mine is
a humdinger and 20 mistake; If you
and l live ten years We'll be worth
$lO,OO0000 between us-maybe more"
Billy,s jaundiced eyes glOwed hum
grily. wen put in hundred
stamps"
"Well, We'll try ten for starter"
Webster interrupted dryly, land add
more as the mine pays its way. It's
the sweetest mining proposition on
earth-only. like all high-class goods,
it has one flaw when you examine it
closely"
you're crazy" Billy challenged.
Name the flaw!"
"Sarros !" Webster replied smiling
~. '"That scoundrel makes gamble
out Of an otherwise sure thing. How
ever" he added, recalling the note re-
ceived from Ricardo Ruey just before
his departure from Buenaventura and
rejecting that to be forewarned is to
be forearmed, well accept the gam
bic. That rascal can't live forever,
and he may be eliminated before he
causes us any trouble"
''What will it cost us to get this
mine on paying basis, johnny"
"Well, back home. I'd figure on
spending at least 100000; but dare
say, taking into consideration the low
cost of labor in Sobrante and the raw,
natural resources of power and TIM
Der right on the ground, we ought to
put this deal over for $4,000 at the
outside. Praise be, have cash
enough to do the trick without calling
in any help, and such being the case.
We'll not waste any time but hop to
the job in hurry and make the fur
tly"
Fright, Jack. What's the program?"
"Well. first off, son. I'm not going
to stay in this country and lose my
self managing this mine. That's your
job, because you're young and unim-
portant in your profession and have
the ability to get away with the job.
You can afford to spend the next 10
years here, but I cannot. l can only
afford to come down here every cou-
pie Of years and relieve you for va
cation"
"That's the way figured it. Jack"
,"All right then, Bill. let us start In
by giving you your first vacation. If
you're going to dig in here and make
the fur fly, you've got to be in tip-tOp
physical condtion-and you are thin
and gaunted and full Of chills and fe-
yer. Just before l left Buenaventura
I cashed a draft for $1,000 on my let
ter of credit at the Banco Nacional,
and placed it to the credit Of your
account there.
Tomorrow morning you will take
your horse, one pack mule, and one
mozo and ride for San Miguel de Pad
ua, where you will take the train for
Eucnaventura. In Buenaventura you
may do what you blame please. but
If l were you, boy, I'd try to get mar
ried and 90 back to the y. S. A. for
my honeymoon. And when finally
hit a town that contained some reg
ular doctors I'd let them paw me over
and rebabbitt me and overhaul my
bearings and put me in such nice run
ming order I'd be firing on all II CYL
inders at once.
"And when I was feeling tip-top
once more I'd wire old John Stuart
Webster and tell him so, after which
I'd stand by for cable from the said
sourdough inviting me to return and
take up my labors."
Billy's wan yellow face lighted up
like Il sunrise on the desert. "Iguess
that plans kind Of poor" he an
nounced feelingly. you're right,
Jack. I'm in rotten condition and
ought to be right before I start. Still.
If ! should arrange to get married be-
fore I leave, I'd like mighty we'll to
have a good man and true see me
safely over the hurdles"
'That's nice, son, but haven't time
to be your best man. Arranging the
honeymoon lets me out, Bill. I'm in
Il hurry to finish here and get back.
so the sooner we both start our pros
pectivc jobs the sooner We'll finish.
Have 4 quiet little marriage. BIZ,
without any fuss or feathers or voices
breathing Ger Eden. What are the
odds. provided YOU get hitched prop
erly? Besides. I'm in mortal dread OF
that town of Buenaventura. The sew
eS system is bad; it's rotten with fe-
yer; and you'd better get that girl
out Of it =. D. O., and the quicker the
better. Myself, I prefer to stay up
here in these mountains in a tenn
perate climate where there are no
mosquitoes"
Billy saw that Webster was serious
and would resent any interference In
his plans. "All right. Jack" he as
sented. you're the boss"
Zine. Now. Bill, you listen to IA
Their and be guided accordingly. When
you get to Buenaventura. wire the
Bingham Engineering company of
Denver. using my name. and tell them
to add to my order given them last