The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1921-01-13
CHAPTER xl--contInued.

ming reflections. "But Billy tells me
you already have a fortune sufficient
for the needs OF q caliph without
court. Why risk your precious life to |
acquire morei Money isn't everything |
In life"
mo. but the game is."
~what gamef Miningr
''The game Of life"
"But this ia the game Of DEATH"
(which makes life all the sweeter
n can beat the game. Perhaps can
better Illustrate my point Of view with
q story. Some years ago I was sent
to Arizona to examine a mining prop
erty and report upon II; II advised
its purchase, my principals were pre-
pared to buy ut my valuation. Well.
when I arrived. found a miserable
shanty close to q shaft and dump, and
IN the shanty found a weather-beat-
en- couple. The woman was probably
forty bur looked fifty. The man had
never been anything but a handbook
MINERS day had been the limit OF
his earnings In any one day until he
ul,bied on some float. trnced II up.
Id located the claims I was there 10
examine and try to buy.
Ellis wife had been a 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 II, 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 20 unload any kind
Of q mine for si.OOO,0O0. and real
nhrve on the part of the man who
buys. I examined the mine. decided
II was cheap at $l.0O0.O0o. and so re-
ported 10 my principals. They wired
me 10 close, and so l took a 60-day
option In order to verify the title.
swell. time passed. and one bright
day rode up to that shanty with a
deed and certified check for $1,000
900 In my pocket; whereupon dis
covered the woman had had change
Of heart and bucked over the traces.
No. sireel She would not sign tibet
there deed-and lnasmuch as the claim
was community property. her sigma
ture was vitality necessary. She asked
me 80 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
saw the light and tried a shot In the
dark. my dear Mrs. skaggs," said,
''if you'll sign this deed and save US
all lot Of litigation over this option
you and your husband have given me,
I'll do something handsome. i will
on my word OF honor-Tll give you the
exclusive boarding house privilege at
this mine"
And what did she say. Callphf
-she said: Give me the pen. Mr..
Webster. and please excuse my hand
writing; I'm that nervous n business
matters.'"
Dolores silvery laughter rippied
through the room. But l dat see
the point" she protested.
I'VE will come to II presently.
was merely explaining one persons
point OF view. You would not. Of
course. expect me 70 have the same
point OF view as Mrs. Skaggs Of Ari-
nona."
Certainly not"
-An right Listen to thlsl In 1907.
at the height OF the boom times In
Goldfeld. New. was worth S1O00.O 900.
On the first day OF October could
have cashed 10 my mining stocks for
$1,000. 0O0-and I had lot OF cash In
bank, too. But I'd always worked so
hard and been poor so long that my
wealth didn't mean anything 10 me.
7 wanted the exclusive privilege OF
more slavery. and so staked copper
prospect, which later I discovered to
consist OF uncounted acres OF country
rock and about sos worth OF copper
niaIn. In order 20 save 500 did my
own assessment work. drove a pick
INTO my foot. developed blood poison.
went to the hospital, and was nice and
helpless when the panic came along
me middle Of the month. The bank
went bust, ana my ready cash went
with II; I couldn't give my mining
stocks away. Everybody knew was
q pauper-everybody hut the doctor.
He persisted In regarding me as a mil
lionaire and sent me a bin for 5000"
~How perfectly outrageousi Why,
CAliph. l would have let him sue me-"
Il would have. too-but I didn't
induced him 20 settle for 100000
shares OF stock In my copper prospect.
Tne par value was 81 a share. and
vas going to sell block at 10 cents,
bit IN view OF his high professional
standing let him have II for a nickel
q share I imagine he still has II.
bought back later all the ether stock
= sold. because the property was
worthless. aud In order 10 be a sport
offered him $500 for his block. but
he thought I was trying TO swindle
him and asked $1,000"
~Oh. Caliphi"
-wonderfuh game. isn't it--this