Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1924-04-05
CHAPTER %I
san,s Dance.


necessarily augur III for the future Of
the claim Only the surface of the
blue ground had been investigated, and
II required an exposure Of the blue
rock to sun and air for weeks in order
70 permit Of proper disintegration.
The crushing Of the excavated material
had been a makeshift, inspired by
urgency. Eut stones should have been
found and only a few small pebbles
had come to light.
Three days before the month ex-
pired Winton received letter from
Judge Davis, in his capacity as a
shareholder. requesting him to call
meeting IN order to discuss certain
subjects Of importance Winton ad-
vertised the meeting in the Chronicle,
set his teeth. and prepared for the in
evitable.
The day arrived. He found himself
at the table with Davis. De Witt, Han
son, and the four small shareholders.
The transfer had been ma lrreyo-
cable. He held forty-seyen shares, and
the syndicate with Hanson, the same
number. The local men, with their six
shares thus controlled the situation,
and their decision was not in doubt.
Wlnton went to the meeting In the
full expectation Of being ousted and
Of seeing De witt relnstalled as purser
lie had stee,ed himself 10 bear the
humiliation. but the severance Of his
relations with the claim the end 0, the
enterprise so far as he was concerned,
was difficult TO face, And there would
be Ned out Of employment--Ned, still
In the hospital. though physically well,
IN the hope that something could be
done for him. Ned. greeting Winton
with his mysterious mods and smiles
and Bible passages and believing that
his references were understood.
The hostile atmosphere Of the meet
ing, De Wits expression Of triumph,
and Hanson's vindlctive glances CON
WINGED Winton that this move was
about to be made. But Davis never
did the obvious thing, and he had other
ends in view.
"AIr. Purser." he said "the PROPOSE
ton to be placed before this meeting
Is as follows that we go into yolun-
tary liquidation for the purpose Of an
immediate reorganization, In order to
raise fresh capital to develop our water
supply,
"You have made frequent complaints
that the fow Of the company's water Is
not adequate 10 the working of the
claim. | can bear you out in this for
I have Investigated the matter, and,
being Interested both in the claim and
In the water company, | have naturally
done all that was possible TO Increase
the flow
"1he Big Malopo promises to he
come the most profitable claim upon
the fields. The prosperity of all Ma
lopo is closely bound up with the water
supply BY Improving our water re-
sources we shall not only promote fra
tarnlty and concord" the judges
voice assumed its quayeriag intona-
ton, which In turn gave way TO the
sharp business tone-"but shall enter
into very profitable business enter
prise
"Our water supply Is Al present
wholly dependent upon ne under
ground storage accumulated during The
preceding rainy season A succession
OF two dry years would mean .he total
cessation OF all labor for months. op-
viously we cannot remain al the mercy
81 the elements when''-he looked
about him FOR the anticipated approba-
tion-"it Is possible TO tap the Groot-
spruit river and secure an unfailing
supply throughout the year"
A storm Of applause greeted him as
ne sat down Wlnton sprang to his
feet.
'The Grootspruit is fifty miles
sway" he cried. what is your estI-
mate of the cost OF installing a plant
and laying pipes across the desertY
4 have submitted the question to
two competent engineers. Mr.. Garrett
answered the Judge Their estimates
are practically the same They place
the cost at roughly. ninety thousand
pounds. This Will provide 8 sug ~lent
Tow for the entire mining Geld"
Winton sat down, stunned more al
what lay behind the proposition than
at the suggestion itself. II the syudi-
cate was willing to invest as heavily
as that II meant that they were aware.
in ways unknown TO himself, that the
Big Msiopo WAS not merely a promls-
Ing claim. but one Of the biggest out
side the famous Kimberley fields.
For It was hardly likely that the syn
dlcate was planning to cut the throat
Of its own water company. which could
supply it with au ample quantity. In
order to bring water for fifty niles
across the desert And the scheme
meant Of course. that Wlnton would
be frozen out completely. together with
the little men. who had doubtless been
let into the secret and rad agreed to
Aell. He would own only an Insignia
cant number OF shares In the reorRan-
fzed concern.
Even If the proposal fiiled. the syn.
Aicate could install "a neg purser and
Instruct aim to call for an unlimited
expenditure which WInfon wonld ba