Robert Barr

“ A salted mine is one in which rich ore has been planted for the cheating of fools."
"An admirable definition, Miss Fuller. Well, in the matter of mines I'm a fool, and a salted mine would take me in as a gold brick on State Street would delude an Illinois farmer."
"Then induce an expert to go with you—a mining expert who knows pay-ore when he sees it."
"I am more distrustful of mining experts than of salted mines." ”

“ You are going from the city to the mountains in search of health. He has come from the mountains to the city on the same quest. The gold-mine is at once our hope and our despair. If it can be properly worked, we are certain it will produce riches incalculable; but it takes money to make money, and my father knows no wealthy friends, nor has he wealth himself for the preliminary outlay. We are somewhat like King Midas, in danger of starving with gold all around us. ”

“ Very well, go to the Black Hills: there you will find the air pure and bracing; there are wild mountains and sparkling streams, and everything that a tired city man could wish. I want you to camp near our mine and investigate it thoroughly. If you are so satisfied with it as to justify the risk, I wish you to be prepared to buy a half share for three hundred thousand dollars."
John Steele drew a long breath.
"My purpose in going to the mountains was to get away from business, and not to take upon myself a new anxiety: to fish and shoot, not to pore over gold-bearing ore." ”

“ The ore assay is extremely rich: I have not the figures with me, but can easily bring them; and the reports are better and better as the miners proceed."
"If that be the case, Miss Fuller, I see no reason why you should lack for capital."
"There are a hundred reasons, but one is sufficient. Every capitalist shuns a gold-mine. They speak just as you spoke a moment ago. Then, you see, our lives having been spent in the west, we know very few eastern people, and those few have no money. The great difficulty is not in proving the wealth of the mine, but in getting a capitalist to listen. ”

“ He began to acquire the unexpected reputation of being an over-cautious capitalist, and finally well-known people, who had much admiration for him, ceased to come to his office with their schemes. Steele laughed uneasily to himself as he thought that Peter Berrington might perhaps accomplish his purpose by the gradual wearing down of his courage. Of course, the fact that a project became successful was no proof that the hand of Nicholson was not concealed somewhere within its intricacies to clutch at John Steele if he had become involved. ”

“ Nothing can be more lucrative than a good gold-mine, for its product is one of the few things taken from the earth which does not fluctuate in value. With copper, or silver, or iron, you are dependent on the market; not so with gold."
"You are a very eloquent advocate, Miss Fuller. Where is your father?"
The girl looked up quickly at this sudden change of subject, and once more Jack fell under the fascination of those enchanting eyes.
"My father? He is in Chicago."
"Then, Miss Fuller, the best plan will be to have him call upon me, and we can discuss the mine together." ”

“ It was at this interesting juncture that Miss Alice Fuller called to see him. Now, John Steele was the most susceptible of men, and one reason he had for not mixing in society was because he knew he would surely fall a victim to the first designing pretty girl who laid a trap for him—if, indeed, pretty girls ever do lay traps for men said to possess from six to ten millions. ”

“ Ore is bulky and heavy, and the transport alone, over those mountain roads, which are not roads at all, and scarcely even paths, is at once slow and expensive. Railway freight is high, and when it gets to the reducing-plant, we have to take exactly what is given us, because beggars cannot be choosers. We need machinery at the mouth of the pit, and whoever will furnish the money for that machinery is sure to reap a rich reward. ”

“ I'm as hungry as a bear. I therefore insist on your lunching with me, and I shall give you a meal such as you wouldn't better at the Millionaire's Club. Before I left home, six manufacturers of portable stoves insisted on my accepting one each, in the hope of getting an unsolicited testimonial. I shall leave the stoves with you, and trust you will recommend them to your friends. I don't need them where I'm going."
"No," said one of the party, "they'd melt there."
"Now, Jackson," cried Steele enthusiastically, "set up the whole six stoves. You've got to cook dinner for the party. ”

“ Jackson handed round sardines and other tempting extras, while Steele put the collapsible table on its legs and opened various boxes, from one of which he took out a case of champagne, and another of Scotch whisky. Then, getting a large pitcher which had been intended as the water-holder of his tent, he poured two bottles of Scotch whisky into it, followed by bottle after bottle of champagne until the jug was full. Meanwhile the busy negro had got the six stoves ablaze, and the appetising smell that came from the utensils over the fires made the starving miners oblivious to everything else. ”

“ For some months past I have been rather out of health, and, in fact, within a few days I expect to leave Chicago."
"Yes," she rejoined, "I saw that also in the papers. I read that you intended to go west among the mountains. Is that true?"
"Such are my present intentions, but they are always liable to change. A man who is fighting his own nerves is rather capricious, you know." ”

“ There comes into my mind at this moment something I have read somewhere about hangings at Newgate prison in England. They drop a man, then all concerned go at once to enjoy what is called the 'hanging breakfast.' The gruesomeness of such a proceeding fastened the item in my mind. ”

“ You know we women are rather superstitious, Mr. Steele, and I think it was that even more than your impending departure which gave me courage to venture up here."
"I am very glad you came," said Jack Steele gallantly, "and I shall be more than pleased if there is anything I can do for you."
"My father is the owner of a gold-mine in the Black Hills. ”

“ We shall want two or three men to look after the mules, and you must give me a week at least to get this cavalcade together. Sometimes there are neither animals nor men at Pickaxe Gulch, but I intend to telegraph at once and secure whatever transport is available."
Jack Steele smiled his appreciation of the capability displayed by the fearless young woman, opened his drawer, and took out a cheque-book.
"Shall we say five hundred dollars?" he asked, looking across at her. "You must leave some money with your father, you know." ”

“ If you will now give me the necessary money, which may be anything from two hundred dollars upwards, depending on what you want to take with you, I shall go at once to Pickaxe Gulch, which is the nearest railway station to the Hard Luck mine, and will collect what transport we need. There I shall await your coming. Do you intend to take any servants with you? ”

“ You're the man responsible, and you know it. We've sworn to hang you, and we're going to hang you."
"My dear sir, your statement is definite and concise, without being as illuminating as I should like. A mistake has been made, of which I am the innocent victim. You are the victims, too, for that matter; because, after all, it is not a mistake, but a conspiracy. I can see, however, that nothing I may say will mitigate the situation in the slightest degree. I shall, therefore, not indulge in useless declamation. Three things are fixed: I am the owner of this mine ”