|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 58
"Ah! That may be," said Martin, forcing to his rather hard features a
bland smile. "But these new irons I will keep from burning."
"It's no use, Martin, to talk of lead-mines to me," said Jasper
firmly. "I am spread out enough already. Contraction, not expansion,
is my present motto. I've met with more than one heavy loss since I
saw you."
"Have you, indeed? I'm sorry for that. But a false card will turn up
now and then, you know. The game in the long run is sure."
"We're sure of nothing," replied Jasper, with considerable feeling.
"I wouldn't like to say that. Of course, all plans will not succeed;
for man's judgment is far from possessing the virtue of infallibility.
But human reason would be a poor endowment, did it not lead us, in
most cases, to right conclusions, if we are careful in our modes of
using this high faculty."
"The purpose of your visit to the East," said Jasper, who understood
perfectly the man with whom he was dealing, and, therefore, determined
to know at once the length and breadth of what he was expected to
do, "is, I presume, to enlist some capitalists here in a lead-mining
speculation?"
"My ideas do not extend quite that far," was Martin's answer. "Too
many cooks, you are aware, sometimes spoil the broth. To come to the
point at once, let me explain the purpose of my present journey to the
East."
"Well; I am all attention."
"My fur-trade business, as I wrote you a year ago, turned out
disastrously."
"Yes."
"After that, I opened a small store in one of the frontier towns, and
I did very well, all things considered. But the gain was too slow to
suit my ideas of things; so, meeting with a fair chance, I sold out,
and bought a lead-mine, which I have been working ever since to
good profit. Recently, I struck upon one of the richest veins ever
discovered. If properly worked, it will yield a rapid fortune. But I
have not sufficient capital to avail myself of the advantages offered,
and have come on here to lay the matter before you, and to offer you a
share in the business."
Jasper shook his head, saying--
"I have more business on my hands now, Martin, than I can possibly
attend to."
"You don't know what you are declining, Mr. Jasper," urged Martin
warmly. "You havn't yet looked at the statements which I am prepared
to lay before you."
"I do know one thing," was the feeling answer, "and that is, that I am
declining trouble and cost. About that part of the business, there can
be little question."
"Then," said Martin, his manner changing, "I am to understand that you
do not wish to join me in this matter?"
"Yes. I would like you to understand that distinctly."
"Very well. I am sorry you refuse so advantageous an investment of
money; for right sure am I that no other investment you can make will
turn out as this would have done. But, as you have declined, I will
not offer a share in my good fortune to any one else; but prosecute
the work to my own advantage."
"I thought you hadn't the capital to do that," said Jasper, speaking
with ill-repressed eagerness.
"Nor have I," coolly answered Martin. "The proposition I was about to
make was this--an advance of twenty thousand dollars capital on your
part, to constitute you an equal partner in the mine. But this you
decline."
"Certainly! certainly! I would not have entertained it for a moment."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|