CHAPTER XXIV.
DEALING IN MINING SHARES.
The presence of Sedgwick in London greatly excited and alarmed Jenvie,Hamlin and Stetson. That mysterious American had returned, and allconfidently expected each day to be served with a notice of with a suitor a warrant of arrest. But finally it leaked out that he had bought ahome in Ohio and ordered a house built, sending the plans from London,and as day after day passed and no sign was given, they gained courage,and when Sedgwick once more left England, as they supposed for America,they grew jubilant again. The firm was now Jenvie, Hamlin & Stetson.Their business was prospering, and they all realized that the way to makemoney was to have money to use, and the prestige which the command oflarge means gives.
About a week after Sedgwick's departure they were seated in their privateoffice one morning congratulating themselves, when the former owner of'The Wedge of Gold' was announced.
"We cannot afford to snub the origin of our fortune," said Jenvie; "showhim in." This man's name was Emanuel. He was a Portugese. On this morninghe presented a seedy and dissipated appearance, as though he had beenenjoying his fortune too rapidly.
Once ushered in, he did not waste any time, but explained that he hadvery little money left, and had called to see, in case the gentlemen didnot intend to develop 'The Wedge of Gold,' on what terms they wouldtransfer back to him the mine, or any interest they might possess, andgive him a chance to go over to Hamburg and try to work the capitalistsof that city to buy a mine down among their second cousins in Boerland.
"How much could you afford to give for the property?" asked Hamlin.
"I sell him for L2,000. I would, for one speculation, buy him back if youcould sell, and would give L1,000."
"But you always said it was a good mine," said Jenvie.
"Of course," he answered, "an excellent mine, but on ze best of ze minesthere vos always one selling and then one buying price."
"If we were to sell to you, would you work the property?" asked Jenvie.
"Most certainly," he replied; "I would work it as I did before--on zepaper."
"We have sold the control," said Hamlin, "and have only left some sharesof stock."
"I understand," said the man; "Mr. Browning has the control and isunloading the stock cheap. He three days ago tendered me some stock forone shilling per share. I said, 'No, but give me one bond at threepennies per share for four months, and I will consider ze matter, and tryto help you close out some unproductive property.' He would not comply,but he thought it over very much, and asked me to call again. One broker,Mr. Williams, offered to sell me plenty for four pennies, but would notmake one bond."
"We do not care to bond ours," said Jenvie, "but would sell for fourpennies."
"I will not give it," said Emanuel, rising to go. "I would give you threepennies, but no more," and he started for the door.
The three consulted in private for a moment, and then Jenvie called toEmanuel, who was half out of the door, that he might have the stock atthree pennies for cash, but begged him not to mention that he hadpurchased it. Emanuel paid the money and took the stock, and then said:"You ask me not to mention this business. Are you crazy? Suppose Mr.Browning by and by bonds me ten thousand shares less than half he hasgot, with this in my pocket who will then have ze control? I want you topromise to say nothing about this sale for six months. In the meantimeI propose to become just so intimate with Mr. Browning as possible."
Then he winked and walked out, and the conspirators looked in eachother's faces and smiled.
Emanuel went directly to Browning and delivered him the stock, but helied about the price he had paid for it, telling Browning he had givenfive pennies per share for it. But while Browning was sure the man hadlied, he was satisfied, for he then had all of the stock of "The Wedge ofGold."
Browning had, as he told Sedgwick, gone to South America on a commission.It was known in London that he was a miner who had made a success inAmerica. An Englishman who had a bond on a mine in Venezuela had hiredhim to go over and make a report on it. He fulfilled the trust, but heheard while there of another mine in a district ten miles away. He wentto see it and bought it for L2,000, hired a foreman and ten men; laid outthe work for them for six months ahead, and left L1,000 in a local bankto pay them, with instructions to the foreman to send him a report andsample by every steamer.
The first mine was sold on his report, and besides his commission ofL300, the happy man who had sold the mine called at his house one daywhen Browning was out, and left an envelope directed to him. The envelopecontained a check for L3,000, and a note saying that the writer thoughthe was entitled to one-tenth of the proceeds of the sale, and thatBrowning must accept the money, for the writer intended that day toleave England. Browning turned the money over to Rose as her fee "asan expert."
A month later a steamer from Georgetown (British Guiana) brought newsthat the Browning mine was developing superbly, and still a month laterthe foreman estimated that he had five thousand tons of ore in sightwhich would average as well as the samples sent. Browning had the samplesassayed, and they averaged L5 6s. in gold per ton.
He had a friend named Campbell, who was a broker: Campbell dropped inupon him as he was looking over the assays, and he told him all about themine.
"What will you give me to sell that property for you, Browning?" askedCampbell.
"Not a penny," said Browning, "but I will give you a bond on it for fourmonths for an even L100,000, and you may make as much above that as yourconscience will allow; you may, by Jove."
"Will you make me a report and map?" asked Campbell.
"I will write you a report, and make you a rough sketch," said Browning,"but my drawing lessons were neglected when I was young, and I am not avery reliable or finished map-maker."
The conversation closed with an agreement, and the bond and report werein due time finished.