The Argosy, Vol. 82 No. 2 — page 112: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

294 THE A ripple of surprise and gratification ran through the ranks of the Forty-Niners. “This,” went on Robbins, “‘will be entire- ly apart from, and in addition to, the sala- ries each of you will receive at the month’s end. The money is a gratuity, and the reason for giving it will be explained later. Kindly form in line.” Golshaw marshaled the crowd in a single rank. As each person passed in front of, Robbins, the latter handed out five twenty- dollar gold pieces and had them receipted for. The first man to get the “gratuity” was Gordon Castle, and the last was Old Jack, the Ute. Jack drew a cross at the bottom of his re- ceipt and went away biting the coins to make sure they were genuine. Reeves, his own gold clinking in his pocket, was growing more and more be- wildered. The baffling nature of the mys- tery increased with every move of the prodigal Robbins. “Now,” proceeded the latter, after the gold had been parceled out, “‘you have had many pledges of my good faith, and this last one ought to be more than sufficient. I have backed it with a free outlay of two thousand dollars. Next, I will give my selections for the various business activities of the camp.” At this point he took a memorandum book from his pocket and consulted it from time to time. “Colonel Chet Hungerford will be land- lord of the Spread Eagle Hotel. He will check off the various articles on his inven- tory and sign the lists in duplicate. Then, from the time he begins business, he will keep an accurate account of all he receives and disburses. “Tf the hotel shows a profit, he will re- ceive twenty-five per cent of the same; if a loss, he must make it good to the extent of twenty-five per cent. Ah Sin, at such wages as he and the colonel may agree upon, will be the cook. Manuel and Pablo will wait at table and make themselves generally use- ful, and, as with Ah Sin, their wages will lie between them and the colonel. These wages, let it be understood, to be in addi- tion to the sums to be paid each member of the Forty-Nine Camp, as such.” “By gad!” whispered Hungerford hoarse- ly, wiping his moist brows on a bandanna. “Can you beat this?” “The Bobbetts will conduct the Bazar,” proceeded Robbins, unmoved, “in the same ARGOSY. manner Hungerford looks after the hotel— a fair division of profits, if there are any, or of losses if they prove poor managers. With every article listed on the Bazar inventory the Bobbetts will find the cost price, laid down in the Notch.” ‘My sakes, Ezra,” palpitated Ma Bob- bett, “I always wanted you to keep a store.” ‘“And here’s the chance,” struck in Gen- tleman Jim, with glimmering eyes on Ezra. ‘“Ma and I can do the sellin’, all right,” said Ezra, ‘but Lady Ann’ll have to keep the books.” =. ‘James Rayner, Billy Vince and Pop Handy will begin business at El Rio Rey,” continued Robbins. ‘‘Gentleman Jim to look after the gambling tables, Vince to play the piano and Handy to be behind the bar.” “Gambling is barred in this State, too,” spoke up Gentleman Jim. “Swell chance I have to show a profit.” “You haven’t much on me, at that,” said Vince. ‘Play piano—and pass the hat in a crowd of make-believe old-timers! Oh, well,” he added, and jingled his pocket, “I can hang onto my hundred bones. It ain’t SO worse.’ “Jest think o’ me as a purveyor of giver sody and root beer!” wailed Pop Handy, and almost wept. ‘The Garcias,”’ proceeded Robbins, ‘‘will live in the adobe next to the Bazar. They can eat there, or board at the hotel.” “We'll board,” averred the senorita deci- sively. “Madre mia,’ and she looked at her soft brown hands, “ cooking is not my line, but to dance!” and she tripped lightly the measure of a bolero, swinging a beaded bag in which rattled her own gratuity. ‘Ree Middling has a shack up the gulch,” continued Robbins, ‘‘and will live there and mine for gold.” ‘In played-out placerings!’’ commented Middling. ‘But this sure was a noble place for workin’ a cradle or gold-pan, once on a time!” and his eyes roved fondly up and down the gulch. ‘“Lafe Smedders runs the corral and looks to the live stock,” announced Robbins. “Martin Reeves has a roving commission as a Tenderfoot, and the rest of you will kind- ly see that he encounters the usual tender- foot’s troubles.” “We'll look out for that,” said- Rayner, and leveled a glance at Reeves that indi- cated humor—and something else not at all pleasant. CORNICGLOOOKS (C@