alcoholism," as the result of their
inquest into the cause of Concho's death, had not Dr. Guild fought nobly
in support of the law and his own convictions. A majority of the jury
objected to there being any inquest at all. A sincere juryman thought
it hard that whenever a Greaser pegged out in a sneakin' kind o' way,
American citizens should be taken from their business to find out what
ailed him. "S'pose he was killed," said another, "thar ain't no time
this thirty year he weren't, so to speak, just sufferin' for it, ez his
nat'ral right ez a Mexican." The jury at last compromised by bringing
in a verdict of homicide against certain parties unknown. Yet it was
understood tacitly that these unknown parties were severally Wiles and
Pedro; Manuel, Miguel, and Roscommon proving an unmistakable alibi.
Wiles and Pedro had fled to lower California, and Manuel, Miguel, and
Roscommon deemed it advisable, in the then excited state of the public
mind, to withhold the forged application and claim from the courts and
the public comment. So that for a year after the murder of Concho and
the flight of his assassins "The Blue Mass Mining Company" remained
in undisturbed and actual possession of the mine, and reigned in their
stead.

But the spirit of the murdered Concho would not down any more than
that of the murdered Banquo, and so wrought, no doubt, in a quiet,
Concho-like way, sore trouble with the "Blue Mass Company." For a great
Capitalist and Master of Avarice came down to the mine and found it
fair, and taking one of the Company aside, offered to lend his name and
a certain amount of coin for a controlling interest, accompanying the
generous offer with a suggestion that if it were not acceded to he would
be compelled to buy up various Mexican mines and flood the market with
quicksilver to the great detriment of the "Blue Mass Company," which
thoughtful suggestion, offered by a man frequently alluded to as one of
"California's great mining princes," and as one who had "done much to
develop the resources of the State," was not to be lightly considered;
and so, after a cautious non-consultation with the Company, and a
commendable secrecy, the stockholder sold out. Whereat it was speedily
spread abroad that the great Capitalist had taken hold of "Blue Mass,"
and the stock went up, and the other stockholders rejoiced--until the
great Capitalist found that it was necessary to put up expensive mills,
to employ a high salaried Superin