"I assured him that it was a generous act on his part, and that I appreciated his kindness very much. As to going with him to Australia, however, I insisted that he should give me more time in which to consider the proposition.
"After this modern knight errant had taken his departure, I experienced great difficulty in bringing myself to a realization that I had not been dreaming. My heart was all a-flutter, to put it mildly, and it is simply impossible for me to describe my emotions. I was thoroughly convinced that he was endeavoring to ensnare me in some kind of a trap, the nature of which was beyond my comprehension. He was to call again that evening, however, so all I could do was await developments. In the meantime I commenced to make preparations for a trip to Hot Springs, on the Santiam, which I had had in mind since my return from Spokane.
"When he called again that evening, I referred to my contemplated visit to Hot Springs, and he asked permission to accompany me there. This I declined to grant, stating that I did not consider it at all proper. He insisted very urgently, but still I refused to give my consent. After remaining the greater portion of the evening, he informed me that he would probably go on to Portland, and would expect to hear from me with extreme regularity, gaining a promise from me that I would write as often as possible.
"I had been at the Hot Springs but two days when my new flame put in an appearance. 'Just couldn't bear the thought of remaining away from you,was the excuse he gave. 'Besides,' he continued, 'the mining deal concerning which we talked, will be in readiness for consummation by the time we can reach Portland, and I want you to go there with me."
"I insisted that it would be necessary for me to return home before making the trip, but would meet him in Portland at a given time, and under that arrangement we parted company.
"When I arrived in Portland, I stopped at the Oxford Hotel, on Sixth street, and the day following my friend came there also and engaged a room. I did not quite fancy the idea of his putting up at the same place with me, but what could I do under the circumstances?
"From that time on it was another continuous round of pleasure, and not to be in the slightest degree selfish in the matter, I invited my sister to share my enjoyment. In fact, I 'worked' him to the queen's taste, to put it mildly, and it would probably stagger the imagination to know how much money he squandered with his lavish attentions. We had moonlight auto rides galore and the whole world seemed to be a sphere of everlasting happiness. We attended the theatre every evening, and invariably wound up with an elaborate spread at some swell cafe, until I began to think that I must have been 'a-dreamin' sure enough.
"About the fourth or fifth day—I say 'about' advisedly, because I took no account of the flight of time—my mining friend came to me one afternoon and after handing me a document, announced that it only required my signature to make me the proud possessor of one of the most valuable mining properties in the United States. Gee! but wasn't I on pins and needles! I could hardly restrain myself, and when he stated that in order to have everything regular it would be necessary for me to accompany him to a certain bank, where he would pay over the balance due on the option of purchase, and where my signature could be witnessed, I readily gave my consent, as I had made a careful examination of the document in the meanwhile, and could find nothing objectionable therein.
We then started for the bank, but somehow or other I became suspicious that all was not right, and determined to make sure of my position before signing any papers. So I stopped my friend on the street and told him that, while I had every confidence in his integrity, I considered it advisable to consult with my attorney. Judge Thomas O'Day, before taking further action. He demurred to this proposition and assumed a highly indignant attitude, declaring that he did not wish to acquaint outsiders with the nature of our relations, and insisting that everything was perfectly straight.
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