If you can’t get the whole of the second story at Kinkead’s, why, Gov. Johnson’s seems pretty good.—Ⓐemendationexcept in the matter of binding yourself to take it for a year. I would not like to do that, for when the Capital buildings are erected, you will probably have rooms in them. The suggestion is worthy of attention. Wherever you go, fit up the office superbly. I don’t like J Gov.Ⓐemendation J.’s as well as Harrington’s, because the former is not on the principal business street.1explanatory note

I thought it was a blank deed which Sam Montgomery c sentⒶemendation me.

Send those Spanish spurs that hang in the office, out to “Thomas Messersmith,2explanatory note care of Billy Clagett,” by some safe person. I wore them in from Humboldt.

Yes, I have received the $100—much obliged. Stand by, now, for we shall let a contract on the Flyaway to-morrow, which will cost about $200—sink a shaft 25 feet deep.

No, let the Humboldt ground alone, but keep yourself posted about the rise of property in Dayton, so that you may know what you are about when you start in to sell those lots. And post yourself about Carson property, too—so that you can sell your town lot for all it is worth. The cards are the Flyaway and the Monitor—and we will stake the whole pile on them. If they win, we are all right—if they lose, I am busted.

That is well. Let Mollie stay where she is, for the present.

Perhaps you had better send me your note to Teall.3explanatory note

Never send anything by that d—d stage again, that can come by MAIL, as I have said before. The pkg envelops cost me 50 cents.

You don’t understand. A letter from here, by Express, must be enclosed in a W.F. envelop, and be additionally prepaid in cash and cash only.

I hope Barstow will leave the “S.L.C.” off my Gate City letters, in case he publishes them. Put my Enterprise letters in the scrap book—but send no extracts from them East. 4explanatory note

You perceive that I am not in a high good humor. For several reasons. One—Raish came home from the mill this morning, after working the whole night, and rea foundⒶemendation a letter from Bob, in which he learned that no sale had been effected.5explanatory note This reduced his spirits to the lowest possible notch, for he is out of money, and orⒶemendation nearly so, and he was making large calculations on Bob’s replenishing his purse. Another thing is, two or three of the old “Salina” company entered our hole on the Monitor yesterday morning, before our men got there, and took possession, armed with revolvers. And according to the d—d laws of this forever d—d country, nothing but the District Court (and there ain’t any) can touch the matter, unless it assumes the shape of an infernal humbug which they call “forcible entry and detainer,” and in order to bring that about, you must compel the jumpers to use personal violence toward you! We went up and demanded possession, and they refused. Said they were in the hole, armed, and meant to die in it, if necessary. I got in with them, and again demanded possession. They said I might stay in it as along as I pleased, and work—but they would do the same. I asked one of our company to take my place in the hole, while I went to cul consultⒶemendation a lawyer. He did so. The lawyer said it was no go. They must offer some “force.” Our boys will try to be there first in the morning—in which case they may get possession and keep it. Now you understand the shooting scrape in which Gephart was killed the other day.6explanatory note The Clemens Company—all of us—hate to resort tooⒶemendation arms in this matter, and t itⒶemendation will not be done until it becomes a forced hand—but I think that will be the end of it, nevertheless.

Remember me cordially to Capt. Nye, and ask the old cuss how “Bill” is. If I wasn’t so glad to hear that the “old man” is back again, and if I hadn’t been swearing so much to-day that I am about run out, I would give him a dose of slang just because I am at a safe distance and can do so with impunity. He’d be d—d anyhow—just for a starter.7explanatory note

Ask Tom to give my dear love to Miss. P.—she with the long curls, out there under the hill.8explanatory note