Why didn’t you send the “Live Yankee” deed-the very one I wanted?  Have made no inquiries about it, much.  Don’t intend to until I get the deed.  Send it along—­by mail—­d—–­n the Express—­have to pay three times for all express matter; once in Carson and twice here.  I don’t expect to take the saddle-bags out of the express office.  I paid twenty-five cts. for the Express deeds.

Man named Gebhart shot here yesterday while trying to defend a claim on Last Chance Hill.  Expect he will die.

These mills here are not worth a d—–­n-except Clayton’s—­and it is not in full working trim yet.

Send me $40 or $50—­by mail—­immediately.

The Red Bird is probably good—­can’t work on the tunnel on account of snow.  The “Pugh” I have thrown away—­shan’t re-locate it.  It is nothing but bed-rock croppings—­too much work to find the ledge, if there is one.  Shan’t record the “Farnum” until I know more about it—­perhaps not at all.

“Governor” under the snow.

“Douglas” and “Red Bird” are both recorded.

I have had opportunities to get into several ledges, but refused all but three—­expect to back out of two of them.

Stir yourself as much as possible, and lay up $100 or $15,000, subject to my call.  I go to work to-morrow, with pick and shovel.  Something’s got to come, by G—­, before I let go, here.

Col.  Youngs says you must rent Kinkead’s room by all means—­Government would rather pay $150 a month for your office than $75 for Gen. North’s.  Says you are playing your hand very badly, for either the Government’s good opinion or anybody’s else, in keeping your office in a shanty.  Says put Gov.  Nye in your place and he would have a stylish office, and no objections would ever be made, either.  When old Col.  Youngs talks this way, I think it time to get a fine office.  I wish you would take that office, and fit it up handsomely, so that I can omit telling people that by this time you are handsomely located, when I know it is no such thing.

I am living with “Ratio Phillips.”  Send him one of those black portfolios—­by the stage, and put a couple of pen-holders and a dozen steel pens in it.

If you should have occasion to dispose of the long desk before I return, don’t forget to break open the middle drawer and take out my things.  Envelop my black cloth coat in a newspaper and hang it in the back room.

Don’t buy anything while I am here—­but save up some money for me.  Don’t send any money home.  I shall have your next quarter’s salary spent before you get it, I think.  I mean to make or break here within the next two or three months. 
                                   Yrs. 
          
                                   Sam