Since then I have been a miner and dealer in mining properties, with the common average of the miner’s ups and downs. Much of my time has been devoted to the mother lode of California, where I own a property that has an immense future. * * * * * I am an old man now--in years, but not in hope. I have outlived not alone nearly all my contemporaries, covered by this narrative, but the turbulence and ardor of my early years as well. But while many illusions inseparable from the imagination of a robust and enterprising youth have disappeared, I still have very definite ambitions to pull off one more surprise on the world before the close. There may yet be a sequel, another chapter to the story to which may be attached more fittingly than now the sad word that marks the conclusions of all things human-- (THE END.) [The above was written nearly two years ago. Since then Mr. Harpending’s ambition has been realized. He sold one of his mines on the Mother Lode and after many fluctuations of fortune is again the possessor of ample means. One of his last and best friends was John A. Finch, of Spokane, to whom this volume is dedicated. Just as the forms were going to press, word came of the sudden death of this good gentleman in Idaho. He took great interest in the publication of this book, which he can never read.--Editor.] [Illustration: THE LATE JOHN A. FINCH Who possessed all the qualities of a good man and many of the qualities of a great man.] [Illustration] Transcriber’s Notes Punctuation, hyphenation, and spelling were made consistent when a predominant preference was found in this book, otherwise they were not changed; simple typographical errors were corrected. Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained. Page 126: “incidentials” was printed that way. End of Project Gutenberg's The Great Diamond Hoax, by Asbury Harpending