1911 John Brown's Heir

As soon as it became known in the gold mining district that John Brown, a prospector, had made a rich strike, a newspaper reporter was dispatched to his cabin for particulars. After getting them, he next interviews Sam Thompson, an old pioneer of the camp, who is suffering from an incurable malady and cannot live six months. These two articles get their headings mixed in the composing room of the newspaper, through the stupidity of the printer's devil, and when published the next morning, the story of John's lucky strike reads as follows: "John Brown, of Valley Camp, discovers a rich gold mine. He came here a year ago in good health, but now he is suffering from an incurable malady and cannot live six months." The item is copied by other newspapers, and finds its way to each of Brown's relatives, who, believing that it will be to their financial benefit to show some little concern, send him pressing invitations to visit them. At first John is inclined to be displeased with the false newspaper report, but on second thought he decides to keep up the joke by accepting the invitations. Accordingly he visits his relatives, pretending to be as sick as the newspaper represented. In making the rounds of his kinfolk, John's good luck does not forsake him, for he makes another strike, not a gold mine this time, but a comely little housemaid with whom he falls in love. After a brief courtship they are secretly married. He then returns with her to the mining camp and extends an invitation to his relatives to call at the cabin on a certain date, that he may impart to them the contents of his last will and testament. On the day in question, the relatives are promptly on hand in keen excitement and anticipation, but to their surprise they learn that Brown is enjoying the very best of health, is married and has bequeathed his entire fortune to his wife.