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Date Posted: 15:01:36 07/31/02 Wed
Author: Digger Bob
Subject: Update on the "question"

I want to thank everyone for responding to my "theoretical" question. It seems most would want to take the percentage. I would too since that is my normal policy for search and recovery efforts. However, there is more to this one than a normal search for a lost ring.

I met with the principals last night and we discussed the search in depth. After all was said and done, I've decided to take the high hourly figure and dispense with the percentage. There are several reasons for this which I will try to cover here since some of you may find yourself in a similar situation some day.

This is an estate, money hidden by the deceased and never found. Actually, they aren't even sure such a cache exists except that he was known to be a bit paranoid about the IRS, government, Y2K, and all that. There were assets liquidated before his death and the money cannot be accounted for. And at least once a box full of gold and silver coins was seen. That's all there is for evidence. That and death bed utterences of pointing to the ceiling and "under the pretty tree". Sounds like the beginning of an old treasure tale, doesn't it?

And since it is an estate, there are siblings each with their own attorneys waiting for the dust to settle so they can scoop up whatever is left of the estate, even though I am dealing directly with the executor.

So, rather than get caught up in all the potential legal entanglements, not to mention the IRS looking at me if it was known that I had been given $10,000 in bullion for my services, I decided to play it safe and take the sure thing. Besides, having the attorney alter the contract would delay things even longer. I would have to have witnesses watching to make sure nothing was slipped into a pocket or mysteriously disapeared, etc. There is a whole host of things that could go wrong when you are dealing with more than one person, not to mention lawyers. This way I can just be paid in cash for my time and remain more or less anominous.

Many people mentioned the "thrill of the hunt". Well, that will be there no matter how or even if I get paid. Perhaps if I am successful, I can negotiate a small "tip" of a coin or two as a momento;-).

We start with the easy search in two weeks. If that yields nothing we may have to wait for the first rains to soften the ground before I undertake the outside search.

I'll keep you posted...

Digger Bob

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