Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-02-19


tory, Capt. Suggs turns land speculator-
of course without capital or credit-and
the following is given as his first "ope-
ration."l
Shortly after the land office had been
opened at Montgomery, a perfect mania
for entering government lands prevailed
through the country. Spectators from
Georgia and Tennessee, and from the old
er settlements of Alabama, might be seen
dashing along at halfspeed, almost any
hour in tweuty-four towards Montgomery.
Many a long and hard race was run by
rival lapd hunters, intent on the posses
sion of the same irst-rate eighty" or
"tip-top quarter All those were "the
times taat tried" horse flesh. But as we
were going to say, there was u public
house on the road from Captain Suggs'
neighborhood to Wetumpka, about fifteen
miles from the latter place, and double that
distance from Montgomery. At this house
the captain stopped once, in the hope Of
tndIng prey among the numerous specu-
lators who thronged ii almost every night,
going to or returning from, the land office.
1t so CHANGED on the occasion TO which we
refer, that supper-time brought with it no
additional guest to Mr.. Doubleioy's table !;
and the captain having nothing better to
| do, retired early to bed He had hardly
fixed himself snugly between the sheets,
however, when two persons ride up TO the
house almost simultaneously, and put up
for the night. One Of these persons came
from the direction of Wetumpka, the other
from the Georgia end of the road. 1t was
not leng before the new corners, who pro
we'd to be old acquaintance, had despatch
ed supper, and taken bed together in a
room adjoining the captains. Their bed
however, was close 10 his, and the chinks
of the log partition enabled him 10 catch q
part of the conversation which occurred
after tue strangers had laid down. From
it, he gathered the facts that one of the
parties was bound for Montgomery, anC
that his object was to enter a tract of lanC
upon which was very valuablem mil si1oat
He listened to hear the numbers, but the
Spectator only incidentally mentioned
that it was part Of section 10, leaving thu
captain entirely IN the dark as TO the town
ship and range.
"If', muttered he, 81 could only get tn
township and range, I'd make a CahoO
business with old man Doubleday, get tht
money from him, and enter that mill-shoa
with the twenty foot fall, before ten o'cloc
tomorrow. But though he listened close
", he could obtain no more accurate de
scription of the land than that it was pan
OF section 10, in the eastern part of hi
own county, near Dodd's store, and valua
bic as a location for a set of mills. II
learned further that the stranger was yer
apprehensive that the agent of certal
company would be at his heels by morn
ing, and give him race for the land
This determined the captain how 10 &C
and he rolled over and went to Sleep
BY day-break next morning the mil
shoal man was off. The captain wa
''wide awake" but said nothing until h
intended victim was fairly gone. He the
ordered his own horse and dashed dow
the road at half speed. By the time h
had ridden half mile, he overlook Il
land-seeker, whose horse seemed ver
stiff and slightly lame.
70 "-Mornin', mister" was the captain
salution, as he rode up by the stranger
side. "Sorter airish this mornin'-iude
that horse o. youln is fetched with Il
i Ie founder"
"l'm afraid So" was the reply.
lie! "Oh, iii be id if you need be afee'
of it, mister. It's jest So" said capita
Suggs. 'In two hours more he won't
t: able to step over the butt cut Of broo
straw"
ed, 81 hate it worse" said the strange
because Pm just now now in particul
hurry to get to Montgomery on importa
business. | would give any gentleman
me- he continued, cycling the captains old SC
s8s' rel, "an excellent trade, to get nag tn
ng, would do few hours hard travel
ooh, | underestimate you needr
view this here old animal like you thong
so much on him. tell you what, mist
e, - what did you say your name happe
ed TO BET"
ne. "Jones"
He "Jones, eh?-well, Squire Jones,
tell you on the honor of a gentleman,
you was to light from your horse and Il
lat the purtiest hundred dollar bill that CIV
De had picter on it, across your saddle,
IN wouldn't take 'em both for old Ball, at Il
particular time In four hours must
a. in Montgomery"
he "You certainly must be going 10 emf
he land, from your hurry?"
70 "a body would think SO, that looked
to the matter rightly. And what's more
said the captain, It's quite likely Their
= e.. -. lar,d from Huha