Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-01-19


One of Simon Suggs' FIRST financial
experiments was 10 jockey a Mr.. Jones
out OF a considerable sum Of money and
an exchange horses, under preteuce that
he (withou. dollar in his pocke0 is
hnrrying on to buv The same lot of land
which he has wormed out Jones To be
on his way TO purchase. Suggs over
takes the traveller, aud as the Captain
struck his heels agains, Balls sit!es, Mr..
Jones seemed 10 grow nervous.
Whereabouts does your land lie!' he
asked.
Up in Tallapoosy.' replied Suggs and
again lie thumped Bali with his heels. -
MIR. Jones evidently grew more uneasy.
w hal part of the country lie asked.
Close o the Chambers Line, not far
from Dodd's store. Get along Bali -
was the Captains answer
Stop, sir, if you please-perhaps-I
would Iike--we'd better, perhaps, an
der gasped Mr.. Jones, in great.agi 4
iinn.
TO be sure we had said Suggs, with
grea sang jroid. Its Just as you saJ !;
but wha, the devlIs's the matter with you
ARE you going TO take fs!'
Jones explained that he thought it
likely they we're both gong to enter the
same piece of land. 'Wha, did you say
was the number Of yours! he asked. =
i didn't mention no number, as well as
noe recoIlect, sad Suggs. with bland
smile. However, Squire Jones, as ii
looks ike your gear don'! fl you, some.
how, I'll Jlst tell you tha. the land I'm
after is ll'tle, no account quarter section
that nobody would have but me; IL 5
poor, bnl IT'S got snug lIlle shoal on
il, with twenty or twenty five foot fall;
and may be they'll wan: to build lille
town at Dodd's some of these days, and
| mought sell 'em the lumber. Seein'
! your pretty much alooi, even ii you
wanted it, may al well give you the
numbers, if can, without lookm' in my
pocket book. lis ten--ten- section
ten, township--oh, d--n The number,
never can remember-' .-
IS. L, quarter Of ten: .wen,y two
twenty tive-an'G i;!' asked jones. who
looked perfectly wild.
Now you vii me! good as four acres
--,hen's the figures!' said Capt. Suggs
lbs the same place I'm after; I'll gave
you fifty dollars 10 let me enter H.
You wouldn't now, would your
IN give you hundred
Try again FL"
| We'll, III give you hundred aud fl
ty, and not a dollar more said Jones, il
a decisive tone.
Lets see--well, I reckon though
don't know-Yes, suppose must lie
you have it, as | cant well spare money
enough TO enter il at tins time, no how,
remarked Suggs with much truth, as hi
cash on hand did not amount TO quit
Que fortieth of the sum necessary I,
make the entry. But you must swaI
horses, aud you must give me twen,,
dollars boot
/ This was agreed to, and Capt. Simol
Suggs received the one hundred an,
seventy dollars with the air OF a maj
who was comforting a most subs,antia
ldNots duu uuduC uisCIo tCudthS iduudo
ry of his own disposition. while Mr.. J
4 counted tie bulls and changed the sad
|bies. Turning his horses head home
ward, Capt. Suggs soliloquized some
| what in this vein: "A pretty toloble fai
mornin's work, should say. One hun
dred and seventy dollars in the clear pi
zafinctum, and a horse wuth iist fifty dol
lars more than old Ball. That make
exactly two hundred and lweutv dol
lars. as nigh as | can guess, withou,
had Dolbear along! Now. so,Ae feiler>
after maxim sich little decen, ris
would milk the COW dry, BY pushin' .
to Doublejoys, star.in' runner the niR
way to Montgomery, by the Augu&s
ferry, and enlerin' that land in somebq3
else's name before Jones gets there. Z.
But honesty's The best policy. Horel
is the bright spot in any mans charac.e'
Fair plays jewel, bat honesty beats
all 10 pieces! Ah, yes. honesty. Hon
EsTY's the stake that Simon Suggs wi
ALTERS tie to. What
>1sssfs integrity?