The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-05-14

project to Maria, and, to his surprise,
she agreed with him.
st I don't know what made me do it
either, she said afterward, talking to q
neighbor when Silas had gone. g It is
only throwing good money after the
bad. .
Nevertheless she did SO agree, and
went hard to work to get her husband in
trim for the journey. He, the mean
while, worked steadily to secure money
for the purpose, and then, respondent
in blue brass -buttoned swallow tail, drab
trousers and tall hat, with the certificates
snugly placed inside breast-pocket, de-
parted. The exact locality of the well
he did not know. He understood it was
somewhere near the city of P. and
thitherward he iourned, feeling conf
dent that the Sc Great Union Petroleum
Oil Company" could easily be found.
Silas reached P the next evening
and found it a lively place, made up
and speculators and, like wise man,
he went Immediately to hotel and ate q
hearty supper and then went to bed.
And on the following morning he was
ready for business and on that morn
ing, too,- came the tide that led him on
to fortune.
When he passed out into the street
after breakfast he found everybody talk
ing about Sc the great strike" of the pre-
ceding night. It seemed that new
company, composed of Eastern men, had
been boring for oil for some time past,
and with no prospect of success. But
inst as they were about giving up, and
considering the money invested as money
lost, then it was fortune smiled upon
them. In q moment, as is occasionally
happens, they had struck the oleaginons
fluid, and the despised well became =
flowing fountain of wealth. And, of
course, the company stock went leaping
up to an enormous distance beyond par.
Silas heard all this, and his heart and
head at once became light with hopeful
expectation.
Shouldn't wonder bit if twas our
well, he murmured to himself, cause
the Jugge said we was Jest an the pint
well !" Then, as man went hurrying
by, he asked Say, Mister, is it the
Great Petroleum Company that has
struck oil ~
why, of course it's petroleum com
pany," replied the man. hastenine ON.
g jest knew it Hoorray for Gineral
jackson - shouted Silas, throwing his
best hat recklessly into the air, much to
the surprise of the bystanders. Then he
hurried back to the hotel, scarcely know
ing whether he stood on his head or
heels. After he reached that place he
didn't know what to do with himself.
He walked around, and then he sat
down; then he got up and walked about
again. Presently he entered the reading
room, and as he did SO he heard gentle
man near one of the tables say:
Well, last night / would have sold
my four shares for fifteen cents on the
dollar, but now I hardly know what I
would take for them
g Have you got shares In the Great
Petroleum So have l." exclaimed
Silas, rushing straight up to the stranger
as if he were his long-lost brother.
Bully, amt it9 Hoorray for
Don't get excited" interrupted the
stranger, laughing. s. Perhaps You are
mistaken. Let me compare your stock
certificates with mime . AS he spoke he
placed his own certificates on the table,
and Silas did the same with his The
papers certainly bore a general resem-
blance, but just as the stranger was about
to examine them closely some one came
to the door and called him.
can't stop" he said, gathering up
his papers again hastily and placing
them in his pocket; !" there isa carriage
In waiting for me outside. However, my
friend, he added. s you just keep cool.
That is my advice.
The stranger then walked quickly out
of the room, and Si1as sat still for q mo-
ment with his certificates yet ON the table
before him. Some one placed hand on
his shoulder. He turned and saw small,
neatly dressed, keen-eyed man behind
him.
Pardon me, sir, said the newcomer,
"but heard part of your conversation
with the gentleman who has just gone.
understood You to say that you owned
several shares in the well that Is so talked
about this morning2"
Yes, I've got four shares" replied
Silas with complacent lpromptaess.
6 What viii you take for them ?''
Don't know as keer about sellin'. %
answered Silas.
The stranger picked up the certificates
and looked at them carefully, and then,
apparently satisfied, he said:
viii give you three thousand dol
lars cash for them. "
Silas shook his head.
Four!"
Another shake of the head.
sfFive!''
Silas began to waver little, and he
stopped to think.
s. Give me six thousand and vougmav
have 'em, +" he said, finally.
1t was the strangers turn now fo hesi-
tate. He scrutinized the certificates very
closely, meditated moment, and then
said /:
81 viii take them. /"
The exchange was quickly made, the
stranger took the stOck-cerf5fs "a .aEes and