Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-04-29

Silas had frequently heard before, but this
time sudden thought came to him. He
would go to Pennsylvania and look for
himself. He mentioned the project to
Maria, and, to his surprise, she agreed
with him.
81 don't know what made me do it,
either" she said, afterward, talking to .
neighbor when Silas had gone. 1t is
only throwing good money afterthe bad. !"
Nevertheless she did so agree, and went
hard to work to get her husband in trim
for the journey. He, the meanwhile,
worked steadily to secure money for the
purpose, and then, respondent in blue,
brass buttoned swalicw-tail, drab trousers
and tall hat, with the certificates snugly
placed inside breast-pocket, departed.
The exact locality Of the well he did not
know. He understood ii was somewhere
near the city of P, and thitherward he
journeyed, feeling confident that the
Great Union Petroleum Oil Company"
could easily be found.
Silas reached P the next evening
and found it lively place, made up chief.
ly Of refineries, derricks, oil barrels, and
SPECTATORS; and, like q wise man, he went
Immediately tn q hotel and ate hearty
supper and then went 70 bed. And on the
following morning he was ready for bust
ness !. and on that morning, too, came the
tide that led him on TO fortune.
When he passed out into the street after
breakfast he found everybody talking
about "the great strike" Of the preceding
night. 1t seemed that . new company,
composed of Eastern men, had been Dor
ing for oil for some time past and with no
prospect of success. But just as they were
about giving up, and considering the
money invested as money lost, then il was
fortune smiled upon them. In moment,
as 1t occasionally happens, they had struck
the oleaginous fluid, and the despised well
became g flowing fountain Of wealth.
And, of course, the company's stock went
leaping up to an enormous distance be-
yond par.
Silas heard all this and his heart and
head at once became light with hopeful
expectation.
Shouldn't wonder a bit if twas our
WE'LL" he murmured to himself, "cause
the Judge said we was Jest on the pint o.
strikin' somethin' I'm sure it's our
weln' Then, as man went hurryin by,
he asked: Say, Mister, is it the Great
Petroleum Company that has struck oil ?"
"Why, of course it's a petroleum CON-
pany," replied the man, Fastening on.
Il Jest knew itt .Hoorray for Gineral
Jacksonl" shouted Silas, throwing his best
hat recklessly into the air, much to the
surprise of the bystanders. Then he hur-
ried back to the hotel, scarcely knowing
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. Present
" he entered the reading room, and as he
did so he heard q gentleman near one OF
the tables say:
We'll, last night would have sold my
four shares for fifteen cents on the dollar,
but now hardly know what would take
for them"
Have you got shares In the Great Pc
troleum' So have ], exclaimed Silas,
rushing straight up TO the stranger as If he
were his long lost brother.
"Bully, amt itf Hoorah for"
"Don't get excited" interrupted the
stranger, laughing. perhaps you are
mistaken. Let me compare your stock
certificates with mine"
AS he spoke he placed his own certifi-
Gates on the table, and Silas did the same
with his. The papers certainly bore a
general resemblance, but just as the stran-
ger was about TO examine them closely
some one came to the door and called him.
II can't STOP" he said, gathering up
his papers again hastily and placing
them in his pocket; there is carriage
In waiting for me outside. However, my
friend" he added, "you just keep cool,
That Is my advice"
The stranger then walked quickly out
of the room, and Silas sat still for a mo-
ment, with his certificates yet on the table
before him. Some one placed hand
on his shoulder. He turned and saw q
small, neatly dressed, keen-eyed man be-
hind 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 talked
about this morning"
Eyes, I've got four shares" replied
Silas, with complacent promptness.
"What will you take for themf"
"Donr know as / keer about sellin',"
answered Silas.
The stranger picked up the certificates
and looked at them carefully, and then,
apparently satisfied, he said:
81 will give you g, 900 cash for them"
Silas shook his head.
Four!'
Another shake of the head.
"Five!"
Silas began to waver little, and stopped
to think.
"Giye me six thousand and you may
have EN-" he said, finally.
It was the strangers turn now to hest
tate. He scrutinized the certificates very
closely, melitated a moment, and then said +:
81 will take them"
The exchange was quickly made, the
stranger took the stock certificates, and
Silas placed six new, crisp bank-notes In
his wallet, and the two then separated.
Elated and excited over his good fortune,
Silas paid his hotel bill at once and set
out for the depot just in time for home
ward train.
And when he reached home what a sen.
sation his story produced! Everybody In
the little village talked and wondered, and
strangely enough, too, Silas was the only
one OF the "Great Union Petroleum Oil
Company" who realized anything on Me
stock. People wondered about that, too,
and Judge Fay explained II by denying
the statement of Silas altogether. Indeed,
in q moment Of excitement the Judge for.
rot his usual caution and gave bis reasons.