Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-05-14

"quite welcome. i am really under
great obligations TO you. You have
saved me from doing great wrong l
shall always"
Never mind you have said enough.
1 think we are beginning to understand
each other--that Is, to some extent. We
have not been acquainted long, you
know"
After breakfast Reed harnessed his
team and we left for Nevada, Reeds
boy-little Jacob-calling out after us,
"Papa, bring me something from townp"
He was a bright little fellow, about five
years old.
On reaching Nevada 1 told Reed TO
drive directly to the Courthouse.
He turned pale.
1t is all right" said 1. ave are
going to see about the mortgage-it is, of
course, on recordP"
"Oh, yes of course" said Reed,
looking relieved.
We found it all straight. sold my
dust, drew some money that / had de-
posted at the bank in the town, and
then went with Reed and had the mort
gage released. then asked Reed if he
did not wish to take home some provis-
like to take home some provisions, but
did not like to go to the store after them,
as he owed quite bill-over 800, he
thought.
gave him $3.50 and told him to pay
off the old score and get what he want
ed besides. "Also," saidI, "go to q
dry-goods store and get your wife a
dress and some such things as you know
her to need, and something for little
Jacob"
60 But how am / ever to pay you all
this money!" stammered Reed.
"You are presently to give me your
note for the whole"
"But how shall l ever pay the notePn
"Never mind about that; that will be
all right. shall see that you pay-you
will work it out"
"Work it out!"
eyes; right at home-on your own
farm. You are going to work now-to
work for me and yourself and your wife
and your boy. could have sent you to
State Prison, but l can make better use
of you-do better by you. shall work
you on your own farm, instead of letting
you work in San Quentin. You will
have all manner of home comforts, and
will be making money for yourself and
wife and boy-more money than you
ever made in your life before. am not
doing right, know. am compound
ing felony, so to speak, for the law
requires me to send you to State Prison.
1 choose to disobey the law, however; 1
take the law into my own hands, and
I'll make better job of the business
before l get through with it than the
law would be able to do"
Reed looked utterly astounded.
Be off with you now and get the
goods you require; you will find me
with the team at the STABLE" said 1.
Reed marched away, did as told, and
presently came to me at the stable,
when we drove around to the store and
took in his purchases. AS Reeds guest,
| purchased some little presents for
Jacob and Mrs. Reed.
On the way home 1 gave Reed instruc-
tions. He was to tell his wife that
had paid off the mortgage, paid his store
debts and intended to set him upon his
feet and give him good start to make
money, giving him almost his own time
in which to pay the note he would give
me when all was arranged, and this l
was doing on account of our old friend
ship in Michigan. 4E1 4H
All this he carried on to the letter,
and Mrs. Reed shed tears of gratitude
when she tried to thank me-,
remained five days at Reeds ranch,
thoroughly studying it. During the
time l went to Nevada City and drew
more money, also took out to the ranch
an assistant to Reed, countryman of
mine from Deer Creek, a man named
Kempf. i told this man that Reed was
an old friend of mine to whom lent a
considerable amount of money in order
to give him a fresh start in the world !;
that Reed was good enough fellow, bu !.
a little inclined to be lazy and shiftless,
therefore wished him to push him in
the work on the ranch, as desired to
get my money back as soon as possible.
| also told Reed that any soldering on
his part would be reported to me.
l found and took up a water right,
through which sufficient water could be
obtained to irrigate the whole ranch !;
had surveys made, and at once let a
contract for digging the ditch, which
was but two miles long. l bought an
additional team and lumber for fencing
one hundred and sixty acres of land /;
also for putting private fences about the
house and barn, and gave orders for
fruit and shade trees to be planted. All
this did through my robber, Reed. i
then returned to my mine at Fall Greek,
telling the Reeds should return in six
weeks.
At the appointed time 1 was again at
the ranch, and found that all was going
on well. The ditch was completed, the
house and barn had been fenced, also
that the greater part of the fence about
the one hundred and sixty acres had
been put up, and the old fence made as
good as new.
bought ten COWS, one hundred sheep,
caused well to be dug, walled up and
housed in (before they had been using
water from ditch), hired another man,
and stout girl to assist Mrs. Reed, left
orders for an addition to be built to the
house, and the whole to be well painted,
then returned to mine. l say did
these things, and so l did, but no one
knew it, as all was done through Reed.
When winter came, and the mines
were buried in snow, / went down to
my robbers ranch, and went to work
there with will. Mrs. Reed did not
think it strange, as she knew her hus-
band owed me large sum of money,
which was to be made out at the ranch
besides, 1 charged regular wages
which was but right. She could but
know that her husband was rather in
dolent, and doubtless suspected why /
desired to be on the ranch and see that
work was pushed.
We plowed and planted the whole
quarter section of land, besides doing a
vast deal of other work, marketing and
the like. The ranch did not look like
the same place.
The next year all the ground was
fenced and brought under cultivation.
Fifty head of COWS had been purchased,
and two thousand head of sheep, with
many swine, and fowls of all kinds.
Chinese were put to gardening, and two
herders hired, one to attend to the sheep