Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-02-21

De beautiful.
slave you forgotten Pilgrims Prog
ress?''
"a piece of rank plagiarism. The
idea is thousands of years old"
''Why do we introduce d;scords in
music?''
Nonsense! I'll name you a thou
sand pieces famous compositions -
without a discord," Eugene answered.
1.-The fact is, the world doesn't believe
what it professes."
"Why don't you advocate crema-
tion?" l retorted. '.If your theory is
correct, burn 'em all up; burn the
whole world and carry twenty genera
tions in a watch-charm."
A friend called upon Eugene F. and
solicited his counsel and services in a
business matter 1t was a responsible
trust. The friend was going abroad to
remain for years, perhaps permanently.
He owned, jointly with his sister, a
piece of property near thc great Oil
Bet. 1t might be worthless. and it
might prove very valuable. What the
friend required was honest dealing.
For himself he did not care. He had
great wealth, but his invalid sister was
entitled to all that could be realized
from her half of the land. 1t was for
Eugene FIT discover the value of the
land and to exercise his judgment in
disposing Of it. He undertook the task
with ill-concealed repugnance. He dis
liked travelling; had horror of un-
aired beds and pot-luck. He went to
the oil regions in a bad humor. When
he returned, a great change was noticed
in his manner. A month had worked
wonders.
Just think of it, he said to me,
when he dropped in to shake hands in
his CHEEKY, hearty way. Il thought
those six hundred acres were worth
about five dollars an acre. At the end
of week was offered sixteen thou
sand dollars; in another week it jumped
up to hundred thousand, and finally
let it 90 for four hundred thousand,
half cash, balance in three months
1t struck us all as surprising streak
of luck, and everybody put it that way,
but Eugene, who was a convert to the
Belt theory, held it was simply a
matter of management and business ex-
perience and sagacity. He asserted
there was abundance of oil territory
undeveloped, and his friends were sur
prised beyond expression when he an
nounced his resolve to demonstrate the
correctness of his conclusions. He I'M
dertook the task of developing, and.
like many another who started out on
the Belt theory, he ended wildcat
ting In other words, he assumed ex-
traordinary risks. His efforts were at
tended with varying success. He expe-
rienced downright bad luck. and rare
good fortune, too.
In a year-less time-his old friends
scarcely knew Eugene F.. He was
energetic, confident, positive and de-
cisivc: very fair specimen of thor
ough-going American business man.
His ventures proved profitable in the
main, and then, all at once, accident
filled his pockets one night when he
slept. He was the possessor of half a
million. He was in the middle of the
current, prominent craft in the stream
that allured thousands, floated frac-
ton into safe harbor, and stranded the
great majority.
! seldom met Eugene now. We were
in different channels. Chance brought
us face to face one day in front of the
Era office.
"How are you, Ned? Hal dinner?
Come with me. want company. No
refusal now
'.Make it tonight, at home, and I'll
be on hand"
Il wish could; but the truth is, l
am SO seldom at home now-I don't
know when I've spent a night, or rather
an evening, at home.''
And this was my bookish friend who,
a year ago. could not be induced to
leave his snug library, or coy living
room, where his wife and children were
his chief companions.
Half an hours conversation proved
to me that my friend-tEe man | had
respected and loved--was as dead as
the Pharoahs. In bis place l found
man who seemed a bundle of nerves.
He had lost the repose of my old
friend, and with it his grace. While it
was impossible for Eugene F. to be-
come either coarse or brusque, his posi-
tive manner and tones, his decision,
gave him an angularity that was less
to be admired than his former ease and
urbanity.
"NOw you have made your pile, Eu-
gene, suppose you will be off to Europe
some of these days. Possibly we may
lose You altogether"
He looked at me with undisguised
what makes you say
that?"
..Eaey sag you are worth nearly
Million"
"See herc-this is in confidence,
Ned they fay great deal that isn't
true. But in this instance they are not
far wrong. But why should quit on
million? Have some more mushrooms.
This is the only place l can get decent
steak in town.
1--we seen the time you would have
been content with quarter of mill
ion."
Eyes; in the long ago. Do you
know, l was fool in those days. Ma
ture never intended a man should be
He ought to be just as eager
to make his tenth-yes, his hundredth
million for that matter-as his first.
For my part-but mind you don't let
your hive know it; l don't care to get
them after me-rve no intention of
quitting till I've made five millisps."
You have only another step to take,
and you will establish your claim to all
the privileges enjoyed by aristocrats."
He laughed.
''No. am too sensible for that" he
replied; although. for that matter.
you know l always held nature had
made its divisions. There will be hew-
ers of wood and drawers of water as
long as grass grows or water runs"
Il meant tn ere is danger that one dav