The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-01-18
Sad Experience Of q Credulous Jour-
nal.st.

4
One day last week a gentleman en-
ployed in the newspaper business on
Montgomery street, and who, not de-
string notoriety in this connection, will
be called by mis- familiar sobriquet. ''the
Judge" was sauntering up Post street
in search of other worlds to conquer,
when most singular looking specimen
of the granger variety hove in sight
about half a block distant. As he APP
preached the journals. his eve sudden
~ fell on an object some few feet in
front of the latter, upon which he
pounced with great avidity. The curl
osity of 1.-The Judge for a moment
overbalanced his dignity. and he asked
the greenht IN what he had found
Examining the object very closely,
the farmer gave it as his opinion that it
was nothing less than gold quartz
'.speciment, worth nigh onto two hun
drej dollars"
The Judge looked at the specimen
and concurred in the belief.
"What am l goin' ter dew with it.
thought" asked the granger. "Fve
got ter ketch the Petalumy boat, and
I've only got bout 'leven minits ter
dew it in" pulling out a well-worn silver
time-piece. "There's sure to be a big
reward offered for this here rock to
morrer and l can't be here ter lay
claims to it."
The Judge thought he saw
chance. The quartz, he argued to HIM
self, was probably worth good deal
more than the rough estimate made by
the cOuntryman. 1t had no doubt been
lost out of a collection belonging to a
rich man, who would be willing to pay a
large sum for its restoration to its place
in his cabinet. The Judges" salary
is only eighteen dollars week. He
waited in silence.
Would you-that is, dew you
think you could could take this we're
speciment in trust fur me. fur, say fif-
teen dollars. and take care of the thingp
I'd give We half the reward. you know,
and you air, more used to these
things, you see. Your face looks right
honest, and l guess lean trust We. Hur-
~ up and say what you'll do, fur I've
only got jist nine minnits more"
"All right" said the Judge" and
he passed over the bright coin and pock-
eted the valuable nugget, with which he
quickly vanished from the scene in ex-
cited delight and keen satisfaction.
He said nothing to his friends about
his transaction, and his landlady won
dered that night what made the
Judge" whistle and sing so much in
the hallway. Next morning he was up
bright and early. looking over all the
newspapers for the advertisement con-
tanning a mention of the reward. None
could be found, and the evening papers
of that day were likewise mute on the
subject. Next morning also brought
disappointment. The Judge began
to mistrust, but he hired boy for the
rest of the week to look up the adver-
tisement, though with the same disgust
ing result. An idea suddenly struck
him. and he started almost on run for
an assayer's Office, where the informa-
ton thai the "quartz" was made up of
brass filings, stuck on common piece
of concrete, was not long withheld by
the amused assayer. Then the indigna-
ton of the bodied Judge" found its
vent in accusations right and left of the
man who had thus practiced on his
credulity and honesty, but did not sue
coed in fixing the charge. On Saturday
he received note in an unknown hand
writing, stating that ne could keep the
''speciment' or take all the reward, as
he thought best. The sarcastic missive
was signed "Petaluma.' San Fran
cisco Chronicle.