Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-08-22

scripticn to stock, 1t was soon all taken'
All were anxious to invest with the men
head of the concern. Peddleview, OF
course put in the last penny of his means
both visible and invisible, lands, cash,
mortgages A week later and
the rose began TO blossom. Machinery
arrived: the derrick soon climbed above
the tallest tops, and the "boom." 50
long desired, took giant strides. When
the first scream Of the whistle at the well
awoke the idle echoes Of the surrounding
hills. the people were jubilant indeed.
The old bell in the solitary church set up
an awful clamor; men rushed out here
and there, expecting at any moment 10
hear the cry Of Oil! Oil! Oil! Yes, some
even thought there was danger OF the
streets being flooded by the new "gusher,
A real estate bOom' Yes, and no. Ihere
| wasn't a person within five miles that
| would sell his holdings for love or money
The widow was the only exception 10 the
general rule; she was the only sane one
in the whole crazy region. Her contract
was to dispose Of her few acres at an
enormous sum. The papers were made
out and signed, she to receive the money
| the moment oil was struck-when the
colonel so instructed the local bank be
sides this large sum, she was to receive a
royalty on each and every gallon OF the
crude production. A good contractf !
should think 80. But what difference did
it make TO the principal contracting par
ties so long as IL was in the family This
was Peddleview's view Of the case; the
widow saw 1t in the same light.
Day after day the drills were kept busy
Day after day the"boom" expanded. Folks
.carcely slept for weeks. And when, at
last, the cry of oil did fly through the
streets, the inhabitants grew fairly wild
and frantic with JOY.
While the noise was loudest, Mrs. Dor
othy Griffin nee Smith, widow Of the late
Tobias Griffin, Esq, Of Flatrock, went
very calmly to the bank and drew her
round thousands, put the same into her
sachel, and sought the seclusion OF little
chamber at the hotel
A vast change soon spread over the com
munity. The oil did not flow. 1t would
have to be pumped. So the drills were
lifted and the pumps put in readiness. by
the time this was done, it was late at
night Work was then abandoned until
morning. Another morning dawned. But
great horrors!-pump all they might, a
few pailfuls were all that could be raised,
This news brought despair and chagrin
Real estate fell Of q few points. with
sales not mentioned Just here the col
onel went around to see his beloved, and
sug2est-not on his own part 50 much as
that of a few incredulOus stockholders
that she delay the withdrawal Of hei
funds until such a time as the well
wealth should be fully demonstrated. OI
course, this was to be merely caution
lry measure: il should not take-it could
not take-the form of a demand. 1t wa'
all in the family, you know; and, besides
It was too late.
The colonel raped softly on the widow
door, then he raped louder, and then h'
raped very determinedly. No response
He opened the door and walked in. Tn,
house was deserted. The keys were all il
the locks. Possession was handed over
Peddleview went out into the garden ant
called.
"She must be at the hotel, thought he
and thither he went, but found her not
The widow was gonel Yes, GONE!
She had left the day before, just after sc
curing her cash-left for Erie eu route fo
Buffalo and Suspension Bridge; and Their
was no telling where she was by this time
Furthermore, it was discovered that 1
former lover OF hers was missing. Th'
news spread like a prairie fire in Septem
ber The well had been "loaded" by tn
widow and her accomplice. Come to thinl
Of it, It could have been done very easil.
when the workmen left for dinner. Poo
Peddleview, indeed. His was the creates
loss-his money, heart, friends-hundredl
Of them-had deserted him at one stroke
The trouble threw him into nit Of sick
ness, in which his mind was also despaire'
Df But, thanks to his strong constitu
ton, he recovered this at last.
The paper Of the Flatrock Petroleum
company went to protest that very after
noon of the discovery.
The towns boom" was dead beyond a
hopes of resuscitation, and what is more
buried beneath the double reproaches of
twice deluded populace.
But here comes Peddleyiew himself
Let me introduce you. He is setting u
the pins for justice of the peace. l fee
sorry for him; he's been through a hea
OF hard luck--C. G. Blanden, in Tn
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