The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-02-02
A Bright Schemer.

a Br1gnC Schemer.
A professional real estate ''boomer'
while riding on horseback through the
pine woods of Arkansaw, came upon a
peculiar-looking fellow sitting under
tree, deeply interested in sort of dia-
gram, which, with S short stick, he was
drawing in the sand.
"How are you?'' said the boomer,
dismounting.
'.Ain't complanin'. the fellow re-
piled, cotemplating fresh mark which
he made in the sand.
'You seem to be laying off town
there"
':No, amt doin' that. nuther."
':Must be some sort of land scheme
you've got on hand"
mo, it amt that nuther."
II was in hopes so. You see my
business"
mo, didn't see yore bizness. nuth-
er."
"Wait minute. I say my business
is to 60 into neighborh ood and inn
mediately bring up the value of land by
stimulating a spirit of speculation.
Say for instance, that you've got one
hundred acres that you'd like to sell
but for which you have not found
market. see you secretly and enter
into an arrangement with you. Short
]y afterwards I meet you at the cross
roads where you are sitting with
a number of fellows. meet you as if
for the first time, fall into conversation.
gradually come down to land matters
and after awhile ask you who owns a
certain tract. You do. 1 would like
to buy it. You regard the matter care
lessly. just as observe you are admira-
bly, fitted to do, and without giving me
any satisfaction, get up and go off.
Then take out sort of map and after
looking over it for some time humble
something about new railroad, as if l
don't care about anybody hearing me
and after showing considerable anxiety
concerning you, ask where you have
gone, and start out to look for you. l
fail to find you and come back to the
place where the fellows are sitting.
Finally explain all about the new raj
road, and speak of you as most fortu-
nate fellow, for the new depot is gong
to be located on your land. 1 start out
to look for you again, and while
am gone you come back. By this time
those fellows have formed sort of
syndicate to cheat you out of your place.
The leader begins to ask about your
land, all the time keeping a sharp look
out to see if L am coming back. and the
first thing you know you've sold your
place for ten times as much as 1t is
worth. After that, of course you give
me certain per cent. of the money
See?"
The diagram-maker sprang to his
feet, knocked the boomer down and
kicked him; and as he was trying to get
up. knocked him senseless. When the
boomer came to. he raised up and said;
'.WiIl you let me go now?'
The peculiar-looking fellow glanced
up from the diagram, upon which he
had resumed work, and replied:
Reckon you d better"
The boomer got up. and. after brush
ing the sand off his clothes, said.
"Would you mind telling stranger
who is acquainted with the social GUS
toms of the community, why you
thumped me around that way?'
mo, wouldn't mind. You see,
feller with the same game come
through here about a month ago, an ]
was one of the fools that was roped
into buyin' old sedge field that ain't
wuth ten cents"
THANK you for your information.
1 do not care to be inquisitive, but
will you please tell me what sort of
map that is you are working on SO
intently?"
II am tryin' to see eff ken make
map shown how railroad ken gil
round cypress swamp, over bayou,
over sand mountain, through another
swamp and then git to the old field
that a possul of us fellers bought.
Stranger. 1 reckon you'd better mosy
along, now" "-Arkansaw Traveller.