The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-11-30
A LOCAL CRESUS.
Story Of the Owner of Boomtown
and His Delusion.

ana his DeIuSiOu.
He did not look like a millionaire.
His frowsy hair and unkempt beard.
his weather-stained coat and coarse
Jean trousers tucked into uncouth cow
hide boots. the very air with which he
slouched along proclaimed him. in the
vernacular of the section to which he
belonged, to be ''po' white trash. y"
There was about him nothing save the
signs of sordid poverty, and yet all the
country side he was known as the Crn-
sus of Boomtown.
was spending the summer at a little
out-of-the-world village in the Allie
gheny Mountains, where store or two
and tiny box of post-office had
sprung up in the wake of the railroad in
little gap in the mountains. A tiny
stream went bubbling through it. and at
evening the shadow of the mountain
fell across it like a huge dial, telling
the time in magnetic way to the peo-
pie whose lives were only marked by
the rising and setting of suns and
the passing of seasons. Every evening,
Just as the large purple shadows made
sharp lines across the mountain sides,
there would be a clatter of hoofs down
the rocky road and the mouutaiueers
would ride slowly in, hitch their horses
at a long rack. and form the group of
oilers tilted back on chairs or empty
boxes against the shady side of the
..store."
On one such summer day, when the
whole valley seemed to swim in an am
ethystine mist. and the clouds floating
above in the upper blue looked like
white ensigns flying from the mountain
tops. / noticed wagon coming slowly
down the dusty road 1t was rickety
affair. with wheels that ran unsteadily
in and out of the ruts, and within. seat
ed on splint-bottomed chairs, were a
round-shouldered man and two women
wearing deep, cavernous sun-bonnets
and gowns of vivid pink calico. The
wagon stopped at the long hitching
rack, the deiected-looking horses hung
their heads. if possible, a trifie lower.
the man gravely assisted the women TO
ahght and as he did so the younger
turned toward me a face so fresh and
fair and lovely l could only think OF a
mountain rose, dewy sweet in the
morning. 1t was only for an instant
and then she followed her companions
into the store, carrying with them the
produce, the bags and baskets full Of
stuff that Is legal tender in the country,
and on which the women Go their trad
ing"
As the little party disappeared an
amused chuckle ran around the group
tilted back in comfortable abandon
against the store.
Don't seem like" said one. pointing
to the dilapidated wagon. that Jin's
set up any kerridge yit in spite of his
riches"
Nav" responded another. AN
furthermo'. l see Miss Ednouds amt
beyand fetchin' in a Ieetle ally-cum-
pain or YARDS to trade for needles an
SIGH"
1 turned bewiidered face upon the
speaker.
Who is JIM" l asked. us he your
local CruaSus?n
The men broke out into loud guffaw
Of laughter.
Yes" answered one The Cruesus
Of Boomtown-n
Shoe, mistri." answered another.
do you reckon because We live in the
mountain we amt got no Jay Guile?
jim don't look fo-ehaaded, but pear
ances Is mighty deceirin', you know.
mighty deceivin'.n
The laugh that greeted this sally
had hardly died out when Jim came
shambling across the dusty little plaza
from the store and Joined the group.
Hello, jim" cried one in greeting.
shows things comm on in Boomtown?
Has corner lots rize? What's the
market price for site for theaty2 i
am thinkin' Of comm over an buildin'
one, where stars Of the first magnitude
kin be seen fur one dime only he add
ed, quoting rather too literally from a
gaudy circus poster on the wall of the
blacksmith shop
Tell you what. Jim, interrupted a
tall, thin man. pointing to the previous
speaker. .'ef you kin tote Ed over you
won't have no call TO build gas works
Jest let him shoot of his mouth. an
you'll have gas 'nough to light Rich
mon, let lone Boomtown-
Jm's sallow face flushed under its
tan. his bent figure Strengthened itself,
and his eyes, before so dull and ex-
pressionless, CLEANED with sudden ex-
element
ut viii come he cried. ..it's bound
to; an kin watt" and turning on his
heel without another word, he strobe
away and re-entered the store where his
wife and daughter were.
A silence fell on the little group. Per-
haps they were d trife ashamed of their
rough jokes, but presently some one
said. half apologetically, l thought:
'.'Pears like Jim's done gone plumb