Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-03-08


romantic name of John Smith Yet he
was long way from financial success,
he told himself as he took an inventory
of his worldly belongings, at the close of
the two years.
81 have the satisfaction of knowing
that l have done my best since began"
he said to Mr.. Brown, who had all along
shown fatherly interest In the young
typo.
"No one could have done better, my
friend; you have worked too faithfully;
you are pale and fifty pounds, ut least,
thinner. i have project that think
will be good thing If you choose to ac-
cept it.
Some money sharpers here in Boston
have been investing in western land
They want tc start immigration thither,
to sell their purchases at big prices. They
applied to me TO furnish a correspondent
who would go there and write up the adj
yantages of the location in such irresis-
table terms that there would he per-
feet stampede for their Eden. Thought
of you and told them knew the man
that could do it if he would But told
them did not like 10 part with him,
and it would not be for his interest TO
leave me for any moderate sum.
They offered me one thousand dollars
for six months work, expenses paid, be-
ginning May LIST. They want a neat lit
tie pamphlet gotten up, with good land
scape engravings of different views of
the natural attractions, aud the most
glowing account of them that can be i'm
agined. They require one thing you
may object to, not the slightest regard
for truth is expected to characterize the
report further Than is to their interest to
adhere to it."
ut is poor country, indeed, if it will
not show up beautifully with only one
side Of the story given. The bright side
might be told, and the shadows of ST
lence cast over the dark SIDE" Emmett
suggested.
True enough. I knew YOU were the
man for the situation. They slso want a
weekly correspondence furnished all the
leading journals of this city. and quar-
terly boom sheet with extravagant re-
ports Of the rush of emigration. &c. You
win have to rough it. There is not a
railroad within fifty or seventy-fve miles
of their tract, and only few trappers
and half breeds living nearer than the
railroad town."
Emmett looked thoughtful. uere Was
an opening to earn a thousand dollars in
six months. He had only saved that in
two years, and studied strict economy
Would it bring the goal nearer that still
glowed brightly i'll his soul, the pure
lovely girl that lived in his thoughts as
wildly as on that terrible night two
years before. Il believe l should like it,
but shall want my place with you when
l return"
"You shall have it" Mr.. Brown replied
heartily, land your time from this hour
until you start"
Messrs Grind & Sharp gave HolIan d
Emmett all the instructions require for
the expedition, and money enough to
defrsy present expenses. At st. Paul,
Minnesota, they would request their
| bankers TO send him remittances from
time to time as he might request, and at
that city he would meet an artist whom
they had engaged to accompany him and
sketch views for the pamphlets and boom
sheets that he was to prepare. st. Paul
was venerable city for western town,
but from Boston it seemed to be the an
tipodes of civilization. Yet the young
man was to push on two hundred miles
into the very wilds of buffalo haunts and
the homes of the prairie wolves and cav
ote. Hope held fair promises before
him and hade him be Of good cheer, for
the delusivs Goddess cin smile rs lur-
ingly on the morn of disaster AMI de-
feat as on the eve of success.
Hollands employee directed him to Pc
pert at the Windsor House, st. Paul,
where he wonld find further instructions.
He had made leisurelv trip thus far,
determined TO both enjoy and instruct
himself in the new aud strnnge cities
and country through which his wy led
him. Soon after registering at the Wln,l-
sor a strange looking individual an1r NJ
ched and askei if he was John Smith,
in the employ of Grind & Sharp. Boston
In his surprise at the mans appearance,
he answered, almost sharply, Eyes, what
| 10 Won want"
81 am engaged to attend Their CORE
| spondent in his summer engagement IN
Dakota. TaW an artist"
''Y"u?" That syllable expressed sew
"ral sentiments, -iishv SIR ria ,l.Sgn.t
.uG disnust The small, oaloGz. half
,pen-d eYss glirtered nmipog-'v, lp' the
glib tongue answered. slnonthiv, Eyes SIR;
/ was instructed To select equipment and
provisions tr the campaign have
done so, and await your order on Cash &
Co., bankers. TO pay for the same"
"Show me your Instruction. observ.
ed John Smith, briefly.
The strange character promptly han
ded him letter from Grind & Sharp.
addressed to Louis Baptiste, st. Paul,
care OF Cash & Co, bankers. He CLAN
ced at the contents of the letter. Show
me the establishment of Cash & Co."
GLADLY, Mr.. Smith, ~ and he walked be-
side HIM, talking of the city, their trip
to the frontier. in his peculiarly easy
manner, as if he only opened his lips
and the words rolled out of them, drop
ping in even tones, devoid of emotion of
any kind whatever. Mr.. Smith handed
the usher card.
Cash & Go. are expecting you," he
said, and showed him into their Office
announcing both men by name. When
salutations were exchanged, Smith saidl
"rhis is the artist, hear, who is to
accompany me. and has instructions to
select our outfit"
HE is the gentleman, Mr.. Smith, and
and you will find him very suitable
man for the situation. Mr.. Baptiste is
we'll known in st. Paul"
Arrangements were completed and
early next morning John Smith and
Louis Baptiste were steaming across the
low level prairie of Minnesota toward
Big Stone City, the terminus of the rail.
road. Baptiste informed Smith during
the ride that he chad written to his
brother, who was trader among the
Sioux tribe of Indians, to meet them
with the ponies at that point and pilot
them to Grind & Sharp's tract of land in