Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-12
LONE MOUND BOOMERS.


train that had just pulled up to the little sta
ton at an Insignificant but ambitious prairie
eity, Hank Fisher uttered a snorting sigh OF
Disappointment II gave him little satisfac-
ton that the putting and wheeling Of the To-
connective drove his team Of half wild ponies
almost frantic, and gave him an opportunity
to exhibit his ability as a driver in control
ling them IL caused him small qualification
when he overheard bystander remark that
Hank was right smart Of driver, femme
tell YOU
During the over trip from Lone Mound he
had been nursing sort of unreasoning wrath
against certain absent and wholly innocent
persons, and their anticipated derogatory re-
marks in regard to the hospitality to which
be was TO introduce them. And now that
they had not put in an appearance, he felt
very much as if he had been cheated out of a
Just vengeance.
His feelings found partial vent in pistol
like crack of his black snake whip, that sent
the half wild ponies flying out toward the
prairie at rate that threatened to whirl
the wheels off from the old blue blackboard
to which they were attached
Hank growled, hoarsely, as he retained his
position on the swaying seat with acrobatic
ease; ''Mebby they reckon they kin find all
manner o. fault jest cuz they wear plug hats
an air pussy. Wal, if they'd a-said two
words a-pickin' flaws, ID
He turned about as the last Of series Of a
shouts reached him. Had the author Of the
shouts been any other but the man who had
uttered the laudation of Hanks ability as a
driver of half broken ponies, it is probable
that he would have treated the hail with con-
tempt But as it was, he pulled up to learn
the pleasure Of the shouter.
New conner wants to go to Lone Mound ~
was the shout.
Hanks spirits rose as he drove back to the
little station.
'Mebby its one NV 'em, after all" he told
himself Plug hated and pussy!" he ques-
toned loudly, with profound disregard for
tho feelings of the new conner, whom be might
be describing.
"Noap!" answered the informant, very
promptly. "'Pears quiet like Deacon,
reckon, by his looks"
The old gentleman, toward whom desig-
mating thumb was jerked, was of benevolent,
almost Of humble, appearance, and simple
dress. His was not a tall or plug" hat, and
his spare figure was so far removed from
corpulency that by no stretch of Imagination
could he be considered pussy"
Clearly this was not one Of the presupposed
fault finders
In his disappointment, Hank half turned
the team about, as if to dash away again.
But he thought better of it, and few min
utes later the stranger had taken his place on
the seat of the old blue blackboard, and the
ponies were bounding away at rate that
made the passenger cling fast to the seat to
prevent being thrown off by the terrific
jounces.
But the old gentleman bore it with such
serene humility that Hank speedily relented
trihe and became confidential as he Jerked
the ponies down TO something like regula-
ton trot.
WAS lookin' fer some fellers on that train, n
he said. Stuck up cusses. | reckon, an
pussy, too, The boys lowed they'd a-fnd
fault if the grub want prcsizely up to the
handle, so to speak, Wal, if they had, blamed
if wouldn't But they didn't come, so it
don't make no difference what I'd a-ione.
Sayn-this suddenly-'plug halted an pussy
capitalists Is mighty l'ble to find heap O.
fault if everything h'ain't jest So hain't
theyf'
| Nystified, the passenger replied modestly
that he believed they bore that reputation
That's what the boys lowed" continued
Hank. Railroad officials is mostly plug
hated an pussy, hain't theyf'
Many of them are, believe"
wal, that's what we lowed, too. Say,
thar's other ways o spendin' money besides
usin it to whoop up boom, h'ain't tharl'
! His companion acknowledged that different
avenues OF expenditures existed, and Hank
lapsed into silence.
When, at length, the old gentleman asked
mildly if the boom at Lone Mound was still
active and increasing, there seemed to be no
cause for tine sudden outbreak on the part Of
the other.
Hang the booml" he half roared "Haint
no boom thar, an never will be- Towns
dead; railroads gon' to New Boston, stead
Nv too Lone Mound an that settles i'll"
"But | understood that lively boom had
just begun there" returned the passenger,
.and-and p
wal, it h'ain't! Say, if the money tina;
has ben raised to whoop up the boom is used
fer sumpn' else, it's the business Nv nobody
but the boomers, is itf'
This seemed more of defiance than an in
quiry, and the passenger quite modestly and
hastily expressed the opinion that the affair
concerned no one hut the participants.
Course not" Hank agreed An if them
ere pussy fellers'- He paused as if men,
tally debating as to the proper method OF pro-
cedure against tho pussy" ones. wal, we
did reckon on "A boom, but thars no signs NV
it now" he said, regretfully. "Less'n the
foundation Of new school house an the
startin' of a graveyard with one grave air
boom signs"
The interest of the passenger was manifested
with such unobtruslve humility that pres
emily Hank began to tell the story o. the
dead boom.
Lone Mound and New Boston, insignificant
but ambitious settlements, were bitter rivals
The citizens Of each were prepared to 60 n
almost any length to advance the interests of
their own town and discomfit its opponent
When the Transcontinental railroad de
cided to project its line westward through
the yss unorganized county Of Pawpaw, and
onwanl toward the range country, each Of
the settlements was on the qui vive to secure
the passage Of the line through itself As .
result, each was determined TO make the best
possible showing upon the arrival Of the
officials who were expected to make a tour Of
observation of the proposed route
1t was popularity believed that the settle
ment that appeared to be most prosperous,
and therefore likely to add most to the volume
OF the company's business, would secure the
quality OF the reception rendered them might
influence the choice OF the inspecting officials.
The securing Of the line meant much to the
town through which it passed, for its import
ance as trading point would be vastly in
creased, its population augmented by new
arrivals, and when the organization Of the
cou fy finally took place the railroad town
would undoubtedly become the county seat.
AN Hank grew confdential-'when
the news come the boys reckened on Jest
nachully layin' it over New Boston, er ever
lastin1y Dustin themselves q tryinn
At hastily called meeting a boom oom-
mittee was appointed, and Immediately prem
arations were made for creating that fckle
attribute Of so many western settlements-a
boom
The reception rendered to the expected
railroad officials was to be upon scale Of
magnificence calculated to make the citizens
New Boston turn green with envy. There
was to be an address Of welcome delivered
in the best style OF Col Henderson, an auc-
tioneer Of six years experience
The business houses wefe to be decorated
and parade was talked Of But tho crown
ing glory Of the reception was to be a ban
quet, the like of which had never been sseu
in Pawpaw county
committee on finance was appointed.
and all present were requested to donate.
An said Hank, every Teller thar div
down in his pocket an Clipped in all be could
spare
1t was decided that the members Of the
finance committee should visit the outlying
a1a.r.