Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-01-02
A LOCAL CRGSUS.
Story Of the Owner of Boomtown
and His Delusion.

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"
There was about him nothing save the
signs Of sordid poverty, and yet all the
country side he was known rs the Cree
sus OF Boomtown.
] was spending tho summer at n little
out-of-the-world village in the Ale
gheny Mountains, where a store or two
and tiny box OF a post-office had
sprung up In the wake OF tho railroad in
a little gap in the mountains. A tiny
stream went bubbling through it, and at
evening the shadow Of the mountain
fell across 1t like 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 largo purple shadows made
sharp lines ncross the mountain sides,
there would be clatter OF hoofs down
the rocky road and the mountaiueers
would ride slowly in, hitch their horses
at n long rack, and form the group Of
idlers tilted back on chairs or empty
boxes against the shady side OF the
''etore."
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 a 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 trine lower,
the man gravely assisted the women TO
alight, and as he did 30 the younger
turned toward me n face so fresh and
fair and lovely 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 tho women do 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 Jim's
set up any kerridge yit In spite of his
riches"
Nav" responded another. "An'
furthermo', l see Miss Edmonds amt
beyand fetchin' in lectle ally-cum-
pain or YARDS TO trade for needles an
SIGH"
turned bewildercd face upon the
speaker.
who is Jim?" asked. "Is he your
local CrpsusP"
The mon broke out into loud guffaw
Of laughter.
Yes" answered one The Crnsus
OF Boomtown.
"Shoo, mistri,n answered another,
''do you reckon because we live in the
mountain we amt got no Jay Guile?
Jim don't look forehanded, but pear
ances is mighty deceivin', you know,
mighty deceivin'."
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,
"how's things comm on in BoomtownG
Has corner lots rizep What's the
market price for n site for theatyp
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 q
gaudy circus poster on the wall OF the
blacksmith shop.
Tell you what, JIM" interrupted q
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."
Jim's sallow face flushed under il,
tan, his bent figure Strengthened itself
and his eyes, before so dull and ex
presslonless, cleaned with sudden .ex
citoment.
1T will come" he cried, 'it's bount
to; an kin waltz and turning on hi,
heel, without another word, he strod,
away and re-entered the store where hi
wife and daughter were.
A silence fell on the little group. Per
haps they were q triAe ashamed OF thei
rough jokes, but presently some on,
said, half apologetically, ] thought:
Pears like Jim's done gone plumb
distracted about dat ole gap in tn
mountain OF hissen. Thinks It's wortl
more than the whole OF Pocahontas
An sech lanl 'cept dat little strip o
meadder It's 80 pore II wouldn't sprou
peas"
you see," said one OF the men
turning 10 me In good-humored expla
nation and shifting the guild Of tobacc
ne was chewing from one cheek TO tn
other, "you see when they was a sur
veyin' and prospectin' OF the Who'll
kentry TO build this hero railroad, on
OF the lines they surveyed was Iigh
through gap in the mountains tina
belongs to Jim, "Wa-al," with q laz