Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-06-20

CICu tue CAlAlu VI buC pcisOh WIN hoN
jumped his claim. And the jumper, sit
ting on the grass near by and fashionin2
wreath of wild roses for the little grave,
looked a trifie less grief-stricken than be-
fore.
When, later, Mr.. Ben Fargo was pass
ing the Eureka General Store in New
Boston, he was stopped by Colonel Pride,
who sat on the porch.
''Did the jumper cut up rusty, Benz
asked the Colonel.
"Nopew Fargo answered, shortly,
moving away.
"Go without trouble2"
"Nope!" More shortly.
"Reckoned he was able fer you2"
"Nope" Farther away.
"Waal, then, what did"
''Nothing. There yet" Fargo turned
the corner.
There was diversity of opinion among
the prominent citizens congregated on
the porch of the Eureka General Store.
Some believed that the jumper must have
been victorious in the fight that was sup
posed to have ensued when the eviction
was attempted. Others were darkly of
the opinion that Ben had severely injured
or possibly assassinated the jumper. This
would account for his "being there yet"
They even talked little of investigat-
ing, but then it was really none of their
business, anyhow. If the jumper had
been misused, he had only got what he
deserved, and besides, it was not wholly
policy to interfere too much with Fargo's
affairs.
Hickson, the mail-carrier, as he was
going from New Boston, saw the smooth
ing of the baby's grave and marveled
thereat. When he returned from the
trip, day later, he retailed the news to
the prominent citizens on the porch of the
Eureka General Store.
"Waal, I'm beat" announced Colonel
Pride.
"Me, too," agreed several.
The attempt to interview Ben Fargo
when next he appeared was not brilliant
success. That parsonage informed them,
first, that whatever occurred at his claim
was the business of no one but himself, land
second, that he was both able and willing
to trash any man who desired to make it
his business. For some time thereafter
the citizens who were in the habit of con-
gregating at the Eureka General Store
initiated the example of the legendary
parrot of the mythical sailor, which ira
dition declares said very little, but in
j. +,.o,& oft 1ivly
ing.
1t was some time before Mr.. Hercules
P. Small had an opportunity to chronicle
in the Clarion the events which followed
the last jumping of Ben Fargo's claim.
Before the arrival of the next publication
day he broke the little hand mixing job
Der while ''running OFF, stray bills, and
it could not be used till duplicate of the
broken part could be obtained from the
foundry. The large newspaper press did
not arrive as expected, and the second
issue of the Clarion did not appear on
time. Anxious inquiry brought the reply
that the press had been shipped prompt
ly, and later had been turned over to the
freighters at Metropolis, where the rail-
road ended. 1t was courteously hoped
that the press had arrived before the re-.
cept of the letter of explanation, and so
forth. But still the press did not come,
and the second issue of the Clarion did
not appear. Hurried correspondence in
stituted an investigation, but no trace of
the press could be found. 1t had totally
disappeared somewhere between Metropo.
lis and New Boston. The freighters who
had taken charge of it at the point where
the railroad ended could not be found,
More than one repetition of the
publication day passed by without
the appearance of the Clarion. In his
excitement at the loss of the large press,
Small had forgotten to order duplicate
of the broken part of the jobber. Finally
a clew was struck which led to the dis
covery Of the press in the possession of an
enterprising but INSCRIPTIONS journalist,
who was cheerfully preparing to begin
the publication of a paper in tiny settle
ment about halfway between Metropolis
and New Boston, and which hopefully
expected to some time become town.
This enterprising person, upon meeting
the freighters and learning what brought
them thither, and also their burning de.
sire to seek pastures new, fastened to in
form them that he was Mr.. Hercules P
Small, and that having decided to locate
at the tiny settlement instead of at New
Boston, he would relieve them of tht
press there. They were not regular
freighters, but ''movers," who had beer
employed because they were going in tha
direction anyhow, and would do the worl
: for a fraction of the regular charge. No
being acquainted with that kind of busi
ness, they gladly gave up the big pres
, and departed for their chosen destination
, The rightful owner of the press pos
sessed himself of it in much the sam
r manner that Ben Fargo had been wont t.
repossess himself of his claim. Severa
prominent citizen assisted Mr.. Small il
, getting his press, and in short time i
o was in the little office at New Boston
r and the second issue of the Clarion wa
| being 'srun off," In speaking of the en-
y terprising journalist who had been de
$ prived of the press, an editorial gravel
I expressed the belief that he had not, a
/ the time Of going to press, stopped run
G ming in .head-long fight from communi
ty that had been made excitingly war;
for him. In another part of the pape
: was notice:
"Married, by Rev. Mr.. Prouty, at tn