The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-02-06
FUITON'S UNIQUE STYLE.
his Original way Of Getting Food
Without Cost.
How He Bambooxlcd Farmer Out Of IN
Entire Barrel of Cidcr--lIis Expert-
mess with tho rorl-Fun at the
Expense OF 0reenhorns.


Expense OF 0reenhorns.
The oil town Potrolia. which has re-
Gently been burned, had In it's flush
days q character in Johnny Fulton.
He was, says the Now York World,
young man from Kittanning, Pa, who
pretended to practice law, but he
was 80 very busy having fun that
he had no time to waste in any
other pursuit Fulton never missed an
opportunity to make some one the vio-
tim Of . sell Of some kind. He was
wonderfully plausible liar, and 1t was .
favorite amusement Of his to take q seat
in lunch-room alongside Of . stranger,
and while holding him spell-bound with
some amazing story of lifo In the oil
regions, steal the food of the strangers
plate and eat 1t. He had acquired great
expertness with the fork in this busi-
ness, but his success lay in his skill In
weaving romance that rivetcd the list
ener's attention to degree which made
the pilfering Of potato or spoonful OF
beans from his plato an easy matter.
One day he bamboozled farmer out
Of an entire barrel Of cider with the same
facility that he would have harpooned
biscuit of his plate.
At this time the mud was hardly less
than two feet deep on the streets Of tho
town. The farmer made his appearance
with barrel Of cider on his wagon
seeking purchaser for 1T. Fulton
hailed him and began negotiations for
the cider. Ho was very particular about
the quality, which, no said, was
OF much moro Importance to him than
the price. The price, In fact, was no
object. He said he WAS about to open q
new store and he intended to treat his
friends to the cider as card for custom,
"a sort Of free blow to every body"
After being assured by the farmer
that the cider was the best that could be
made he accepted the terms and volun-
teered to pay two dollars extra II the
farmer delivered the cider In the store
tapped and on box ready for business.
The farmer wrestled with the barrel for
nearly an hour before he got 1t through
the mud TO the sidewalk. Fulton re-
quired him to carry water from the
creek and wash the mud off the barrel
before rolling 1t into the vacant room
where he said he intended to open
large stock OF goods.
The farmer finally got faucet into
the barrel, rolled it on box, and then
Fulton began to call in his friends.
Every body who passed along the street
was urged to come in and partake.
''You won't mind drawing of the ci-
low IA N hcx ~ hr II reA tv, 10
glib and oily way, land then will have
the pleasure Of introducing you to a few
OF my friends"
As the crowd fled in Fulton would re-
ceive them with flourish and say:
"Mr. Jones, this is Farmer Wayback.
Farmer Wayback, shake hands with Mr..
Smith" In this way he introduced Tom,
Dick and Harry until the demand for
the farmers services at the faucet be-
mere civilities. 1t was ali Farmer
Wayback" oouN do to twist the faucet
and keep the empty cups filled.
Fulton drank deeply himself and en-.
livened the occasion with piquant re-
marks to the effect that the expense
could 60 hang when 1t came to opening
q new store and doing the square thing
by the boys He told the farmer the
cider was great success and he could
bring In barrel on the same terms
every day for week and two on Sunday
~ 1t was as good IS the presenv article.
He was going to pour libation to every
man. woman and child that came along
II 1t took all the cider In Butler County.
1t never occurred to tho farmer to ask
such liberal, whole-souled young man
for settlement, and Fulton continued
to shower his bounty upon the crowd OF
losfers until the cider began to get low
In the barrel. This was the signal for
him to quietly retire from the festive
scene and seek seclusion elsewhere.
The farmer ladled out the older as
long as it lasted, and when the last dip
perful had been yielded up the crowd
also forsOok him and left him holding
the empty barrel on the box and vainly
waiting for Fulton's return. After wait
ing until dark, and the young man came
not, he rolled tho barrel into the wagon
and taking seat astride of 1t, drove
away with tho remark:
"lf that darned cuss gifts this barrel
he'll be smarter than am, b. goshr"
Locomotive w. Storms.
A correspondent of tho Northwestern