The record-union., 1892-10-19
JOHNNON'S FORTUNE.

I S1O 10y lAell bLi64C AldLAOA 4I1-
chine won't work, and eff Pm to save my
hay, Pll have to take that intrust money
and buy new machine"
II think you'd better not, father" Mrs.
Hobbs. answered in mild alarm. 81
don't know where you are going TO get
any more, and johnson is powerful
clost about gettin' the money on time.
I'd be ateard to let it run over minute y
well, but, Lucindy, the hays wuth
more'n the intrust, and you know they's
no takin' the stock through the winter
without it. The cattle might kinder rub
along, but the horses is just plum
ableeged to have their timothy, and my
timothy IS as tine piece as you ever sot
eyes on"
suppose you try again. Mrs. Hobbs
/ suggested, helping her husband to a
luscious quarter OF raspberry pie. 'I'll
go out with you and help unchoke her,
and Wen use plenty of lie, and mebbe you
can rub through just this once"
well, I'll try, Lucindy; | hain't no
hopes, but | would like to save that in
/ trust money"
| Mrs. Hobbs stayed in the field till 5
/ o'clock, and the hay was cut with few
delays: The girls brought out the sup
per, which was eaten with much relish in
! L1C Ia -uCIL. 1L6 uO1SES DSlOG MdICfGu
and fed, the work went on by the big
harvest moon, and at 20 o'clock the hay
from the "big medder' was in the stacks.
y few days after, Jim johnson came
out to see if the interest money was
ready. he tied his horse under tree
and started through the meadow to see
Mr.. Hobbs, who was fencing his riclIs at
the other side.
'Moses and the bullrushes! What's
| that ?'' he asked. gazing at glinty blue
reflections floating on pools OF water
| standing everywhere, for it had rained
| heavily the night before. "Oil, and no
mlstakeW he Went on, after dipping his
| finger into puddle and testing it care
! fully with his nose.
1t was only the day before that the pa
pers had contained an account of some
new oiltields found not above twenty
miles away. An old partner OF jim had
| been the first to invest, and was conse-
| quently fabulously rich.
Johnson carefully rubbed his finger on
his pocket handkerchief, slowed the latter
in deep pocket and hastened across the
field, his face pale and his eyes glittering
very unpleasantly. He tried to greet the
farmer with his accustomed familiarity,
but his words came by jerks and in gusts
and his throat became so dry that he
could scarcely articulate.
Whats the matter? Hain't you well?"
Mr.. Hobbs asked, suspending his work
to gaze curiously at his visitor. "YOu
look taller-colored as the dead, an your
eyes is like burnt holes in blanket"
No, thank you, not at all, )" Johnson
replied at random. Pm quite well, eX-
cept husky sore throat-are you well?
And the family?'
Pretty fair-we've got good deal Of
health mixed up amongst us-you know
| they's twelve all told"
- oS. a large. interesting familV-Want +
| to sell the iarm?"
He tried to make the question less
eager, but he could not quiet the tremor
in his voice, and he was IN mortal dread
lest Mr.. Hobbs should have some reason
to cross the field and see the OIL when his
''cake would be dough-" as he mentally
expressed it.
No" Mr.. Hobbs replied shortly, and
went on with his work.
| Jpn give you q good price for it-I
want 1t for combination shoe factory.
Set a fgger."
We'll twelve thousand-a thousand
apiece" said Mr.. Hobbs, jokingly; the
farm was not worth more than a third of
| that sum.
''Pl take it." with grasp. Here's
fifty to bind the bargain, and I'll fill out
a check for the balance right here"
He did so, and handed the paper to Mr.
| Hobbs, who kept his countenance and re-
SO4f OAl IL w ltn DGI4SCL RIdNlIN. 1TlFdLelY
he was convinced that johnson was
crazy.
Come to the house and sign the con-
tract for the deed"
"All right"
Mr., and Mrs. Hobbs accompanied John
son to town, and were thunGerstruck
when they learned that the sale was real,
and that they had twelve thousand dol,
lars in the bank.
Sense that Johnson hain't crazy,r
Hobbs began as soon as he was clear of
the town, why, they's somethin' in the
wind. 1t may be shoe factry, but I
don't believe it. 1 wonder ef they've
found gold?'
''It don't make no sort o. Difference to
US, father" Mrs. Hobbs answered. She
was afraid that her husband would take
alarm and want to "rue back" as she ex-
pressed it. mo, it don't make a grain o.
Difference to US, an we've got enough
for the place eff they find dimints. 1
never did like 1t, an I don't keer how
soon we git away. Let's buy back our
SIX acres or the edge of Cloverdale We
can git it for three thousand, an then
you'll have nine thousand to put out at
intrust."
''Yes, mother"
And we kin git little Jim his cornet
and send him off to be learnt to play"
You kin do jist as you please, mother
L
like. and hope won't never want to do
nothin' very bad"
That's somethin' you never did do.
father" dutifully replied his wife. 'sand
l don't believe bein' rich is a-eoin' 10
change you much. If it would I5d want
somethIn' to come along and take the
money away from US, because it can't
never pay to give up doin' good.n
AS soon as the transfer was made and
the deed recorded, johnson sent the fol-
lowing telegram to his whilom partner
Come on-bring all your loose cash
oil in abundance"
The cash was sent with instructions to
buy adjoining farms on option of thirty
days; the oil man would come later and
bring an expert.
The farms were bargained for at ridicu-
lously low figures, and then johnson in
vited his friends out to see his ''ind.D
Il tell you, boys" he said, as he rode
up and tied his horse to the meadow
fence. the whole earth is jist a-soakin,
with it, and it's burstin' out the ground
ou see this country has never had anv
oil taken out of it," .he went on glibIv.
''and as 1t is constantly generating it has
become so chock full that the ground
CAN'T hold it and it's compelled to come
out. You'd be astonished to see how it is
actually boiling up.'
at must be wasting if it is in that con-
dition," some one remarked.
Whats waste of few millions %
barrels ?" scornfully retorted johnson.
'There's enough left for me and my
family and all my poor relations.''
By this time others, having heard the
news, had arrived at the farm, and quite
a crowd had gathered when the partner
with the expert drove up, followed by
Mr.. Hobbs.
"Just wait until you examine these
blue patches" Johnson said to the two