The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-07-11
JOHNSON'O FORTUNE.

eve done my best, mother" Farmer
Hobbs said, coming in hot and tired from
the hay field THAT there drafted machine
went work, and eff Pm to save my hay, I'll
have to take that intrust money AMI buy a
new machine"
Il think you'd better not father" Mrs.
Hobbs answered, in mild alarm. II don't
know where you're goin' to get any more,
and Johnson is powerful clost about gettIn'
the money on time. I'd be afeard to let it
run over minute"
well, but Lucindy. the hays with
moTe'n the intrust. and you know they's no
tskin' the stock through the winter without
it. The cattle might kinder rub along. but
the horses is st plum alleged TO have
their timothy, and my timothy is as fue a
piece as you ever sot eyes on"
Suppose you try agln. Mrs. Hobbs sug-
gested. helping her husband to a luscious
quarter Of raspberry pie. 'Pll so ont
with you and help onchoke her, and Wen
use plenty Of lie. and uebbe you can rub
through jest this Oncet."
well, III try. Lueindy; hain't no hopes,
but l would like 10 save that intrust money"
Mrs. Hobbs stayed in the field till ) o clock.
and the hay was cut with few delays. Tie
girls brought out the supper, which was
eaten Will MUCH EEltSu I'D ttc LAY lttus i lie
zh0Ises being watered and led, the work went
on by the big harvest moon. aud at 10 o'clock
the bay from the "big meddeT" was in the
stacks.
4 few days after, Jim johnson came out
to see II the Interest money was ready. He
tied his horse under II tree and started
through the meadow to see Mr. Hobbs. who
was fencing his TckS at the other side.
Moses and the bulrushes! What's that?'
he asked, gazing at glinty blue reflections
floating on pools Of water standing every
where for il had rained heavily the night
before. 'Oil. and no mistakeP he went on,
after dipping his finger into puddle and
testing it carefully with his nose.
IL was only tile day before that the pap
ers had contained an account of some new
oil fields found not above 20 miles away
an old partner of jim had been the first to
invest, and was consequently fabuiously
rich.
johnson carefully rubbed his finger on
his pocket handkerchief, slowed the latter
IN a deep pocket and fastened across the
field, his face pale and his eyes gittering
very unpieasantly. He tried To greet the
farmer with MS accustomed familiarity,
but his words came by jerks and in gusts,
and his throat became so dry that he could
scarcely srticuate.
whats the matter? Han't you well?'
Mr.. Hobbs asked, suspending his work to
gaze curi0uslY at his visitor. ~ on look
taHer-colored as the dead, an your eyes is
Ike burnt holes in blanket"
mo, thank you, not at all" Johnson re-
piled at random. Pm quite well, except
husky sore throat-are you well? And
the family ?"
Pretty fair-we've got good deal OF
health mixed up among us-you know they's
II all told.
Yes. a large, interesting family-want to
sell the farm p
He tried to make the question less eager,
r.Fr11 h. I. -.
voice and be was in mortal dread lest Mi.
Hobbs should have some reason t. 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.
IN give you a good price for 1t; want
il for combination shoe factory. Set a
"Wen, twelve thousand. a thousand
apiece" said Mr.. Hobbs. jOkingly. The
farm was not worth more than third Of
that sum.
'I'Il take it." with a gasp Here's fifty
TO bind the bargain aud ri fill out a check
for the balance right here"
He did so and handed the paper 10 Mr.
Hobbs, who kept his countenance and re-
ceived 1t with perfect gravity. Privately he
was conViD ed that johnson was crazy.
Come to the house and sign the contract
for the deed
''AIl right"
Mr.. and Mrs. Hobbs accompanied John
son TO town, and were thunderstruck when
they learned that the sale was real, and
that they had So, coo 10 the bank.
Sense that johnson hain't crazy" Hobbs
began as soon as he was clear of the town,
why, they's somethin' in the wind. 1t may
be shoe factry, but / don't b'lieve it. |
wander eff they've found god?"
ut don't make no sort - difference to Us,
father" Mrs. Hobbs answered. She was
afraid that her husband would take alarm
and want to rue back" as she expressed
1t. mo. it don't make a grain o. Difference
TO as, an wey We got enough for the place eff
they find diments. i never did like it, an
! don't keer how soon We git away. Let's
buy back our six acres on the edge of Clo-
veTdale. We can git it for $1,000, an then
you'll have $4,000 to put out at intrust."
'Yes, mother"
''And we kin git little Jim his cornet and
send him of to be learnt TO play"
You kin do jist as you please. mother.
Pm rich enough now, / reckin, TO do as
like, and | hope | wont never want to DO
nothim' very bad"
That's somethin' you never did do,
father" duttuly replied his wife, land |
don't believe bein' rich is a-goin' to change
you much. If il would I'd want somethin'
to come along and take the money away
from US, because it can't never pay to give
NJ dom good"
As soon as the transfer was made and the
uctd iCCblutOs OCDueO0 sent tue IDIlOWing
telegram TO his Will IN partner:
Come on-brlng all your loose cash--oil
in abundance"
The cash was sent with instructions to buy
adjoining farms on option of 80 DAVIS: the
OIL man would come later and bring an ex-
pert.
The farms were bargained for at ridlcu-
lousy low figures, and then johnson in
Vited MS friends out TO see his find"
tell you, boys" he said, as he rode up
aud tied his horse to the meadow fence,
The whole earth Is jest a-soakin' with It,
and us Jest burstin' ont of the ground.
lou see TINS country has never had any oil
taken out of it." he went on gliblv. land
as u is constantly generating 1t has become
30 choek iuil that the ground can't hold If
ana IT'S compelled to come out. You'd be
ing up"
1T must be wasting II it Is In that condi.
ton. some one remarked.
whats waste Of few millions O