The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1892-12-24
JOHNSON'S FORTUNE.
he Found Oil, But Not in PAVING
Quantities.

We done my best, mother Farm
HOODS said, coming in hot and fir
rom the hay field. THAT there draft
nacnine won't work, and eff am
save my hay, I'll have to take that ;
Nerest money and buy new mach;ne
II think you'd better NOT f.th.,
~ s. HOODS answered, in mild alar,
don't know where you're poin,
ges any more. and johnson is powerf,
ciost about gettin' the money on tim
ute." Aai'
well but, Lucindy, the HAYS wpt
.noren the intrust, and YOU kno,
tneys DO takin' the stock through A.
WINTER without it. The cattle mich
KINDER rub along, but the horses Is lis
plum ablcegcd to have their timotbv
ana my timothy is as zine q piece .
you ever sot eyes on.
Suppose you try again, - Mrs. Hohh
suggested. helping her husband =, .
. ..,n, quarter Of raspberry pie
III go out with you and help onch Ole
ner, and we'll use plenty Of lie. and
me ooe you can rub through Jest this
bs
wen, I'll try. Lucindy; I hain't M
hopes, but would like to save that -.
trust money" ' -
Mrs Hobbs stayed in the field til,
nve O'Clock, and the hay was cut with
10" delays. The girls brought out the
supper, which was eaten with inuch
relish in the bayfield, The borse.
being watered and fed, the work went
on by the big harvest moon. and a. tn
O'Clock the hay from the big meddern
was in the stacks.
a few days after Jim johnson cam.
OUT 70 see 1t the interest money wns
ready. he tied his horse under a traa
ana started through the meadow IN seo
Mr.. Hobbs, who was fencing his r;clrs
at the other side. 'AS
Moses and the bullrushesl What's
thatY' he asked, gazing at glinty blue |
'enections floating on pools of water |
standing everywhere, for it had raiped |
heavily the night before. ..Oil. and no
mistake" he went on, after dipping
his finger into puddle and testing e
with his nose.
1t was only the day before that TIE
papers had contained an account of
some new oil fields found not above
twenty miles away; an old partner of
jim had been the first to invest. and
Mas consequently fabulous ly rich.
johnson carefully rubbed his finper
On his pocket handkerchief, slowed the
after in a deep pocket and FASTENED
scross the field, his face pale and his
yes giittering very unpleasantly. He
rled 70 greet the farmer with his ac- {
familiarity. but his words l
anne BY jerks and in gusts, and his
hroat became SO dry that he could e
carcely articulate. II
Whats the matter? Hain't YOU we,l,y r
II. Hobbs asked, suspending his worh
gaze curiously at his visitor. "You
,ok taller-colored al the dead. an,
our eyes is like burnt holes in .
lanket."
mo, thank you, not at all.n .Jobnsor
'piied at random I'm quite well. s
kcept husky sore throat-are Won :.
ell? And the family?' !.
Pretty fair-we'vc got good deal d
health mixed up amongst us-von :.
low they's twelve all told.n =,
Yes, large, interesting family -
ant to sell the farm?. %
he tried to~-make the question less -
ger, but he could not ouiet the
'mor in his voice, and he was in % %
ortal dread lest Mr.. Hobbs shopld ?,
ye some reason to cross the field and -,
the oil. when his cake wonld be W. ~.
ugh" as he mentally expressed it. ~,
nc" Mr.. Hobbs replied, shortly. and -,
mt on with his work. w
I'll give you good price for i'll e.,
mt it for combination shoe factorv. -;
"a fggcr." ~.
Well, twelve thousands thousand ,,tr
zee, said Mr.. Hobbs, jokinply: the sto
d was not worth more than = third -,
hat sum. ~
I'll take it," with gasp. Here's aw
TO bind the bargain. and I'll fll con
check for the balance right aid
e did so, and handed the paper 10 ana
Hobbs, who kept his countenance ,v;t,
received it with perfect gravity. Init
'ately he was convinced that john b.v
was crazy. cof,
,ome to the house and sign the con- Won
:, III sne ueeo opel
- - too
!. and Mrs. Hobbs accompanied stan
sson to town, and were thunder cont
* when they learned that the sale the
real. and that they had twelve raw
sand dollars in the bank. and
ense that johnson hainst craxy.n Tbe
IS began as soon as he was clear Of funr
own. why they's somethin' in the mar,
1t may bo . shoe factory, but I Glob
believe it wonder cf they've
gold?' -
don't make no sort o. difference with
father" Mrs. Hobbs answered. blue
Tas afraid that her husband might curio
alarm and want to rue back as she Z
it No. it don't make bcfor
o. difference to us, an we've got aunt
b for the place eff they find tie G
IS ] never did like it an ! don't dies