The Van Buren press., 1895-10-12
The Net was Spread.

right around In these regions.
The Net Was Spread.
One day about three weeks ago 1t
leaked out all OF suddent and come to
my ears that Blew Scroggins had found
a tremendous big pile of gold over on
the old Stinson place. Seem as how the
news had come from Blew, naturally of
course l was bound to put little salt
on 1t to XIII the fishy smell. But at
any rates l.sadd led up bright and early
the next mornin and lit out and went
over to see Blew in orderment to.git the
main facts in the case.
81 don't mind givin out the news to
You, Rufe," says Blew. "but we will
have to hop light and sing mighty low
for few days" And then we took a
walk way over in the woods paster to
talk 1t ent, whilst Blew be went on to
say.
Nov In so far as know. Rufe, there
amt gold enough on the old Stinson
place, or anywheres in forty miles
around, to paint the left wing of one
goldbur. amt no free silverloon by a
whole lot, you understand, but at the
same time all the gold that have fin
gered In ten years wouldn't plug my
last haby's tooth, In regards to the ter
rible big gold And on the old Stinson
place--test betwixt US gals, as 1t were
the news went out through me and Andy
Lucas. and you are the onlyest livin
man that can 60 down to rock bottom
and git the naked unwashed truth.
.sYou will recollect no doubts, Rufe,
that l bought the Stinson place from
old man Abner Wheelan, which you
must likewise also remember he mar
ried Becky Ann Stinson. When old man
Gray Stinson went the common way OF all
human flesh he left the homo place to
Becky Ann, anu conseqnentially when
old Abner got Becky Ann he got the
Stinson dirt along with her. When me
and old man Abner first started on the
land trade there was fifteen dollars diff
ference between his figgers and mine,
you understand, and dadblame him he
wouldn't bulge marry inch. We bucked
and we seesawed back and forrards till
] thought maybe he mought split the
difference, but consound him he
wouldn't even split. By gatlins, Rufo,
he is the clostest and most stingiest
man ever run up with in trade. He
set and he sot, and he sot and he set,
you understand, till finally at last had
to 20 to his figgers or either quit the
deal never did git over that and
never will till can play for even with
old man Abner. Whereas I went to
work and put out the news through
Andy Lucas about findin that scandlous
big pile Of gold buried on the old Stn-
son place. In workin out the sum we
thought 1t mought be best for me to
wear paddock ON my lips, so to speak,
and leave the spreadin of the news to
Andy. Since we got the thing started
people have been comm and goin reglar
as pig tracks and tryin their level
blamdest to pull the naked facts out OF
me. But have been too everlastin shy
and sly for 'em, Rufe. and the general
confusionment has went on from bad to
worse and still more of it.
"Now accordin to the way me and
Andy have fggered it out, Rufe, old
man Abner will soon git the news back
there in Georgy, where he moved his
washin soon az he unloaded the old
place on me-" Blew went on in layir
down the facts to me. ut mought be
that he has heard the FIST reports by
now, cause there are plenty of people
In the settlement that would write and
tell him, and Andy has already man
aged somehow so as to git it In the pa
pers. And whensomever old man Abne'
hears the news he will hit the first
train runnin out OF Georgy and come
bilin right or back down here to SEE
about it and put in his claims for the
gold. Him and Becky Ann amongs
'em will soon fix it up so he can remem
Der right exactly the very spot where
old man Gray Stinson buried the yaliel
stuff. BY gatlins, Rufe, if Andy Lucas
didn't lose no time in spreadin OF Sht
news i will bet pochetfui OF blu'
chips, you understand, that old mar
Abner is right now shakin that RET
Georgy dirt off of his feet and headed
straight for Rocky Creek. And that il
the mainest thing with me, Rufe. Con
sound him, it will cost him no less thai
twenty dollars to come and 60 and
will be like payin taxes or sheddin eye
teeth, cause the blamed old skinner
totes his heart right down there in hi
fianks In that way can play out ever
with the old scrape-grace, not to speal
of the fun that me and you and And,
| will have in the main time"
He "Driv Up ID Storm"
Way along in the shank OF the eveni'