The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-04-09


SPRUNG, . said he, "or we shah be tar
red and fcathered.p
And the many promises of the
Glorious Climate Company" said the
colonel" bouleyards we were to build, |
parks To lay OUT public buildings to
construct-how about them ~
The general smiled. Let the Eng
lish Syndicate take care of all that"
said he.
A few days lator the trio had disap.
peared. So had the labOrers upon the
foundations OF Rome. AS q matter of
fact, the great boom in Southern Cali
fornia was at an end. The impression
began to leak into many people chat
somewhere they had heard something
about "a fool and his money"
AS for the three, they certainly were
no fools. But
The general went to New York and
lost IL all in Wall street.
The colonel went to Ohio and lost 1t
all trying to found q newspaper.
The major went to Europe and lost
1t all at Monte Carlo.
Naturally each, when stranded, APP
peaied to the others. Naturally, too,
n reply i'm each case was depressing.
1t was eve years after the episode of
Rome that the three men drifted to-
| SOphOt PBoth III ShICdSO.
The generals coat was again shiny
at the seams and his cuffs frayed as be-
fore. The colonel drank beer and
smoked cheap cigars. The major had
taken to strong liquors.
Each confessed to discomfort. though
none OF them was disposed to go into
particulars. All lamented the hal
eyon days OF the founding of Rome.
There was no such combination as
that at Monte Carlo" said the major.
mo such lambs Is Wall street."
sighed the general.
No such suckers in Ohio" echoed
the colonel.
why not go back there ?" asked
the general. 81 don't mean to Rome,
for the coyotes mus. have jumped that
claim, but to Southern California"
walk ?" said the colonel, briefly.
u can get the Transportation" said
the general. "My pull with the road
still holds gOod-one way"
"One way ?" repeated the major.
4es-away from New York, where
my swell relatives live. The return is
not so easy.
Bust line ?" asked the major with q
grin.
You needn't laugh" said the gem
eral, THAT road vas built after all,
and l intend to get passes v it,"
-Four days later, as the 9. B II. II.
"Oyerlanl" was nearing the end OF
its run, the thee comrades, deep in a
poker game in the smoking car, were
electrified to hear q passenger saying !:
This station is Rome. Grown
quite u city, hasn't it?'
Wha-a-t" cried the general, drop
ping his cards. SIS there Il Rome on
this line 2"
"Is there ?" echoed the passenger.
Just look out of the window and SEQ"
The three rushed. to tic platform
just as the train drew up at u hand
some station surrounded by u we'll kept
PARK. In plain letters over the door
they read the name:
Yes, it's the place." said the colo
mel. Don't you see the hills covered
with beautiful resideuccs-just as |
predicted they would be-"
Tho general led the way out into the
maip street. 1t was built up solidly
with substantial looking business
blocks. The sidewalks we're crowded
with people moving briskly. Several
street cars and Omnibuses passed, we'll
filled with arrivals from the train.
The officers of the one-timc G.. G.. L..
~ - "olhCu pi IOT SOllC ulSUstuCc
without speaking.
At length the major, turning to tho
general, broke out: "What do you
suppose property is worth hero i'm the
business section?"
The general groaned, but did not
speak.
If we mad only held on !" said the
colonel. eff VIC had only believed u
little bit of our own lies !"
And these lots we let go for Il
song" said the major, Indignantly,
ARE now crowded with big buildings,
Inc worth no end of money. We were
robbed, gentlemen ! l say robbed !"
What are We doing here?" growled
the general, sarcastically. Think of
taking an option o n the city? Let's
go out | see no particular opening
here for tho geese that didn't save
Rome. The walking is good. Come
along out Of this !"
And three figures moved down the
track in solemn, silent, single file.
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