The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-02
The ROANOKE TIMES, THURSDAY, MAY 3. lss5.

were scattered through the tract to
foreshadow the coming tramways.
10 hear of these things through the
newspapers did the public seriously
incline. When the second sale took
place, the crowd in attendance was
enormous. People fought for places,
and offered to pay such amazing prices
that the major, hardened horse dealer
that he was, almost hcsitated to ac-
ccpt the bids. When the day was done
the city of Rome had passed complete
ly out OF the possession of the COM
pany
Now it was the general who coun-
scled immediate flight. He had re-
ceived little moro inside informa-
tion"-thc c. B. X. Il. was not coming
to California at all! I'VE must get out
of the country before that is sprung"
said he, ''or we shall be tarred and
fenthered.'
And the many promises of the
Glorious Climate company" said the
colonel-"the boulevards we were to
build, parks to lay out, public build
ingS to construct-how about the1npn
Tho general smiled. "Lc% the Eng
lish syndicate take care of nil that :"
said he.
a few days later, the trio had disap-
penred. So had the labQrers 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 that
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 it all in Wall street.
The colonel went to Ohio and lost it
NIL trying to found newspaper.
The major went to Europe and lost
it all at Monte Carlo.
Naturally each, when stranded, ap-
pcalcd to the others. Naturally, too,
the reply in each case was depressing.
1t was seven years after the episode of
Rome that the three men driftcd to-
gcther again in Chicago.
The generals coat was again shiny
at the seams and his cuffs frayed as
before The colonel drank beer and
smoked cheap cigars. The major had
evidently taken to strong liquors.
Each confessed to discomfort, though
none of them was disposed to go into
particulars. All lamented the halcA,on
days of the founding of Rome.
There was no such combination as
that at Monte Carlo" said the maiou.
mo such lambs in Wall street"
sighed the general.
No such suckers in Ohio" echoed
the colonel.
why not go back there?" asked the
general. II don't mean to Rome, for
the coyotes must have jumped that
claim, but to southern California"
Walk" said the colonel, briefly.
81 can get the transportation, said
the general MY pull with the road
still holds good-one way"
"One way?" repeated the major.
"Yes-awny from New York, where
my swell relatives live. The return is
not so easy"
SHALL we go by the California or
Bust hncF" asked the major, with a
grin,
You needn't laugh" said the gen.
eral. That road was built after oil,
and intend to get passes over it,"
-Four days later, as the c. i. r. E
overland" was nearing the end of its
run, the three comrades, deep in 4
| poker game in the smoking car, were
electrified to hear a passenger saying:
This station is Rome. Grown quite
| city, hasn't it?'
"Wha-a-t" cried the general, drop
| ping his cards. SIS there n Rome on
this linc?"
is there7" echoed the passenger.
Just look out of the window and see."
The three rushed to the platform
just as the train drew up at hand
some station surrounded by a we'll
kept park. In plain letters over the
door they read the name:
| ...''........