Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1895-08-30
al5WiIdLandS
on, TIE
Flight for the MlSSGlShelI Millions.
DY LEON LEWIS.


iduuS Jiuo my uuuuTeu anu sixty On lnt
east, and are wuth more to me than any
one else. l not only want 'em for a
range for my cattle, but think ! might
sell forty or two for trle to Col
Whipsaw, one of my neighbors.
II should think you might" said the
merchant smiling sarcastlcally.
"Of course you've been very kind to
mo, Hiram" continued the visitor, "to
give me the use Of these lands so long
jest for the taxes, but we're both gett ng
old, and II you should die and your es-
tate be divided, there might be no end OF
trouble, and so told Daisy I'd come and
buy these lands Of you while she's getting
rested little from her long journey.
allow much will you give me for my
half interest, Jerry?"
"Well, thought three hundred dollars
might strike you as fair offer, Hiram,
replied the visitor, sand so I've brought
You the money
The merchants sarcastic smile deep
ened as his brother drew out pocket
book which looked as II considerable
slice of the Rocky Mountains had at
some time fallen upon it.
Don't be so fast, jerry" he said.
"Now that you are here, I'll show you
the sights week or two, and then we'll
go to Montana together. Nothing would
please mo more than to see how you
have been living all these fourteen
years"
Jerry waved his hand in nervous i'm
patience
"All that is very kind, Hiram" he de-
clared, "but business is business, and ]
must get the little matter OF the lands
off my mind before l can take a step
with you
The merchant surveyed him again in
quirlngly, not little interested by his
clothes, which looked as If he had taken
them from some scarecrow he had en-
countered in his travels.
al couldn't think of selling you the
lands in this of-handcd fashion, Jerry, y
he then said "Wait till have looked
them over in person
Nonsense. Let me have the deed
now."
"But three hundred dollars, Jerry?"
returned :he merthant. "You must re
member that these lands cost me five
thou and Probably, too, could make
better terms with Colonel Whipsaw tha
you can. Let's walt"
no, Hiram, protested Jerry. "There' s
no time like the present. Give me tho
deed now, and I'll make the payment
five hundred dollars
"That's more like it," commented the
merchant, still wearing his quizzical
smile, ~but must have thousand"
"A thousand?" repeated Jerry, catch.
ing at the remark as an offer
Of u
amended the merchant. al couldn't
think Of taking a cent less. l really
couldn't"
"Well, let me have the deed now and
I'll give you two thousand, returned
the visit r, with evident eagerness "Oh,
yes, ! have the money right here" he
added, surpr sing a peculiar look on his
brothers face. Here it is."
He drew out large wallet and opened
1t, showing that it was full of green
backs.
"You surprise me-" cried Hiram. I
thought you barely made living In
Montana"
"Truo But what is 81, ,OOO?"
"A mere nothing, to be sure. And
that's why won't sell the land for that
sum, now that think more about il. :"
declared the merchant "I'll hod the
forever, Jerry, If l can't get
the sum 1t originally cost me-"
"Do you mean it?"
absolutely"
"Then l shall have to give you the
said Jerry" "The fact is. DAISY
Is about to marry man named Sam
who has nothing, and want
him to have this property for a sheen
ranch. Five thousand it is, then. Give
me the deed and I'll count you out
the money"
"Not to day, Jerry. Give me time to
write to Colonel Whipsaw Let me get
his opinion as to what the price ought
to be-"
THE Colonel's away, Hiram, travelling
fomewhere In Europe" returned Jerry,
getting more and more nervous every
ale has been gone a whole
year, and no one knows when he'll be
home again"
"Then | must write to the postmaster
Of Musselshell, or to some other person
who is on the SPOT" protested the NOR
chant. "HOw do l know that these
lands are worthless? May there not be
a gold mine upon them?"
He went on In this way until the face
Of his brother was beaded with perspira-
tion, and then thrust under his gaze the
etter he had received from Colonel
Whipsaw. of Rattlesnake Ranch
"Read that" he said
Jerry complied, turning all sorts of
coiors, and finishing with howl of con-
sternation.
sand now tell me what this means"
Hiram
at means-that there is gold there"
painted Jerry.
"Ah, though sol Go on!"
Jest how much l can't say" contin-
led Jerry, returning the Coloners letter,
but | am willing to risk $500 upon
four half INTEREST,""
Il should want cash, Jerry!"
al have 1t with me-"
Besides, | should want at least q
hundred thousand dollars for the prop
erty, jerry" announced the merchant
tIl fact, ! won't take a cent less, now
that begin 10 SEQ what the situation OF
affairs is Colonel Whipsaw will doubt
ess arrange with me for the property il
you don't want it. For $780, 900, jerry
I you say So"
"Weal; l do say it," interrupted the
visitor eagerly. "Give me the deed"
That's big pile of money, jerry"
Nevertheless, have it with me,
at doesn't seem possible Let me see
tn
The visitor produced the amount in
lot very bulky wad from an inner pock-
1t, with the remark:
"lts yours as soon as you give me the
Iced"
The assurance served to intensity tho
wo red spots which had been rapidly
altering on the cheeks of Hiram Skid
ier. How angry he was that the false
Ioods OF Jerry had induced him to part
With his interest in property now
hown by the offenders own actions TO
'e running up into hundreds Of thou
ands.
"You have it, surs enough" he ad-
niticd. after a rapid glance at the
money sand the grand question now
$, how did you come b. it?'
"Stock-raising, Hiram-stock-rai
The sneer with which the merchant
received this statement was simply saw
sge