The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-05-22

me talr, wouldn't give 1t Tor oil the
rest of the land put together"
"Oh, professor.
"rhat's all true, Partner Purra-
way"
"Partner Purraway, of course you
believe in the Garden of Eden"
The professor asked the question as
they were standing on slight rise of
ground at the edge of the forest. All
around them we're the brown needles
of the pines, while in front stretched
heselfsame marsh that had previously
received the professors highest COM
mendation.
"Why, Professor Puckaber, how can
you ever ask the question:"
"Well, yon never thought of it be-
ing located around her, did you?"
She stared at him witt opening
eyes.
"Of course not"
"Well, there are those who believe
il fully, among the number" lifting
his shoulders as though to bear the
full weight of the assertion. "Far
too many evidences to doubt il. The
great Agassiz believes it with all his
soul. He fairly routed the scientists
who attempted to hold out against it.
Situation, topography, prehistoric re.
mains, such as found nowhere else, all
60 to show beyond doubt that"
"Ob, Professor Puckaber, what
grand azalea! Do look! Did you
ever see one in its first year growing
so luxuriantly? For it wasn't here
last year. I am certain OF that. I
know the woods too we'll. Thu birds
dropped the seed. Isn't it glorious
purple?"
"Purple? Purple?" repeated the
professor, ''and growing luxuriantly
in one year? and by the marsh, tool
say, Partner"
But the partner didn't hear. She
had grasped the little grubbing hoe
and started away.
II ON going to dig it up to trans.
plant in the garden" she called to
him.
She swung the hoe with all the force
of her strong young arms. For the
first stroke or so she had no trouble,
the blade sinking deep into the dark,
moist soil. But suddenly she encoun-
tered something that gave her great
deal OF exercise. She struck and
pulled awayat something, but it would
not yield. 1t couldn't be the roots of
the shrub; it was too hard. Besides
she had been careful not to strike near
enough to cut into these.
"Oh professor, she exclaimed,
quickly, II do believe I have dug into
pile OF rocks! but how could that be
about here, where there isn't single
one?"
She stopped, looking at him with q
deeply puzzled face.
Crooks? What?" shouted the pro.
lessor, starting and ]eaping down the
slight incline in such way his feet
almost went out from under him.
Then he actually snatched the hoe
from her hands--he, the polite and
gentle professor-and there, before
the astonished eyes of Partner Purra.
way, he began to dig around the bush
like one possessed, even digging it up
piece by piece in his excitement. The
earth fell in showers and the partner
had time protecting face and cloth
ing. Between such efforts she stared
In bewilderment at Professor Pickaber.
Had he lost his senses?
Suddenly he dislodged an oblong
mass of hard, grayish substance, look
ing like rock, and yet not like it. BE
threw it above his head with a shout.
II knew it would be found" he
cried. II said it The marsh told it!
But I wasn't expecting it here; rather
over there by the bend of the river.
Hnrrah for you, Partner Purraway |
knew your scent would prove the
keener of the two. Do you know what
you have doue for your father, my
dear" taking off his glasses, his eyes
shining like suns; "well, you have
paid off those mortgages and sight
besidesl"
Professor Puckaber," pleaded the
bewildered partner, Twill you please
tell me what You are talking about?
What is it you have in your hand?"
"Why, phosphate!" cried the pro.
lessor, looking at her as though he
though che ought to know. '.Fertil-
izer! the finest yet found on the Ash.
ley, the Euphrates, by the way, my
dear. Never saw such specimen be.
fore! Oh. it's grand!" eyes and fin
gers gloating over it." ''Tons OF this
and there are thousands of them
here-when ground in that big mill
the Etiwan company has just put up,
will not only release your father, but
make him rich man."
And so it proved. For, with the
forming of the firm of Puckaber g.
Purraway the star Of fortune of the
house OF Edgerton had arisen, never
to go down again.-Chicago Record.