The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-05-13
4 RACE FOR THE BORDER.
BY GEORGE F. LYON.

II was in the fall of 1898 that the
Eestern wheat crop was SO unusually
abundant, especially SO in eastern Kan
las and western Missouri, and along
be fertile river valleys Of this region,
There perhaps the drouth Of that sum-
her was the least felt Of anywhere in
hat section, while still further east, as
ar as Indiana, the wheat crop was al
host failure in comparison.
The incident which I am about to
elne happened early in October OF
bat fall, just after my twenty-first
birthday. Clayton Fisk, young man
bout my own age, and myself had re-
byed to start west, with the intention
investing our little savings in the
heat business in some way that would
by us a good interest on our invest
lent. We were full of pluck and en-
busiasm, determined to venture our
lst dollar in our enterprise. Kansas
las just about this time developing
pme immense wheat sections along it's
prder, and it was in this direction
|e took our course. We had little
Ter $500 between us, and after more
less careful consideration of the
after and the outlook ahead, we con-
uded to purchase a traction engine
ID threshing machine, and with this
tft strike off directly westward
rough the wheat regions. We went
rail to Jefferson City, where we
Ppped over and went to look at the
reshing equipments manufactured
PRE- Fisk had no knowledge what
Ter of engineering-in fact, do not
ieye he knew the steam chest from
eccentric-but had had Il little ex-
renee and understood the points
rly WE'LL and felt quite confident that
would have no trouble as far as
Frating the outfit was concerned. I
nember the peculiar thrill of pleas
l felt as looked over the big black
mt masses of iron at Jefferson City,
thought that before long one of
Sc iron monsters would be pulsing
tnrobbing under my hand. After
le little uncertainty and a great deal
Rdvlce, we finally selected a thirty
se-power engine as one in every
the best adapted for our purpose,
upon asking the price of the ma
Pc IN view we were informed that
might have 1t at bargain-only
W Tor the whole outfit, consisting
le engine, thresher and equipments.
price was considerably more than
aaa calculated upon paying, and for
oment we were feeling rather dis
aged, for, with only a capital Of
" $SO0 between us, the price was
Phd US, and, as we stood there talk
II over, and considering whether
ny cheaper outfit or give the en-
rise up, young man, well dressed
appearing, stepped up to us and
accidentally overheard some of
conversation, from which I under
You lack s400 of the price of the
you want. Now, I have just
! that amount by me, and / am out
ofk' and II you will take me as
partner we will buy tho outfit
start out. ! am willing to risk
httle I've got. for l think we can
good thing out of it. OF course"
ent on, Il am a stranger to you,
you are the same to me, but I'll
y II You WILL"
uid not seem like q bad sort of q
at all, and we wanted that par
thresher pretty badly, SO after
~ and | had talked the matter
between US we decided to accept
rangers offer at once. After
last the next morning we went
aown to tho works and closed
gain, and we became owners of
sonic" as VIC concluded to call
AFTER carefully inspecting and
'ne machine, l began firing the
which was an immense con-
~ huge six-foot drive wheels be-
ieet NRroad in order to prevent
nng MO the soft soil OF the |
Eat field