The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-10-03

GNS better sight.
GM The glory of
INV tho September
|N sunset, which
Squire DufIield
had not noticed, had scarcely faded
when another light, which lie at once
perceived, filed the heavens in the
direction of Swanton, sleepy old
county seat with population of
about 5000 souls.
Latterly new influence had mani
tested itself i'll Swanton. The young
people had surrendered themselves TO
1T completely, and even their elders,
bred to slow thought and action and
to distrust of innovations. were
weakening under it. / had all hap
pened within few months. One
day n well-dressed, smooth spoken
stranger had put up ~ the Swan
House, and had hired horse and
buggy aud had driven about the coun-
try asking mysterious questions of
the farmers. Then he disappeared,
but shortly returned with n man whom
he introduced as II capitalist. That
sort of parsonage was unfamiliar to
the Swantonians, and they spent
much timc i'll specializing upon his
probable past and possible future.
There was lurking suspicion that
the presence of the strangers BODIED
no good, which became active when
they were joined by an engineer and
showed disposition to prowl about
other peoples property. But this
being followed by proposals TO pur.
chase land Mt liberal figures, the re.
sentiment died ont 1T was only an
acre here and another there, with an
option on larger tracts, but 5000 an
acre for $50 land was an effective an
tidote TO distrust. The cupiditv of
the farmer was quite as well under
stood by the keen city men as his hes
ltation and suspicion, and they had
no difficulty in getting what they
wanted.
Natural gas was the ostensible OBJ
Ject of their search, aud Swanton was
In two minds about the desirability of
discovering such commodity. That
1T was not familiar agricultural pro-
duct was to its discredit, but there
were those who were sanguine over
the easy acquisition of fortune and
the establishment of prosperous
and populous city. The editor of the
Weekly Banner, after talk with the
capitalist, unhcsitatingly said that
Swanton's golden opportunity was at
hand.
The madness began to get in its
work when the buckeye Improvement
and Development Company opened
spacious offices on Jefferson street
and the sound of drills woke the
echoes through the peaceful country
side. Deals were made, openly aud
surreptitiously, and enterprises and
rumors of Enterprises Quickened the
sluggish blood OF even the most con
servative.
Already gas had been found in small
quantities in several wells, but the
excited community would be satisfied
with nothing less than n "gushcr. g"
One was expected in the big we'll on
old man Hartman's place at tho edge
OF town. There has been difficulties
from salt water and from tho breaking
of machinery, but the experts wore
sure that gas would be found i'm i'm
mense quantities. Indeed. IL Ind
been making considerable -commotion
for several days Squire Dufiold said
he was mighty glad that he didn't
live near the pesky thing: nc didn't
want it on hia farm he preferred n
good crop OF wheat
This light, which seemed To- irdi
cate tremendous fire. confirmed his
previous judgment Some fool has
dropped n light cigar and started the
thing of, he argued, "auG IFS spread
to the hull town. declare Of !
wasn't so beat out, I'll drive i'm an,
see what's happeuin'
by gracious, maybe it'll burn the
bank up-I'm goin'.
Jake, Jake, hitch mp jimmy quick's
ever you cam I'm pDiu 10 town "
shouted the Squire and five minutes
later he and his hired man were urg.
ing the unwilling Jimmy" toward
Swauton. The distance was five
miles, but Jimmy could bc counted
upon to cover 1T iu an hour and q, get
back in half that time.
The country grew brighter and tho
roaring increased rs iho mare troilcI
briskly over tho smooth pike Ifs
queer muttorod Tho Squire. "tLa
fire don't seem 90 change We SEQ "a
better cause wcro gclGu closer. bul
lt Non get bigger nor net like au
ordinary fire
Every timo the Squire Thought Of
his $4,000 he touched Jimmy" with
tho whip
at don't seem 20 bo sprcadin,
much; they're koepIu Do well toward
Hartman place, hc said. as they got
near town but Jake couldn't hear him
for tho fierce ronriuy of fine Namr.
The mare was $50 frightened bv tho
time they had come Within "a half milo
Of the we'll That her master dai.rm.nel
20 put bier mp and Co proceed 300 foot
Glow far bias tho Gre .prraI," Eo
shouted iD the ear of tho boatlor who
came out tD take hcr
ono fur.hcr'u Uartmou's VOL. "
screamed the man griuning.
Squire Du1icld cou'du't believe
that Accompanied ~ Jake he went
to sec i0r himself u was true. A