The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-07-05

wanted to lease any more land, an,
when they realized that he was dea,
in earnest about getting more acres
that he wasn't particular about th
quality of the land, SO long as it wa
near Pimly, and could be leased 70
ten years or longer, they began t,
| get vague idea that ''mebbe Pet,
vas up to suthin'." Then for Will,
old man Grant was waylaid on tn,
corners in PimIy and at intervals
along the road, by farmers who want
ed to know what Pete was to do wit,
his leased lands. When Grant sail
he didn't know, they either disbe
yelling his son-in-law's mental frailty
and went their ways. But the ole
! fellow was now bent on knowing. He
| refused to accept the theory that Pet,
| was 'daffy." preferring to estimate
his eccentricities as pure ornery lazi
ness" At last he got the young man
into a corner of the sitting-room. when
Sophie was away, and quizzed him re
lentlessly.
NOW I kin keep secret, Pete" he
concluded; folks is beginnin' to think
yore daffy and it's agoin' to hurt Sofe
an the baby when that comes. jest
own up, what is your idea O. making
leases when you amt so much as
farmin' truck?"
Gas, dad" said Peter, quietly.
Just keep it as secret as you can, but
there's gas under every foot Of tbs
ground"
1t was not a very satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION to Grant. He didn't see
what particular good gas might do.
and the next time he saw Dr. Jewett
in Pimly he let slip the secret about
Peters idea. From the doctors Of
flee the story spread. reaching ears
that were not Indifferent to the story
Of a possible gas belt under Hoke
County. Strangers who had snick-
cred at Jethson began to cross-ques-
ton him, but he put them aside with
a childish smile and harmless joke.
How you goin' to git the gas" they
asked him.
dig for it," he would say, laughing.
can if you git it. what them"
"Then it's up to you," grinned Jeth-
son. as he walked away
Some of them did dig, or rather bore
into their farms. Ashamed of their
enterprises, they kept them secret
from each other, bu. when they had
vainly gone down 200, 300 and 500 feet
through rock and clay and water. rage
against the innocent Peter took hold
of them. and they watched for a
chance to get even. George Hough
set the pace by act 4ally leasing the
'gas privileges of his farm to Jeth-
son for ninety-nine years for the cash
sum Of 500, which was paid the mo-
ment the deed was signed. After that
there was rush to do business" with
Peter. The malcontents who had spent
work and money sinking for gas
wanted revenge, but they were afraid
to give the victim long terms" for
fear when his mental condition was
discovered his engagements would be-
come valueless, SO they did business
with him on a cash basis until his
money was gone and he had "the gas
privilege on every farm and free
holding near Pimly.
What air you goin' t. do naow?"
groaned Papa Grant when Pete admit
ted that he'd like to borrow hundred
dollars.
'I'm going to give Pimly a fire.
works exhibition" he answered naive
ly. I'm going to town now to put a
card in the Banner announcing a show
over at my place."
And he did. The erratic announce
ment drew every man, woman and
child for miles around. The fire
works" was all gas. 1t is true, but
from a hundred jets along the drive,
around the lawn, in the house and out
side, it fared in clear white glory.
Peter showed them his lathe and his
pumps all run by burning gas. The
men who had ridiculed him aside, adj
mitted that they had dug for gas too.
lust on his say So" but that they
want no gas within five hundred feet,
an, Pete, eff We want to stan from
under that lease, why all right"
But Peter didn't want to ''stanl
from under"
Digging for gas, boys" said Peter,
radiantly, "is like sizing up your Icl
low men. It's no use unless you 60
deep, say a thousand feet or So"
And they smiled with him, but they
didn't mean it.-John H. Raftery. in
the Chicago Record-Herald.
Both Come in Bottles.