Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-02-27
the young lawyer, spoke


like this" James Neyen,
the young lawyer, spoke
quietly. as his habit was, but his face
flushed and his keen eyes glittered. "A
few hundred dollars will buy an IN
terest in a company formed to drill
well. and if the well proves a 'gusher
mans share may yield him fifty thou
sand or more a year. If you want to
he rich, Jerris, better let me invest the
money you've made Oh that Dakota
ranch of yours"
The sturdy Westerncr Neven's class
nate at college, laughed and shook his
head. "Guess not, thank you, Jim,' lie
answered. "'Slow and sure is my
motto. l never expect TO get rich at
stroke"
LAS you please" said Neven, dryly.
"Your cousins, the Larrabees, have
more faith in my judgment. Mrs. Lar
rabee gave me a thousand dollars 10
invest for her-as an agent of course.
She paid me twenty dollars for placing
It,"
Il should think If success is so ccr-
tain you would prefer to be paid by
percentage on the profits
"N-no-well," said Neven, uncomfor-
tably. MRS. Larrabee would not CON
sent to that. IF the well proves dry
one, she said, it won't he your fault;
you'll do your best for me, l know
So she gave me twenty dollars down"
Hugh Jerris had risen and was pac-
ing restlessly about the dingy little
Office Bother investments. anyway.
JIM he cried. THE only reason why
l came to Pennsylvania was to try to
get Jennie Larrabec to go back to
South Dakota as my Wife. That's the
only subject that interests me just
now"
Neven rubbed his chin thouGhtrully.
you know the Larrabees haven't any
money" he suggested. That thou
sand dollars represented all their saw
ings. You ought to look for girl who
could put some capital into that ranch
OF yours"
Jennie Larrabee without q cent will
be fortune to mc--if can win her.
She and her mother are well, you say:
l think I'll go out to the farm and
see them this morning. Good-by,
JIM"
What n fool" muttcred the young
lawyer as he watched the burly fel,
low stride impetuously down the street
He meant to make money-and marry
money. Then he turned TO his work
again, which at this time consisted
mainly in figuring his possible income
from the Karns well.
Neven had invested his own savings.
SIX hundred dollars. in the Karns well.
which was now being drilled about
two miles from town He had put
Mrs. Lalrabec's thousand dollars into
the Warren well, not so promising q
property, he thought, which was only
few hundred yards from The other.
The drill in each we'll had already
passed through layers Of solid rock and
OF slate, and a current OF salt water
and now was near the stratum o.
Glass-likc rock beneath which oil might
lie found. In an hour or two he NIGH,
he millionaire ONO. he would moi
he a paupor, in any event Jabcl
Wright, one Of the drilling crew. had
agreed to warn him by cipher tclc
gram Of the chances Of success ol
failure. If the well seemed likely tc
he dry Ncvcn planned TO rush on
On the street and sell his interest lie
fcre the public heard the news.
4 tap at the door startled him. \
hoy appeared with yellow envelope
Nevcn took it ana tore it open.
sand reached the ciper. translated
tod him. Dry. Better SELL
Dry. All his savings gone in n mo
nent'
James Nnvcn was not n dcmonstra
tive man. He paid the boy ana whel
he was gone. stood staring at the foo.
His skin looked yellow and as il i
We're tightly drawn over his shar
features, but only his clenched hand
told his emotion.
Suddenly he seized his hat II
must sell ut once shift his loss upo
somebody else lie opened the doo
Il seemed that Bushby. the town go'
SIP, had been iust about to enter.
Heard the news, Neyen" Bushb
asked. The Harms is dry well.'
Yes. so I've heard" said Never
quietly. Useless now to try TO sci