The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-08-20
WHEN JOE STRUCK OIL.

1t had been understood for year
or more that Joe Green, son of Far
mer Green, was to marry Bessie
Hurlburt, daughter of an adjoining
farmer. There was not cloud on the
horizon until a young man named
Harry Beechman came into the
neighborhood to sell and to show
farmers how to set up wire fencing.
He secured board at Hurlburt's and
at once became Struck" on Bessie.
His admiration naturally pleased
her, and when people began to hint
that it was case of love new
idea came into her fathers head.
He knew Joe to be an honest, hard
working young man, and the ques-
Il he married ieeF Bessie he TWoafd take
her to his own house and provide
for her as we'll as farmer would be
expected to. 1t was only after the
wire fence man came and exhibited
his "roll" and talked of stocks and
bonds and bank accounts that Far
mer Hurlburt realized what a good
thing it would be to have wealthy
son-in-law.
Young Beechnan encouraged the
feeling in both father and mother,
and his lavishness in buying pres
ents for Bessie would have carried a
less sensible girl off her feet. But
when he began to court in earnest
she began to draw away, and Joe
Green had nothing to be jealous of.
1t was soon discovered, however
that he had a fight on hand. The
spirit of avarice had been awakened
in the souls of the parents, and it
was not long before they had a
good deal to say to Bessie and some
thing as we'll to her lover.
Look here, Joe," said Farmer
Hurlburt, who prided himself on his
plain speaking, Il have said that you
were one of the best young fellows
in this county, but you amt just the
match for Bessie. She's smart and
good looking and one of the sort
who ought to live in town and wear
silks and satins instead of plodding
away on farm | don't want to
hurt your feelings, but wish you'd
look around for some other girl"
"You want her to marry the wire
fence man, | take it" said Joe in
reply.
"Yes Joe; l do. He's got money.
He's making more of it. He'll be as
rich as Vanderbilt in ten years more.
He offered to lend me $50 the other
day without any security at all. He's
not only in the wire fence business,
but he's into windmills and drain
pipe and patent farm gates. He's go
ing into a speculation next week in
which he will clear $1,000 or $4,000
in no time at all, and mebbe I'll go
in with him. You amt expecting
to make a dollar extra this year, and
so'-
"I'm looking for oil down along
the creek interrupted Joe.
Cant be none there, Joe; can't be
no oil in this county. l like you as
a man, Joe, but being you haven't
got money | shall have to ask you
to stay away after this. It may take
your appetite away for a few days,
but you'll get over it in a week and
shine up to one of Jim Gardner's
girls
Bessie was told at the same time
that she would be expected to dis
courage Joe and encourage the other
one, and, though she promptly re-
belled, her parents put the foot down
in most vigorous way. In man
ner the field was left clear for the
wire fence man.
Unfortunately for him, he was
boaster and braggart. He was MAX
ing a few dollars, but could not
count on anything permanent. He
realized that if he got the farmers
daughter at all it would be through
the aid of money, and he began to
plan and scheme.
Circumstances aided him. One day
he received private and confden-
tial letter from New York. An in
dividual in that city had got posses
sion of bank note plate and was
printing greenbacks by the tens of