The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1904-09-09
gflect Mistellany.
When Joe Struck Oil.

1t had been understood for year
or more that Joe Green, son of Farmer
Green, was to marry Bessie Hurlburt
daughter Of an adjoining farmer
There was not cloud on the horizon
until young man named Harry
Beechman came into the neighhorhood
TO sell and to show farmers how to set
up wire fencing. He secured boar d
at Hurlburt's and at once became
"stuck" on Bessie. His admiration
naturally pleased her, and when peo'
Pile began to hint that it was case OF
love a new idea in her fathers head.
He knew Joe to be an honest, hard
working young man, and the question
of money had never come up. If he
married Bessie he would 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 Farmer Hurlburt real
ized what good thing it would be to
have wealthy son-in-law.
Young Beechman encouraged the feel
ing in both father and mother, and his
lavishness in buying presents for Bes-
sic would have carried less sensible
girl off her feet. But when he began
to court in earnest she began to draw
away, and Joe Green bad nothing to
be jealous of. 1t was soon discovered
that be had fight on hand.
The spirit of avarice had been awak
ened 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
who prided himself on his
plain speaking, have said that you
we're 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 re-
ply.
eyes Joe; I d.. Hes 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
lay without any security at all. He's
not only in the wire fence business,
out he's into windmills and drainpipe
and patent farm gates. He's going
INTO a speculation next week in which
he will clear $4,000 or $4,000 in no
time at all, and mebbe III go in with
him. You amt expecting to make a
dollar extra this year, and So"
elm looking for oil down along the
creek - interrupted Joe.
Cant b., none there, Joe; can't be
no oil in this country. | like you as
a man, Joe, but being you havn't got
| shall have to ask you to stay
away after this. 1t may take your
appetite away for few days, but
you'll get over it in week and
shine up to one of Jim Gardner's 8
girls
Bessie was told at the same time
that she would be expected to discour-
age Joe and encourage the other one,
and, though she promptly rebelled,
her parents put the foot down in a
most vigorous way. In manner the
field was left clear for the wire fence
man.
Unfortunately for him, he was a
boaster and braggart. He was max
ing 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 o.
and he began to plan and
scheme