The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1904-06-24
Smooth CRATER Buys t9) Land In Big
PUNCHES.

60UCDeSs
The following story from the Stat
ford Courier of June 16 will be inter-
|esting reading to people in the vicini-
ty of Lewis who entertained the same
smooth CRATER for several days:
Wowee.
Fooled again, by jimminy!
Twas a measly shame, so it was.
A little more than a week ago a
stranger arrived in the city of st.
John, that wonderful city over in the
land where they drive the sun down
with hammer. Said stranger drove
into town from the west and approach
ing the Arlington inn, dismissed his
driver with an imperious wave of his
ham-like hand and entered the hostel
ry. Marching majestically to the
register he entered upon its pages the
name of George Hill, naming as his
place of permanent abode a town in
the neighborhood of Chicago, Ill.
Soon the natives who were gathered
roundabout began to express a Curl
osity as to the identity of the stranger
and inquired timidly about his BUSH
ness in their city. BY degrees he let
it become known that he was out west
in search of land, and that he had q
Barrel which would be in on fiat
car in few days. Soon the informa-
tion was noised about that man with
coolies of money was within the city
and wanted to buy land.
1t was not long thereafter until an
enterprising st. John dealer in Kan
sas real estate had the affiuent
stranger in tow and for several days
was very busy showing up the fine
points of the various farms and
ranches upon his list. The stranger
was entertained right royalty and
after inspecting about all the land for
sale in that part of the county he de-
cided to purchase the Guy Harrison
ranch, located about four miles north
Of st. John. He was to pay for this
property the Insignificant Ito himl
sum of $4,000. The papers were
drawn up and everything made ready
to close the deal Immediately upon the
arrival of the fat car and the Barrel.
But along about here Chapter II
commences. While Mr.. Hill was
waiting patiently for his money to ar.
rive, meanwhile filling his system
thrice per day with the choice viands
set out by the Arlington management,
word was sent over from Spearville to
the attorney at St. John instructing
him to look up one Henry bill, sup
posed to be stopping in St. John and
collect from him a board bill of five
plunks. The attorney interviewed the
Mr.. Hill at the Arlington, but this
Mr.. Hill pointed out that his given
name was not ''Henry" but "George, y
and that he could not possibly be the
man who would stoop so low as to
ignore feed bill. The attorney had
no description of the man wanted sc
he wired to Spearville for further in
structions. A description was sent
corresponding with the makeup o.
the moneyed land buyer, but when he
was again sought for the searchers
discovered that in the betwixt and be-
tween time he had quietly hied hin
hence.
No trace could be found and WORD
was at once sent out asking authOri
| in 70 fnI
out for the culprit. Marshal Olive,
was notified Tuesday morning anG
kept his eye peeled but the stranger
didn't pass this way, or if he did he
] managed to attract no attention.
The man is described as about ;
feet 6 inches tall, weighs about ii;
pounds, is near 80 years old and
wears full beard, black and wavy.
His eyes are described as peculiar,
one of them seeming bent on watching
for new fields to conquer in the fore
ground, the other on scanning the
backward track on the alert for OBJ
streperous landlords. He has worked
the same game at several towns in
western and southwestern Kansas, il
some instances having secured an ad
vance of money on his smooth bluff
Several efforts have been made tC
explain the mans absence but the
above seems to be the most probable
1t has been suggested that he may
have taken a stroll along the track o.
the new railroad and been run dowr
by one of the fast trains. Another
lexplanation which seems even more
plausible.is that he has fallen into the
lake and been drowned. 1t is under
stood that in case he is not found be
fore long arrangements will be mad,
to drag the lake in search of the body