The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-27

year and was gaining on it all the time
when there arrived in Jericho one day
a little old man who gave his name Is
Abijah CSoOdheart- He came to look
for a relative. but the person had
moved away MT Goodheart wouldn't
have stayed beyond two days if he
hadn't heard of the club. His old
Wrinkled face lighted up with eager
ness, he rubbed his hands with glee
and he wanted an introduction to Dea-
con SpOoner at once When the Dea-
con was brought around the two fell
IN with each other and that night Mr..
Coodheart occupied the post of honor
on the corner Of the counter. Nine of
the best liars Of the club were selected
to give him specimens, and his face
was wreathed In smiles and he said he
hadn't enjoyed an evening so we'll in
fW enty years When the nine liars had
finished the stranger was asked to tell
a Whopper- he was promptly willing
There are plenty Of people vet li7-
ing in Jericho who remember every in
cident Of that story. The old man was
prospecting in Colorado for gold. and
remained IN the mountains TOO long
Winter found him there, and he built
q shanty and had been living on the
carcass of deer he had killed when
there came a snowslide. He was car
Tied full mile and buried under thir-
TT feet of snow. Some logs lying on
top Of powders made an arch and
thus saved him His gun was gone. he
had neither blankets nor provisions
and he realized that it was irnpossIble
for him 10 dig his way out After
three days of hunger he turned fo his
boots They lasted him eight DAYS He
managed 10 eat them down to the Iasf
inch, but gave it as his opinion that
they didn't begin with cold chicken as
3 steady diet After three davs more
Of craving hunger, he laid him down
70 die but Providence was looking out
for him a grizzly bear was tunnel
ing IN from the west to get him and
, a the same time another was tunnel
ing iu from the east They met right
at his camp and fought and killed each
other and supplied him with food for
two months AT the END Of that time
during a thunderstorm. bolt of light
ming struck the snow and bored q hole
down to him and let him escape IN
escaping he found a nugget Of gold
Weighing one hundred pounds. and had
been living on the sale of it ever since.
OF course there were a hundred lfttIe
incidents connected with the story that
] have not related Taken altogether.
g was thIillingly interesting and Mr.
GOodhe3rt was given a vote of thanks
and the freedom of the town. He was
asked 10 repeat the story night after
night. Word seemed to go all over the
country about IL. and within a week
there began 10 be inquiries for vacant
houses and real estate. Within two
weeks there had been five or six horse
trades. several hogs and cows had
changed hands and Alvin Tobnsot, tpa.
oldest man in the town. stood on the
steps of the post office and said:
81 m ta-tellin You that a boom has
struck Jericho It's no ephenaeraI
boom, founded upon the amount OF
catnip grown around here, but it's
somethin that mas come to stay and
make a second Chicago out of our
town. Let US give three cheers for
our friend Goodheart. But for that lie
Of his we might have lived and died
unknown 10 tho world
The three ministers -ot together and
talked IT over ana then sent for the old
man. They told him that he ought to
be ashamed of himself and gave him a
general rakine down. He listened to
what they had to say and then replied.
"Geutlemen. 7 have told q story be
fore the Liars club. Do You receive It