The Somerset reporter., 1906-05-10

ing any one his business. He intro
duced himself and said that he thought
some of establishing an orphan asylum
IL he could find a site to suit In this
way he brought the talk around to
Jed's meadow The value OF the land
es it lay was 500 an acre, though Jed
had never had a cash offer for It
The stranger didn't exhibit too great
interest In the matter. He said he'd
think the matter over and perhaps
make an offer He had no mountains
in Idaho and no lakes In Europe to
trade, but would be prepared to pay
cash. A day later, while still saunter-
ing around. he met Jed and said that
he could have $1,000 for the land as
soon as the deed was made out The
Ioveorn bachelor had started for the
office of the village lawyer to have the
deed made out when he met the Wild
ow Thomas. She noticed his excite
ment and asked the cause, and when
he had told her she said:
Look here. Jed don't you take too
much stock in the orphan business"
How do you mean%
You're an orphan yourself and you
don't want to let any other orphan get
the better of you. Can you get u horse
and buggy anywhere for an hour?"
"Of course"
Then let's drive out to your land
and see what kind Of a place it would
make for the poor orphans"
On the way out Jed required to the
old subject saying that he was on his
way to drown himself when he met
the stranger
Come, now" interrupted the widow,
this is straight business and you keep
quiet"
When the meadow which lay along
the highway, was reached the widow
insisted on walking across it from
north to south. The ground looked as
level as a floor, but near the center was
a sort of sink hole. In rainy weather
considerable water stood there. but the
earth was now dry.
I'm" said the widow as she halted
and shifted
DO you mean that smell?'
YES Ever notice it before?"
"Onee or twice. Smells as II some.
body had been breaking rotten eggs
around here"
Get a pole and thrust it into the
ground as far as you can"
Here's one right here and some
body's been poking. What do you
make of 1t, MARTHA"
Jed, you've asked me to marry you,"
she said in reply.
II have, but you don't seem to care
whether you drive me to suicides
grave or not"
II don't know but I'd be willing to
take chances"
"As how?'
'If you'll deed me this land today
I'll promise TO marry you within
month. ] shant answer any questions.
It's yes or no right of"
Then it's yes, by thunder" exclaim-
ed Jed as he reached the roadside
fence.
The deed was made out before sun
down and sent away to the county seat
to be recorded Next day the man
who was looking for an asylum site
called upon the Widow Thomas. He
had scarcely mentioned the poor or
phans when she laughed and said
Don't let your philanthropy cause
you to lose good thing The ground
up there is full of natural gas. and
you know It, It's only twenty miles
to pipe 1t to Chicago. If It's under the
meadow, then it's under hundreds of
acres around here. Go ahead and
make any test you will and then come
back with your Offer
A week later he was willing TO hand
over $4,000 In cash, and when Jed
Wheeler had seen the money counted
out and the deed passed he exclaimed
by thunder. Martha, but that was
the only piece Of land | had and when
piano Teller comes along and wants
to trade me goose farm for the rails
ing Of speckled geese. what am l GO
Ing to say to hm?"
Refer him to your wife" she an.
,,,,o.al a., eh, l,t,aa1 hin, for tho arof