The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-10-05

Glaubus aud his father had owne
Q. farm but the old man was no ,fngi
cier and sold of the place bit by bi
until I'll that left was a four.acr
swamn-"sEunk swamp they calle.
1t because Of the rank water-an.
when the old man died the son can,
to Chicago TO earn living. H,
brought along flask OF the swami
water SO that when he got homesicl
he could take out the cork, smell 1t
and be glad he was In Chicago instea,
OF OIL the old place. Up In one cornel
OF the swamp a spring welled Up an,
that spring spouted Onotowatlshik;
water day nnd night, gallons and bar
rels and floods OF 1t. Bat 1t needle
a Perkins the Great to know It's val
ue. Perkins smclled its value the
first Whit he got. He had rough
map of Glousbus with the SkunI
Swamp off about mile to the west.
We patched up the deal the next
day. The Young fellow. was to have i
quarter interest because he put III
the forty acres. and Perkins put in his
time and taent for half the balance
and got the remainder for my time
aud money. We wanted the youns
fellow 10 take third interest and put
In his time too, but he said than raih.
er than go back to the old place he
would take smaller share and get n
job in some nice. sweet spot. like thg
stock yards or fertilizer factory. So
Perkins and packed up and went oft
to GIaubus.
did not wonder. when the train
pulled up at Glaubus station that the
place was small, dilapidated village.
nor that the Inhabitants wore a care
Worn. hopeless expression. There w
TOO mucf Onotowatishilsa water in the
air. But Perkins glowel with joy.
"SmelIit?" he asked eagerly. Great.
adj! You can't get away from 1t. You
cunt forget 1t. And, look at this
town. Look at the bare walls! Not Il
sign on any Of them! Not a billboard
in the place! Not an adj of any kind
in sight! Perkins, my boy this is heav.
en- for you. This is pie and nuts!"
must confess that was not SO
Joyous over the prospect. began 10
tire of Onotowatishika water already.
| suggested TO Perkins that We ought
10 have an agency in Chicago, and
limited that | knew all about running
agencies properly. but he said | woHll
get used TO the odor presently and in
time come 10 love 1t and to long 70.
1t when was away from 1t. | told
him that doubtless he was right, but
that | thought 1t would do me good to
80 away before my love got too vic.
lent. but Perkins never could See 4
joke. and 1t was wasted on him. He
walked me right out to the Swami,
and stood there an ltour Just watch.
Ing the water bubble up. 1t seemed
to do him good.
There was no shanty in the village
good enough for ur Office, so that aft
crnoun we bought the vacant Tot next
to the postoflice for S. and arranged
to have building put up for on!
use. and then, as there was nothing
else for lis TO do until the next train
came along Perkins sat around think
ing. And something aways happened
when Perkins thought.
In less than an hour Perkins set off
TO find the mayor and the councilmen
and a notary public. Ele had great
idea.
They had park in Glaubus-a full
block OF weeds and rank growth--and
Perkins showed the mayor what dis.
grace that park was TO town OF the
size and beauty OF Glaubus. He said
there ought 10 be fountain and walks
and benches where people could sit In
the evenings. The mayor allowed that
was so, but didn't see where the cash
was to come from.
Perkins told him. Here We are. he
said, two public spirited men come
over from Chicago to bottle up the old
skunk spring and make Glaubus ia.
nous. Glaubus was to be our home,
and already We had contracted for {.
beautiful one.story building with n
dashboard front to make II look like
Two stories. If Glaubus treated us
right We would treat Glaubus right.
Didn't the mayor want to help along
his city?
The mayor certainly did II he didn't
have to pay out noth'n.'
All right then, Perkins said. there
WAS that old Skunk Swamp We were
going to bottle up lot of the water
that came ont Of the spring and ship
It away and that would help to clean
the mir for the less water the less
smell. All Perkins wanted was TO