Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-08-02
how SAM
STRUCK OIL

1ntly MUCH WOFFleu, anu Will Aio
enched fist threatened dark cloud,
hch, though receding, was still
rkening the horizon. The cloud
as an immense swarm of grasshop
hrs. and hundreds of these pests
ere still crawling around on the
round and on the fence rails.
Starbottle was furious He knew
nat he was ruined, as was nearly
veryone else in that section. Then
went into his neighbor Habakkuk
erkins' store.
The owner of the store was alone
fhen Starbottle entered and said:
think ! better get my nags
MT of the stable and go west. | cal.
hrlate there'll soon be a lot of cheap
and and lot more of tramps."
Jenkins smiled
Il guess I'd do the same thing
AXE along all could carry and skip;
but of course. can't do 1t because
pr the kid Sammy, where are your"
A shrill voice was heard. 1t came
from an empty -four barrel. and a
dwarflike, misshapen figure came
crawling out.
Il am right here, and ! have heard
every word you've said"
Well, there was no secrets in 1t"
growled Jenkins.
mo, but lots of foolishness," cried
n the boy. Now, lookee here, pop!
With a cat-like bound he jumped to
. the counter and began to tell the two
men his plans.
Two weeks later anyone who passed
might hear Starbottle curse in the
most awe-inspiring manner, but no
one paid much attention, for swearing
had become rather common in the
community since the visit of the
grasshoppers.
He stood ready to start off, in the
yard. close to his horses, which
seemed in just as bad humor as their
master.
They shifted at the bucket of water
he held TO their noses with every sign
of disgust that an equine face car
possibly show. And really when one
looked at the water in the pail one
could hardly blame them, for the wa
ter was covered with a kind of film
which shone in all the colors of thu
rainbow. and the smell was hardl!
more inviting. Starbottle shook hi
head looked at the contents of tn
pail, smelled it, and finally showe'
it to some of the neighbors who ha'
kcome to see what caused Starbottl
to use even more profane languag
than usual.
They, too, looked at the peculia
fiuidium. dipped their fingers in i
smelled 1t and looked duly surprised
IN Where did you get that stuff?
someone asked.
Where do you suppose? From m
well, of course"
There was a rush for the well an
another bucketful was hoisted III
looking exactly like the rest. Tn
news spread like wildfre all over tn
country and state that oil had bee
struck
1t was not long before speculation
began to show up. The well contil
ued to produce oil, showing that thel
must be an immense reservoir som
where near it, Everybody advise
Starbottle and Jenkins to sink wei
on their land, but they refused.
Jenkins said he did not believe
the oil business and Starbottle sa
he would do so when his we'll cease
to yield oil But yield 1t did and SOC
a number of barrels were filled, al
Jenkins, who had lot of oil In h
cellar, could not sell it because Sta
bottles price was cheaper. OF cours
they began to quarrel, and soon
came deadly enemies much to Il
delight of the spectators, who nc
told each of them that If he SUI
wells on his place he would probab
tap the others well. And after awhi
they were successful. Jenkins pro
ised to sell his lot for the very RI
sonable price of $4,000. Starbott
held out for more, but at last he sc
his farm. which was not worth &c
more than $1,000, for $4,000.
That night the whole town sic
as soundly as never before in its n
tory and its inhabitants consumed
much liquor in one day, for Jenki
and Starbottle had been as libe
with their money as had the spe,
iators.
When they gathered the next day
discuss the bright future of the &C
munity as an oil center they W,
surprised to find that Jenkins a
Starbottle had both disappeared d
ing the night and on the well was
sign in chalk: "Sam's WE'LL
AZ this time the two missing n
we're seated in a barroom next to
office of the steamship agent 20 M
below on the river discussing the
vision of their spoils.
Well said Starbottle, 1--WE W
to go halves and that makes just
even $4,000 for each of U.S."