The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1910-12-15
Luck Did 1t
B. RUTH GRAHAM
Copyright. 1870 By American Press
Association.

- - ~ =" = 1855 HAAAAA~" "tNN ~ " 49, ~
other and wished to marry. But John
ny. who was but twenty years old,
had nothing laid Up. and Kitty's father
didn't purpose to support his daughter
and her husband too SO be forbade
the match. Philip Bowers was a farm
er who prided himself On having
made himself comfortable By hard
work and good Judgment
you've got to begin be said to
his would be son-in-law. the way
began. was a farm hand. and OF
every dollar I earned l saved a half
When got a small lump together
loaned Il at a big interest till ia got
enough together to buy this farm.
part cash and part mortgage. ! had
to live close to pay the mortgage. but /
did Il. and now I'm prosperous"
Didn't luck have anything 10 do
with itY' asked Johnny.
Not a bit Never had any luck IN
my life. What I've got I've made IN
spite OF luck"
Johnny asked Kit 70 meet him out
on a projecting corner OF her fathers
form to talk matters over. They chose
thz spot because II was far from the
house and they were not liable TO
interruption there. II was an unpro-
ductive piece OF ground that had been
tackled on TO the farm IN order 10 sell
IT.
Johnny and Kit looked at the sltu-
alton and saw no comfort IN Il. John
had no one to help him. and Kit knew
her father too well to expect any
help from him.
There was not SO TO be scraped
together between the two. Kit said
she would wait. but John. who
was an impatient fellow. didn't wish
70 walt. He said that TO 30 about the
problem OF life as Mr. Bowers pro-
posed would be impossible 70 q man |
OF his disposition. He told Kit that
be would 90 out into the world and
do what be could. She could wait for /
him or not. as she chose. II be had /
any luck be would come back and /
claim her: n not. she might marry some
one else In case she got a good offer.
Kit babe him goodby with streaming
eyes and went home. while be stood
looking after her When she reached
a point where she would pass from
his view she turned. threw him a kiss.
which he returned and then she dis
appeared
The only consolation Johnny had
was bis pipe. He took II out Of bis
pocket filed Il and sat down on the
ground for a smoke. Il was one Of
those warm sultry days that some
times come just before the collapse Of
summer. Johnny sank lower and low
er on the ground TIL AZ last be was
sprawled at full length Then be
turned on bis side with bis nose not
two inches above the earth.
''Some one be said 10 himself. must
have spilled Kerosene here. can smell
It." He put his nose fat down on the
surface and shifted The odor was I'M
mistakable He moved a short dis
lance. smiled again and got the same
odor. After testing several locations
he found that the odor was strongest
where be had FIRST smelled Il. but Il ,
was 50 scattered that Il could not have
come from the overturning Of a can Of
kerosene. Johnny had discovered coal
oil on Mr. Bowers ground
That night be returned with a spade
and dug a hole where be had FIRST de-
lecfef the odor. The deeper be dug
me more percepffble the odor. When
he was satisfied be dllcd the hole. OBJ I
iterated the marks Of II and went (
lway.
A few days later fFarmer Griggs.
,wning land adjoining the Bowers
arm. dickered with Bowers for the
Orner Of the farm on which John and !.
Kitty bad parted and bought Il for a
ong II was decided 70 Grlggs. who ?
eeded II 70 John O'Nell and a man d
e had induced 90 advance the money T
or It's purchase. One morning Mr.. /,
lowers saw preparations for boring ii
D the property be had sold. He was !.
Iuch interested. All day be could hear I
ie noise Of the boring. Then there y
as a stopping Of the work for two Q
IOnths. at the end OF which time II e.
as recommended. After several Of g
ese stops. covering period Of nearly h
year. Mr. Bowers heard something IA
AT astonished him. Rushing out to a.
here the men were boring. be saw =
stream Of oil shooting up toward
e sky.
Bowers was much dIsRruntied that
me one had discovered oil on his
operty and had got Il from him for -
paItry sum. He tried 70 end out or
10 were the lucky parties. but failed.
.anwhile the Eagle oil company was ed
ranized. bot the well was soon sold tn
{ 20 the Universal on company and
s merged into It's extensive proper
me day Johnny o'Nell appeared az -
Bowers farm dressed IN city =,
shes and Nth all appearance Of ".
sperlty. Indeed. be drove up IN ~
700 automobile. He said be came for
~ and after a showing Of bis as ed
3 to her father bad no difficulty I'M
getting her. Just before the young
rs departure 1fr. Bowers asked
How did you do II. JohnnyT
o. .M..IIMH r-na. ~ 4sA"