The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-12-06

to live close to pay the mortgage. but
did it, and now I'm prosperous"
Didn't luck have anything to dc
with it," asked Johnny.
"Not bit Never had any luck In
my life. What I've got I've made In
spite Of luck"
Johnny asked Kit to meet him out
on a projecting corner Of her fathers
farm to talk matters over. They chose
this spot because it was far from the
house and they were not liable to
interruption there. 1t was an unpro-
ductive piece Of ground that had been
tackled on to the farm in order to sell
it.
Johnny and Kit looked at the stu
alton and saw no comfort in it. John
had no one to help him. and Kit knew
her father too we'll to expect any
help from him.
There was not $50 to be scraped
together between the two. Kit said
she would wait, but John, who
was an impatient fellow. didn't wish
to wait. He said that to so about the
problem Of life as Mr.. Bowers pro-
posed would be impossible to man
of his disposition. He told Kit that
he would go out into the world and
do what he could. She could wait for
him or not. as she chose. If he had
any luck he would come back and
claim her; If not, she might marry some
one else in case she got good offer.
Kit babe him goodby with streaming
eyes and went home. while he stood
looking after her When she reached
a point where she would pass from
his view she turned. threw him kiss.
which he returned, and then she dis
appeared.
The only consolation Johnny had
was his pipe He took 1t out or his
pocket. filled it and sat down on the
ground for a smoke. 1t 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 till at last he was
sprawled at full length. Then he
turned on his side with his nose not
two inches above the earth.
Some one" he said to 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, shifted again and got the same
odor After testing several locations
he found that the odor was strongest
where he had first smelled it. but it
was so scattered that it could not have
come from the overturning of can of
kerosene. Johnny had discovered coal
oil on Mr. Bowers ground.
That night he returned with a spade
and dug a hole where he had first de-
tected the odor. The deeper he dug
the more perceptible the odor. When
he was satisfied be filled the hole. OBJ
liberated the marks Of it and went
away.
A few days later Farmer Griggs,
owning land adjoining the Bowers
farm, dickered with Bowers for the
corner of the farm on which John and
Kitty had parted and bought it for a
song. 1t was decided to Griggs, who
decided it to John O'Neil and a man
he had induced to advance the money
for its purchase. One morning Mr..
Bowers saw preparations for boring
ON the property he had sold. He was
much interested. All day he could hear
the noise of the boring. Then there
was a stopping Of the work for two
months, at the end of which time it
was recommended. After several OF
these stops. covering period Of nearly
a year. Mr.. Bowers heard something
that astonished him. Rushing out to
where the men were boring. he saw
a. stream of oil shooting up toward
the sky.
Bowers was much disgruntled that
some one had discovered Oil on his
property and had got it from him for
a paltry sum. He tried to find out
who were the lucky parties, but failed
Meanwhile the Eagle Oil company was
organized, but the well was soon sold
out to the Universal Oil company and
was merged into its extensive proper
ties.
One day Johnny O'Neil appeared at
he Bowers farm dressed in city
clothes and with all appearance OF
prosperity. Indeed, he drove up in q
$500 automobile. He said he came for
Kitty and after showing Of his as
sets to her father had no difficulty
in getting her. Just before the young
mans departure Afr. Bowers asked:
How did you do it. Johnny"
'Luck." replied Johnny as he was
whirled away.
After Johnny and Kit were married
Mr.. Bowers made another attempt tc
discover how Johnny had made his
fortune. He received no more explicit
reply than before. John knew the old
man would never forgive him for get
ting the better Of him.