The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1914-10-15
CHAPTER XIII.
An Amusement Park Deal.

CHAPTER XIII.
An Amusement Park Deal.
r Farmers and Traders bank; it was
Of three to deposit his funds in the
lie appointed an arbitrary committee
I was nearing o'clock when Black
nearing 4 when he had his full addi-
tional 100000 subscribed, and it was
nearing 8 before he got all his tenta-
tive stockholders together for an after
dinner meeting of organization.
1.-The first thing Of all to do" Blackie
told them, lis to secure the ground.
Suppose you appoint committee to
go out with me and inspect Thomp-
sons lake. which l understand to be
the only choice location you have?'
They appointed that committee, and
they did any other little thing that Mr.
Daw suggested. and then they settled
down to the real business of the even
ing. that Of entertaining and being en-
tertained.
The news flashed from club to club
OF all that was being done, and the
sessions at both headquarters lasted
until quite late hour. with the excite
ment growing more and more intense.
Dad Thompson's farm was diversi-
fed tract of land, quite picturesque
enough to look at, but of no delight at
all to a farmer whose artistic imagery
ran to fields of waving grain.
links Woods, who had hunted over
Dads farm until there wasn't a rabbit
or squirrel left was the guide for
Blackie's party of exploration, and he
landed them on the creek road side Of
the farm in two automobiles and O.
gasoline buggy.
II know what you want" he said.
''Theres bunch of lovers lanes down
this way that you'll spoil with electric
lights. but they'll make fine approach
for the carriage and motor crowd.
First you'll hear the tinkle of the wa
terfalls: then you'll hear the whiz of
the roller coaster; then you'll hear the
jingle of money, and that's the end Of
the route"
Blackie turned to Crompers almost
tearfully. And to think that we only
gave Jinks Woods $1,000 worth Of
stock!' he regretted.
HE should be fined" protested
Crompers, who could always find the
fly in the ointment no matter how mi
croscopic. IF the Clarion aud the
other papers had kept still about this
location Dad Thompson would have
been glad to sell his rock farm for lit
tie or nothing. There's only hum
dred acres of it, and $50 an acre on the
average would be an extravagant price
for it. That's $4,000. Now. with all
this newspaper talk, he'll probably
want oil field prices for it,
Its worth oil field prices to Prize
City," enthusiastically stated Blackie.
But why talk Of such sordid things as
money, gentlemen. in the face of such
beauties Of nature?"
A group Of gentlemen. headed by
the commanding figure of ]. Rufus
Wallingford, turned out of the woods
at the other end of the lake, having
come in by the traction entrance, and
paused abruptly to cast looks Of black
rancor across the prettily ripping wa
ter.
Jimmy Jinks!" exploded Woods.
Look who else is here! Foxy Dad
Thompson"
"Hold my hat and saxophone." hur-
riedly directed Blackie. passing over
the former article and merely imagin-
ing the latter, whereupon, in his bare
head and the tails of his black frock
coat Topping behind him. he sprinted
at top speed toward the gray haired
farmer who had just emerged from the
woods above the side Of the lake.
Wallingford. with his weight and dig.
nifty. could not afford to sprint, but he
FASTENED. Dad Thompson was
sturdy, low backed old chap, with
face the color Of russell apple and
two extremely blue eyes far overhung
by bushy gray brows.
"What will you take for your farm?"
exclaimed Blackie.
II never do business on Sunday" as
serted Dad Thompson simultaneously.
"How much will you giveY'
"Ten thousand dollars. spot cash. on
Monday" Blackie hastily offered.
"Well, l couldn't give you any an
|
with twinkling eyes, "but that don't
seem like much of price,"
Its twice the value Of your farm"
urged Blackie.
II didn't know how valuable it was
till l see all this stuff in the papers,"
retOrted Dad.
us this Mr.. Thompson?" asked the
| cl1ovA voico of vVoIl;pufor<1
Blackie Daw was instantly indignant
at the intrusion. II beg your pardon.
sir" he objected. cycling Mr.. Walling.
ford fiercely. ~ am at present en-.
gagged with Mr.. Thompson in per-
fectly private conversation"
Mr.. Wallingford, coldly digniied,
paid no attention to Mr.. DAVIS objec-
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