Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-10-29
James Pike
OF PikevilIe
By P. CLARKE


There was not an OIL, e OF gold within
two miles of the place except What
Jim had put there from some ofheI
mine, but 1t was enough when mixed
with a certain red ore there was on tht
property he had staked out to sell te
others to convince hungry gold hunters
that he had struck it rich.
When therefore he gave out that he
had several hundred acres and couldn't
work more than one acre himself every
body clamored to buy a small slice of
his surplus. 1t required a lot of per
suading to induce him to sell. and
every time he sold a lot he seemed to
be heartbroken. 'There goes q for
tun'," he would say. lust because !
haven't the funds to get 1t out O. the
ground"
Nevertheless Jim was always per-
suaded, and If the would be purchaser
hadn't the cash to buy with he would
just as a favor-take anything he could
get. He sold one man who was down
on his luck a lot fifty feet by fifty for
a revolver. This transaction was talk
ed about, and any man who had a
horse, a watch or an old fiddle would
go to Jim Pike and buy a bit of ground
with 1t.
But none of these investors got any
gold out Of their lots. First there was
grumbling; then there was cursing, and
at last there was a putting together of
heads, and the opinion was promulgat-
ed that Pike had swindled the pur-
chasers. Those who had bought the
best and largest tracts for cash con-
suited as to how they could get their
money back; those who had bought
with cats and dogs were not so
wrought up, but among the whole there
grew up q disposition to prevent Pike
from getting away from the place with
the booty.
Pike had a deep insight into human
nature. 1t was his opinion that those
who have been swindled once might be
swindled again. Moreover, he believed
that 1t is easier to swindle a commu-
nifty than an individual. That's the
PLAN" he said. ION which promoters
work. If Tom Is satisfied that a GER
tain scheme is a good u Dick Is ready
to follow Tom, and the two together
bring in Harry. Tom. Dick and Harry
bring In the multitude"
So Mr.. Pike concluded that, having
by one swindle made a nucleus for
another, he bethought himself what
that other n should be: The object
of his second scheme was not to take
any more money out Of the citizens OF
Pikeville, for he had got about all there
was. What he desired was to get away
with his plumber.
He gave out that in the kindness Of
his heart he had taken many odds and
ends for his property for which be
had no use. He had decided to lump
them and rattle them. He thought
there were $1,000 worth of them, but
he would call it $500.
Those who had invested money IL
Pikeville lots scorned to invest II
Pixies lottery. Those who had lost
nothing of moment, thinking that these
neighbors had bought with more val
liable articles than himself and that
the collection would be a fine thing to
have, took shares. In this way SOC
shares were sold to the most gullible
of the population. Pike not only took
the remaining 200 shares himself, but
pledged himself if he won to put the
names of those holding shares in a hat
and let a little child, blindfolded, draw
a name. To the person whose name
was drawn he would turn over the ar
ticles ratified for.
This seemed so fair. so generous,
that it caused quite a revulsion in
Pixies favor. Those who had sneered
at him did not do SO any more for
fear of exciting hostility against them
selves. Indeed, there were several
fights between s~coffers and sharehold-
ers in the lottery.
While the shares were being sub
scribed for the articles to be ratified
were exhibited. In Pixies yard were
two horses. both blind. n COW. three
dogs and a goat. In his living room
were fishing rods. musical instruments.
several articles of furniture. some rugs
much wOrn-and small articles of
every ueSCTipllOu uONH " IL JShSudTp.
When the collection had been ex.
hibited long enough to give every one
a sight, though too short TO enable any
one to judge of its worthlessness, 1t
was announced that the drawing would
take place the next evening at I o'clock.
A little girl six years old was blind
folded. a plug hat with 500 names in
it-200 being Pike's-was placed be-
fore her. she put in her hand and drew
out the name of James Pike.
Mr.. Pike stepped forth and said that
he had understood there was some
error in the names In the hat, that
they would be carefully examined and
the final drawing would take place at
10 O'Clock the next morning. There
was a cheer at this. and the generous
Mr.. Pike bowed and smiled affably.
The citizens of Pikeville arose the