Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-06-07
CHAPTER xl.
Tho New Correspondent.

CHAPTER xL
Tho New Correspondent.
VII GOD! Good! Couldn't be bet
ter" Tarp said to himself as
Ill Abner approached him
~ Hes swallowin' it like a
hungry fish. II this thing goes through
it will be the talk of the county. Say,
Uncle Alb, did you ever in your rounds
happen to meet chap by the name o
J. L. Tarp, proprietor of Tarp's Dry
Goods and General Merchandise EN-
porium at barley? Well, II you haven't
you'd better keep your eye peeled.
He's the slickest and the cheapest ad-
vertiser In seven states and will do you
II he can" And, with an exultant
smile, the merchant turned into his
store.
Abner finished reading the communi-
cation just received ut the foot of the
stairs and then went up to the Office
Throwing his armful of papers on q
table, he glanced across the room at
Howard, who was at work on an ed
itOrial
"say." he began, smiling significant
~, you was sayin' you was afeared
that we'd run little shy on news fer
tomorrow's issue, wasn't your"
II thought So" Howard returned,
but I guess we can manage to fill up
by running some reserve matter al
ready in type"
I'VE won't have to-" Abner smiled,
as he tapped on the table with the
folded sheets he had received.
"Why? Has something happened?''
Howard asked, curiously.
you'll think So" Abner chuckled.
We've got new correspondent over
the mountains at Elktown-Thomas L.
Keith he signs hisse'f, and he's a corker,
eft am any Judge. Drop that work
an listen to this"
Howard turned In his seat, and.
opening the manuscript and clearing
his throat, Abner began to read In a
sort Of declamatory tone which he
used when he wished to be impressive:
Elktown. Ca. Wednesday Morning.
Editor the New Clarion:
Dear Sir-1 am writing to you with the
hope that I may be enrolled as your COR
respondent from this charming mountain
hamlet. I have never tried my hand at
newspaper work. but I have always felt
that would like It as a pastime, and
after reading about what a princely host
you were at your recent dinner to the
rural correspondents Of the New Clarion
and what a gay time you all had In such
brotherly and sisterly way, I admit
have had the pen fever worse than ever.
And as for a suitable outlet for my ef-
forts, must say, without any intention
to f1atter, that know Of no journal that
I would rather be contributor to than
yours. That such well printed, we'll ed
tied paper could emanate from a small
town In north Georgia In these days of
struggle Is a marvel that find difficulty
to adjust myself to.
Zine, amt itT' Abner paused to
comment and spit. HE knows what's
what, eff I'm proper Judge, an I'm
glad sech a Teller appreciates what we
are dom. But Jest wait-that's Jest
the Introduction to the main stuff
That's comm. as you'll see In min
ute"
I am happy to say. Mr.. Editor (Abner
resumed reading) that 1t happens now
that am able to transmit some impor-
tant news-news, It seems to me at this
distance. to be Of unusual interest to peo-
pie Of all ages. sizes. classes and sexes
Something Of an astonishing nature has
just come to light here In these quiet old
mountains and the excitement is absolute
iy unprecedented and Ia spreading like a
swollen torrent Of water.
1t started from an old report that has
been whispered and talked and limited at
ever since the last Cherokee Indian tribe
lived here and was finally run of by our
early settlers to the west. AS you ana
your esteemed readers are doubtless
aware. It Is fact of history and present
day observation that those same Indians
dug gold with considerable success all
around Elktown. as Is proved by the
old pits and shafts which still greet the
eye TN many spots. Now that fact Is not
only established beyond a peradventure
by what has Just come to light: but,
moreover, the old story about a certain
Indian chieftain burying a big treasure
OF nugget gold appears to have had actual
foundation. as you will see by what fol-
lows
The old tales had died out; folks were
going about their various affairs in their
daily walks. never dreaming Of the bomb
Of untold wealth that was to explode In
our sylvan midst. when a stranger arriv-
ed from the Indian territory and put IN
at the Elktcwn hotel. He had no partit:-
ular business that anybody could see but
Kept coming and going and saying moth
Ing to anybody. Some thought he was
an agent sent out b buy up lumber
lands for some rich company or inspect
water power plants.
But as the man continued to stay and
act secretive In the extreme, the specula-
ton as to what he was up to became rife.
For ono thing the stranger had an odd
look. He was as dark as q mulatto. had
very high. II not actually protrudine
cheek bones was remarkably tall, as
straight as ramrod and had hair as
thick and sti6 as No. spool thread.
Many noticed that he looked happy. In
fact. folks on the watch caught him grim
ming to himself when he thought nobody
was looking He paid hts bill: In fact.
made lavish tips all about He had pack
ed up his belongings and was waiting for
the train to take him of when he sud-
denly fell sick.
The amiable proprietor Of the Elktown
hotel and his kind hearted and popular
wife tried to attend to his needs az we'll
az they could. and 1t appears that they
overheard him saying things not intended
Tor other ears than his own. He seemed
to be afraid that the hand OF the grim
reaper was overshadowing him and wa
eoxlons to Gaf eoWethtn1 of xAst I'm.
Z .' - q