Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-26

! the two big ones last year. Trusting
| am not troubling you too much, and
| with best personal regards, am
yours truly That's all, Miss Annie
| Get it right off before dinner"
| In due time. this reply was received:
Capt W TITUS. -,
Summerton National Bank. Summerton. Tex.
| Dear Titus: Party regarding whom you In
quire is not personally man OF large means,
| but his reputation is good. and he is probably
able to carry out any proposition he makes
He is engaged to marry the eldest daughter OF
Nicholas Vane, president Of the Vane-Bur-
roughs Oil Company and is usually regarded
! as representing Mr.. vane in his business deal
inGs. If this does nat give you all the In,
| formation yon need, shall be only too glad
| to bape any specific investigation made that
you may desire.
! certainly missed my trip to Texas this
last winter. II things can be arranged another
season, ! hope to see you. My kindest regards
to Mr.. Warland, DR.. Bannister and the Others
of my ut nee he sure to drop in
you how well that big head got the last day
| looks. 1t is mounted here in my private Of
r. V. vANDERPooL.
Bill folded this letter carefully, and
put it in his pocket, not trusting it to
Miss Annie or the files.
| mick Vane, eh?" he unused. He sat
few minutes in thought and then
walked forward to the cashiers desk.
/ II gotta go out of town two or three
days" he said. Things will run
along all right. l guess" He strolled
over to the Office of his land and de-
velopment company. and gave similar
! Information to young Murphy, the
clerk, salesman. and official welcomer
| of prospective purchasers. He took
the evening train to San Antonio.
He did not remain in San Antonio,
| however. but crossed the city, boa rded
a southbound train at another station,
and. by roundabout route of rail-
! frSa1 hi lx,, Nd l.,
the Smell pasture. twenty miles south
of Summerton, from the farther side.
! He was alone and had with him IA
ciiities for brief period of camping.
He set out methodically to ride slowly
| over every acre of the property
Late in the day he stopped his horse
at the border of the water hole, near
| the western boundary, and smiled his
satisfaction. His search was ended.
At one side of the little lake, sweep
ing out from hidden crevices, a green
ish layer of oil floated on the surface
of the water.
so old Nick lows to do some wild
cattln. Bill remarked aloud. Mar
wins been here month; it must be
at least six weeks since some scout
this last to his horse, well get a
drink up at the other end of this tank
away from that nasty green stuff and
then We'll call it a day and start for
home"
On arriving at San Antonio, he sue
ceeded in getting the president of the
Western Prairie Oil Company by long
distance telephone at his Office in
New Orleans. That gentleman insist
ed he wasn't at all interested in new
Texas fields, and that he didn't nlan
to drill any more wells for a year or
two anyway-but agreed that he
would have an expert drop down into
Stuart county quietly and look over
the Smell pasture. In the course OF
1.-THE conversation Bill succeeded in Lot :
Ming him know, without actually saw
Ling so. that the Vane- Burroughs Geo.
Nple were already interested.
! Being bitter and uncompromisine
rivals in the same field, and their con.
trolling owners being enemies to boot
/ the name of the aneBurroughs Com
pany is as lurid a red rag to the bulls
of the Western Prairie as the name nj
| the western Prairie is an exasperat.
ing annoyance to old Nicholas Vane
and his predatory associates.
Rather well satisfied with himself
Bill took train for SummertoH. and
was looking over the books of the
land company the following morning
when Marvin dropped in.
Missed you the last few days" he
remarked, as he acceu4d cigar ant
the metropolis"
Tourist seasons goin' strong. Sar
'Ntonio's full of fiubdubbery and dia.
monds. Peacock Alley. in the st
Francis. just after supper time, glis.
tens like salt mine Me. don,
like so big town. I'm always glat
to get my business done and get baci
here, where l can eat in nv shir
sleeves if l want to-"
Speaking of getting business done
has any reply come yet from Mrs
Snell?"
; Eyes. l found it waitin' for me thi.
mawnin'. Miz Smell she don't know
just what she wants to do. She want;
: me to advise her. What are you really
plannin' to do with. that property"
why, just what 1 told you-pu
) some cattle on it and build a huntint
lodge"
I "Fifteen-dollar land is pretty vaiu
1 able for cattle"