The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-06-08
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those oil Otncr pools. roT tne HTSL
week or two there was frenzy of
buying and selling, speculation in
oil acreage and town lots. ., =
The Nelson's, of course, were earIy
on the ground for in spite of the
fathers contention that they could
i'll afford. at that moment, to tie up
more money in unproductive proper
ties, the son had argued that they
must have protection" and his sr-
gumcnts had prevailed.
Now, oddly enough. this new oil
discovery did not develop as had
been expected-in fact the excite
ment died out quickly--and when
Henry Nelson undertook to dispose
of his holdings he was faced by
heavy loss, for Gray was offering
adjoining acreage at low prices.
Following this unhappy expert
ence, the scandal about the Jackson
will became public-the Atlantic
Company having ut last located tbe
leak in its pipe line-and the whole
Rcd River district enjoyed great
laugh.
Miss Parker, of course, was deep
~ chagrined at her connection with
the fraud; nevertheless, the banker
felt his flesh turn cold at the mar
rowness of his escape.
About this time big gasscr blew
in the north of Louisiana fields, and
wise oil men began to talk about Ar
kansas and quietly to gather in acre
age. Less than week later one of
Nelson's field men brought into the
bank youth who owned some
property in the latter state. Th;
yokcl was sick man; he was thin
and white; he had racking cough
and he knew nothing about oil cx-
cept from hearsay. All he knew was
that he would die if he didn't 60 to
"a warmer, drier climate, but Nhc
story he told caused Henry Nelson
to stare queerly at his field man
That very night the latter left
town.
On the third night thereafter, IN
answer to telegram Nelson ard
the Arkansas farmer slipped unpb-
trusvcly' out of Wichita Fails. 1t
so happened that Brick Stoncr, en-
route to Hot SPRING for / title rest,
was passenger on the same train.
Stoncr returned in due time much
rested, and he brought wirn him
large check to the firms account.
1--WE timed it to the minute" he
told McWadc and Mallow "That
gasser couldn't have come in better
if we'd ordered it, Nelson's decker
ing under cover for more acreage
near what he's got, but | tipped elf
who he was"
"He fell easy. eh? ?"
Stoner grinned. He was 50
pleased with himself at swindli,ig
an invalid, and so scared somebody
would discover those seepages that
he couldn't hardly wait to sign up.
1t it hadn't of been for the gene.al
excitement, he might of insisted on
time to do some exploring, but he's
pulled a rig off another job and he's
sending it right up"
We've got some good news, too"
McWade asserted. "Avenger Num-
Der One is trying hard to come in"
"No?"
81 tell you Grays got rabbit
foot. If we continue to trail along
with him, I'll be losing you as part
ncr, Brick"
"How so?'
"Why. III be turning honest 1t
seems to pay"
"Um-m. Probably I'D better Keep
all this Nelson money and leave
YOU"
'Oh not at ALL" the junior partner
said quickly. "That isn't an oil
deal, strictly speaking, for you say
there amt oil enough on the land to
grease jackknife. 1 look on itAs a
real-estate speculation"
With a laugh Stoner accepted this
explanation, and then announced
that he was hungry for his break
fast.
This time Mallow spoke up. "rm
bally-hooing for new Joint: Full
tons Fancy Waffle Foundry. Eel
low me and I'll try to wedge YOU in.
But you'll have to eat fast and dick
your teeth on the sidewalk, for we
need the room." In answer to
Stoner,s stare, the speaker eAplained
ms interest iN the welfare .cf Wichi4
Ia rails newest eating place, and en-
route thereto he told how Margie
ruiton came to be running it. Gray
did it. He got the Parker cir, TO
help US, and we had the place all
liked up. by the time Margie got
here. She's tickled pink. and TIN
com money-if it isn't pinched."
Pinched?"
Sure! Bennie's the cashier and
ne palms everything from dimes to
dlshtowels. Force of habit! Better
count your change till break him
OF short-changing the customers"
1t was a blue day for Henry Nell
son when Avenger Number One came
IN, Tor it made necessary Immediate
ariiling operations on his part. AM.
tne worst of it was the we'll was not
Dig enough to establish a high value
1or MS holdings. It was just enough
OF producer to force him to begin
three offsets and that, for the mo.
ment' was an undertaking decidedy
inconvenient. i,
Continued in Our Next Issue) .