The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-05-29

companion. and they talked OF many
things such as money and finance,
sudden riches. and ways and means
This led them back naturally to a
discussion OF Stoner's latest promo
ton. he called Il the Lost Hun well,
and the circumstances connected
herewith he related with subtlety
OF humor rare IN a man OF his sorts
The nature OF the story appealed
koonly 10 MoWadc. aud il ran like
this; Stoner had been working in
the Louisiana gas fields near the
scene OF a railroad accident three
bulls had Straycd upon the right Of
way with results disastrous 10 q
freight train and fatal 20 themselves
After the wrcckage had been cleared
away, thu claim agent settled with
the owner OF the bulls and the ear,
casses were buried In an adjoining
field. THIS had occurred some time
prior 10 Stoncr's arrival. In fact, il
was only by chance that he heard
OF IL.
one day in passing the spot stoner
noticed slight depression In the
ground. filled with water thru which
occasional bubbles OF gas rose Being
Of an inquisltiyc turn Of mind. he
had amused himself with some cN-
perimcnts and found that tho gas
was inflammable. Moreover. Il gave
Off an odor not unlike that OF nat.
ural gas. II was a phenomenon OF
decomposition new 20 the driller. and
u gave him a great idea. lie went
20 town and very cautiously told OF
his discovery gas seepaEe. with
traces OF OIL His story caused a SEN
satlon. and he led several OF the
wcRlthiost citizens 20 tho spot, then
watched them in all gravity while
they isnited tho gas. smellcd u. tasted
the soil. They were convinced. They
appointed Stoner their agent TO buy
the farm. under cover. which he did
at nice prolific himself This
profit he spent In rlotous living while
a rig was being moved upon tho
ground. Not until the derrick was
up and the crew. In tho presence or
the excited stockholders. oamo to
"spud in" was tho true source OF that
Eas diseovcred-then the enterprise
assumed such bad odor that by
ISLANDERS fled and Mr.. stoner was
forced 10 leave the state without his
baggage.
This had been the nature OF Nc
wadc's and Stoner's meeting: on the
roof OF that swaying Pullman they
laid tho cornerstone OF their partner
ship.
Arrived at wichita Falls. s,oner
went into the field and MeWade OBJ
tained employment In a restaurant.
Il was position OF trust. for upon
him developed the entire responsible.
ity OF removing the traces OF food
from the used dishes and drying
them without too great percentage
OF breakage. II kept Mcwadc upon
his feet. but anyhow. he could not sit
with comfort. and II enabled him. IN
the course Of week. 10 purchase
change Of linen and 20 have his suit
and pressed This done. he
resigned and went 10 tho leading |
bank. where he opened an account by |
n check drawn upon a |
institution for $4,000. Nc
Wade made Il practice always 10
have n few blank checks on hand.
Airily, but in all earnestncsS. no In
vited the Texas bank TO verify the
check at It's convenience.
So many were the strangers In |
Falls. so great the rush Of
uew customers. that tho banks had /
no means Of investigating their ac-
except by wiring at their own |
expense. This was Saturday after
noon. which gave Mcwade two days
of grace. so he pocketsd his new
pass and check books. then mingled |
with the crowd Mt the westiand no.
TEL He bought leases and drilling
sites. Issuing local checks In payment I
thereof--nobody could question the
Of those checks with the evil
ience OF $4,000 dollars deposited that
very day--and on Sunday he sold
them. BY the time the Wichita Falls
bank opened It's doors on Monday
he had turned his last lease
and had made $4,000.
A few days later ne and stoner in.
sorporated their first company. This
was at the height of the town-site