The guardian., 1941-08-09
Rabbits
By LIEUT.. B. S. BURKETT
Mcclure Syndicate-WNU Service.)


eral store at Mecaha, Mont, about
noon on an early autumn morning.
He lifted his two jackrabbits out of
reach of a lanky cat and sauntered
to the rear of the building.
Otis Green, postmaster and deal
er in general merchandise as well
as real estate since the discovery
of oil on the Musselshell, glanced
up from the pile of mail he was sort
ing.
He grunted grudging, ''Howdy,
Sam. Whatcha want to argue about
today?"
Thorp held up the two jackrabbits.
'Two dern fat rabbits-been livin'
on the OF lady's lettuce fer coupla
months. But trapped 'em last
night" said Sam. "Need a leetle
coffee mighty bad"
Couldn't sell the last ones /
bought from you, Sam. But I'll give
you twenty-five cents for 'em both"
"Uhuh," grunted Sam. "But I
jist heerd you paid the Lamb boys
twenty-f' cents apiece fer their rab-
bits an them half shot to pieces,
too"
''Best I kin do, Sam. Twenty-Five
or nothing"
''Well, 'tain't fair. But have to
let you take 'em. Dern shame, too.
You sell us poor devils gumbo land
at oil price. Won't grow nuthin' but
rattlesnakes an sage hens"
'Best geologist in the country
says there's oil on the land. I amt
supposed to have wells sunk to
prove it, am l? Besides, trades
trade with me, Sam. When 1 git
stung I take it as my fault. Amt
no use in you bellyachin' now"
Cant raise nuthin' but rabbits in
the garden an now you won't even
buy 'em-leastwise, pay only half
what theys worth"
ga deals a deal. Amt no busi-
ness Judgment about you, Thorp. We
live on suckers lax you owt heah in
Montanner. Reckon you'd better go
back to Kentuck whar you come
from"
'"Thet's what I'm calcerlatin' on.
But I can't sell my land ="
With a sigh Thorp picked up his
pound of coffee, shuff1ed out to his
little sorrel and clambered onto the
saddle. He chuckled family as he
clucked to the little horse.
Sam had just finished the evening
chores when Otis Green jerked his
antiquated automobile to a stop at
the front gate.
''Havin' some men fer breakfast
and need a couple more rabbits.
Got any? Can pay you 25 cents for
these"
"Now let me see. Caught three
this afternoon. Reckon l might as
well let you have two NV 'em. Nice
meat, too. But they'll cost you so
cents. See by the paper the price
of rabbits is up leetle."
Otis spat in the dust, swore a blue
streak and grabbed up the rabbits.
From the front seat, he tossed the
money to Sam before ramming his
foot on the accelerator.
Early next morning, Green and
three companions appeared at Sans
cabin.
"Air yo' wantin' more rabbits,
Green?" chortled Thorp.
"Nope. Bigger deal this time"
beamed Otis. 81 come to buy this
one sixty of yours. Got some friends
here as witnesses, so we can close
the deal right now
I'll give you ten dollars an acre fer
the whole one hundred an sixty"
Didn't I give you $40 an acre be-
fore I fenced 'er and made all i'm
provements?" Sam rasped vehe-
mently.
"Yap, but land amt what it was
during the war, Sam"
It'll take just three times what
it cost to buy it back. Sixty dollars
an acre and it's yours. Nary cent
less"
"Yore plum crazy, Sam," Green
shouted in a squeaky voice.
''You can have 'er fer my price er
let 'er 60. Amt carin' which,"
Green knew Thorp would not come
down, so he gave him sixty dollars
an acre, paying the purchase price
in new shiny bills; Sam was afraid
of checks.
Were leavin' fer Kentucky to-
morrow, nanny" said Sam, as he
folded the bills with precision.
Green glanced at the other men
and winked.
Fer once l got you, Sam. Lucky
such a fish as you is leavin' this
country I saw oil stain on your
shoes and overalls yesterday. So
came up last night and went
over your place with my fashlight.
l found oil bubblin' out at three
places. 'Nuf oil here to supply the
whole state for fifty years." said
Green.
"Good geologist, awright. Yuh
found all three spots where there's
oil, jist three of EN-"
"How the hell you know how much
oils on your place? You amt no
geologist," snorted Green.