Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 June 1904 — WHEN JOE STRUCK OIL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WHEN JOE STRUCK OIL

By MARIAM HARCOURT

It had been understood for a year or more that Joe Green, son of Farmer Green, was to marry Bessie Hurlburt, daughter of an adjoining fanner. There was not a cloud on the horizon until a young man named Harry Beeclynan came Into the neighborhood to sell and to show the fanners how to set up wire fencing. He secured board at Hurlburt’s and at once became "stmck” ,pn Bessie. His admiration naturally pleased her, and when people began to hint that It was a case of love a new Idea came Into her father’s head. He knew Joe to be an honest, hardworking young man, and the question of money had never come up. If lie married Bessie he would take her to his own house and provide for her as well as a farmer wonld ! be expected to. It was only after the wire fence man came and exhibited his “roll'’ and talk-

ed of stocks and bonds and bank accounts that Farmer Hurlburt realized what a good thing It would be to have a wealthy son-ln-law. Young Beeehman encouraged the feeling in both father and mother, and his lavishness In buying presents for Bessie would have carried a less sensible girl off her feet But when he began to court In earnest she began to draw away, and Joe Green had nothing to be Jealous of. It was soon discovei-ed, however, that he had a light bn hand. The spirit of avarice had been awakened In the souls of the parents, and It was not long before they had u good deal to say to Bessie and something as well to her lover. “Look here, Joe,” said Farmer Hurlburt, who prided himself on his plain speaking, “I have said that you were one of the best young fellers in this county, but you ain’t Just the match for Bessie. She’s smart and good looking and one of the sort who ought to live in town and wear silks amj satins instead of plodding away on a farm. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I wish you’d look around for some other girl.” "You want her to marry the wire fence man, I take it,” said Joe in reply. “Yes. Joe; I do. He’s got money. He’s making more of it. He’ll be ns rich as Vanderbilt in ten years more. He offered to lend me SSO the other day without any security at all. . He's not only in the wire fence business, but he’s Into windmills and drainpipe and patent farm gates. He’s going into a speculation next week In which he will clear $3,000 or $4,000 in no time at all, and mebbe I’ll go in with him. You ain’t expecting to make a dollar extra this year, and so”— “I’m looking for oil down along the creek,” interrupted Joe. “Can’t be none there, Joe; can’t be no oil In this county., I like you as a man, Joe, but being you haven’t got money I shall have to ask you to stay away after this. It may take your appetite away for a few days, but you’ll get over It In a week and shine up to one of Jim Gardner’s girls.” Bessie was told at the same time that she would be expected to discourage Joe and encourage the other one, and, though she promptly rebelled, her parents put the foot down In a most vigorous way. In a manner the field was left clear for the wire fence man. Unfortunately* for him, he was a boaster and a braggart He was making a few dollars, but could not count on anything permanent. He realized that If he got the farmer’s daughter at all It would be through the aid of money, and he began to plan and scheme. Circumstances aided him. One day he received a private and confidential letter from New York. An individual in that city had got possession of a bank note plate and was printing greenbacks by the tens of thousands. He was willing that others should share In his good luck. He was so willing that he would sell greenbacks for 10 cents on the dollar and warrant them to pass current anywhere. It was the old, old green goods game, and young Beeehman bit In turn he became so generous hearted that he was willing to let Farmer Hurlburt In on the spec. Together they hoped to raise SSOO In cash, and

after some correspondence with the liberal minded man In New Y'ork It was decided that the wire fence man should make a little Journey and bring back ten for one. The farmer sold a horse, a cow and three hogs to make up his share of the money, and his prospective son-in-law Started for the east. Joe and Bessie had not quarreled. He had ceased hoeing potatoes to dig holes aloijg the creek and look for the black stuff that had made so many men rich. In a sense they were waiting for things to turn up. “Sarah," said the fanner to his wife after Beeehman had departed, “how would you like to have silk dresses all the rest of your life?” “Don’t scare a body to death, father,” she repik'd. “I know you and Harry are going to make millions of money, and I’m so nervous that I break dishes every time I clear the table off.” “Bessie," he continued as he turned to the daughter, “how would you like to ride out In a carriage drawn by four white horses and have so many diamonds on that you shone like the sun?” “If Joe finds an oil well he may buy tne a diamond ring,” she quietly answered. “Don’t you keep It up about Joe. He’ll never find no oil wells, or, if he does. It will be after you are married and living in a palace and having forty servants to wait on you. Me and your mother have set out to get you a feller, worth $1,000,000, and when you are receiving the president of the United States in your own castle you'll be glad you had such a father and mother.” A few days later Bessie set out to spend the afternoon with a neighbor. She had not been gone above an hour when young Beeehman returned from his journey. He carried a tin box under his arm, the key thereof In bis pocket and exultation in bis heart. Soon after his arrival the two men went to the barn to coant over their “ten to one.” The box was unwrapped, the key Inserted and the packages taken out to be counted. Then there came an Interval, during which time the wire fence man and the farmer looked into each other’s pale face and spoke no word. The “money” was green In color, but that was all. Young Beechman had been done np as thousands before had been done and had brought hack only blanks. They were still looking at each other and licking their dry lips when Joe and Bessie drove up to the gate. As she entered the house Joe hitched the ■id

horse and came out to the bam. “I Just wanted to say.” he quietly Observed, “that four days ago I found oil along the creek and that this after noon Bessie and I went to Justice Jordan and got married.” In reply Farmer Hurlburt got up and took young Beeehman by the collar and slammed him up against the fanning mill and then Jammed him up against the granary door and then walloped him all over the floor and ended by throwing him outdoors and sending a kick after him. Then he turned to the newly made husband and held out his hand and said: “Joe Green, there’s only one fool in the Hurlburt family,' and that’s me. Let’s go hi und have some cider and kiss the bride.”

HE JAMMED HIM UP AGAINST THE GRANARY DOOR.