All the baron required was the title to about 16,000 or 20,000 acres of land and a good chunk of stock in the concern and his "Open Sesame" would unbar the door that held Dawes county wealth captive. Land was cheap here and any 160 acres in the county could be bought for a song, so we all commenced singing the song and succeeded in securing the title to several sections. The committee waited on the so-called Baron Hurst in Chicago several times, were wined and dined and sent back to Chadron for more title deeds. The factory would be commenced in a few weeks and be ready for operation next season. But go back and get more land. The Baron and Baroness came to Chadron to view the situation and the warranty deeds. The site of the factory was selected. Romine was to be the manager. This on the quiet, for everybody in town expected this paying position. Meetings were held among the farmers. In our minds Dawes county was one large beet field. Everybody lost his head. That is, everybody but one man. A. A. McFadon frowned on the proposition from the beginning and the people

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

abused him. He began an investigation of Baron Hurst and they cursed him ; he informed the people that Hurst was a fake and they felt like mobbing him. A meeting was held on the street at the corner of Second and Egan to denounce Mr. McFadon. A prominent citizen and sometime spellbinder was to be the chief orator. But before beginning his speech he required a stimulant. Someone, in a spirit of mischief, doped the stimulant. The speaker began his flight of oratory, raised one hand toward heaven, and collapsed, fell into the stree+. was carried home on a stretcher, and the crowd faded away into the darkness.