Parker talked of new presses; two men were added to his staff, and a reporter was brought from Rouen to join Mr.Fisbee.

The "Herald" boomed the oil-field; people swarmed into town; the hotel was crowded; strangers became no sensation whatever.

A capitalist bought the whole north side of the Square to erect new stores, and the Carlow Bank began the construction of a new bank building of Bedford stone on Main Street.

Then it was whispered, next affirmed, that the "Herald" had succeeded in another of its enterprises, and Main Street was to be asphalted.

That was the end of the "old days" of Plattville.
There was a man who had laid the foundation upon which the new Plattville was to be built; he who, through the quiet labor of years, had stamped his spirit upon the people, as their own was stamped upon him; but he lay sick in his friend's house and did not care.