The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-10-28


she proceeded at once TO the business
that had brought her there.
Heow much i'll YOU give fer that
big blackberry lot o mine, Cyrus Deane,
south of Anthony Woods placc?"
Cyrus looked surprised. "Why, what
be You wantin' to sell that blackb'ry lot
fer?"
"Thats jest the identikal question.
Sposin' dew want to sell it, what will l
sell it for? In other words, what i'll you
buy it for ?"
Cyrus Deane's little gray eyes twin
kled. His vulpine instincts scented
bargain. He hemmed and hawed:
+" Waal--now-come to think ont, tn
amt much good in blackb'ry lot. You
carn't keep the pesky boys of of it to
save yer life / /"
"Ef you couldn't scare EN- off, dou't
know who could" said Miss Mahala,
with snap. "It's splendid land. You
could pillow 'em under and raise most
Rnythin' on it. hain't had much time
to bother with it. lately, SO it's laid
there, and laid there. Thurs one or two
ben askin' me bout it..
'Yaas -yaasl" said Cyrus, and hitched
in his chair.
Miss Mahala sat silent. She felt sure
Of her man.
Cyrus pushed away his plate and
moved back from the table. His wife
began to clear off the dishes.
"Sposin' YOU struck a party that
wanted it, heow much I'D you take fer
it, did yon say?"
81 didn't say. j asked how much
you'd give me for it.
Cyrus reached out his horny hand and
pulled splinter from the broom that
hung near.
Waal picking his q III,
"'tain't likely anybuddy 'ud give you
more'n hundred dollars fer it. Would
you sell for that?"
"Of course not sad Miss Bahala,
promptly. it's worth lest double
every cent of it.
"Thun-" began Cyrus, and his
brows.
!" 1t will be a building lot some day,
when the village grows. Then whoever
owned it could git $500 fer it, easy"
said Miss Mahala.
"Why don't you hold on tew it, then p
uShtu AyIuS, Hluchlys
Because I'd ruther sell it now" and
Miss Mahala snapped the clasp of her
old-fashioned reticule hanging on her
arm.
"I couldn't give 5000 fer it, no way at
all. Would you take $l502"
"Call it S175 and its a bargain. John
Haley I'D jump at it ef he could git it at
that price"
Cyrus threw down the broom splinter
and reached for another.
/" Remember, in few years you may
git $500 for it !"
81 mought-and then agin moIght-
ent, said Cyrus, then, suddenly slap
ping his knee, oval it trade at
$175 Do ye want it oil to-day, cash
DOWN."
"I don't want any cash at all. I'll
give you deed O. the lot an 1925 in
cash beside, Of you'll trade me-"
The conclusion of her sentencehad the
effect of an electric shock on her audit
or.
Thun-you don't mean it What
in kingdom be you thinkin' Of, to take
hole o sech resky piece o proputty
ez that p
~ hain't afeard o the resk, said
Miss Mahala, drawing forth roll OF
greenbacks from her reticule.
The bargain was made. They went
to the Squire's to have deed made out,
and, as Miss Mahala's stiff, straight fig
ure disappeared down the road, a crafty
smile crept over Cyrus Deane's face, and
he slowly calculated
Of-all-the-tar fools-on the
face of the airth-the tarnalest is a wom-
an-when she sets cont to tranzact biz
ness !"
A few hours later Miss Mahala stepped
softly across the threshold of jerry
Deane's home.
81 hain't forgot that this is Cissy's
birthday. I've fetched her little pres
emit" setting a plate on the table.
"'Tain't much to brag Of, only loaf o
lection cake. but Timothy Meadowses
wife (she was Liza Blynn) used TO low
that j was the beatenest hand at lection
cake that she ever see. l don't say it to
boast. Go on with your dinner. I've
ct mine.
She gave Cissy loving hug, and
helped herself to chair, receiving Mrs.
Deane's thanks with "Sho, 'tain'l
nuthin to speak of-only 1 thought I'd
Jest like to celebrate. Cissy's perticlel
pet o. mine. you know"
After a pause, she continued by
the way, LOUSY Ann, you'd better put
it on another platter. It's ben OF
that one SO long it's all got sweatec
down.
As Mrs. Deane lifted it she discovered
folded paper underneath. "What'l
this % she exclaimed, in surprise.
"Jest open it an see, said Miss Ma
hala. Didn't tell you | wanted t
celebrate?'' and the rhadamanthul
glasses grew suspiciously cloudy.
Jerry Oh, jerry It's the mort
gage How ever did You get hold of it
Miss Mahala2"
"That's my affair, :" said Miss Mahala
"The only difference is that you XII
nav it TO me instid o. Oyrus-an' yol
kin take your own time to it, jerry.
know what KIND o. stuff LOUSY Ann