Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1883-01-18


goods ever so much below COST
''Is he? Why. Joe % said Betsey
shaking her high-topped comb, "why
Joe, what a chance for yoai III
borrow the money, and yon shall buy
the goods yourself"
''Betsey Browning?" said ice Sc.
vereiy, ''is this any time for jokes?''
"No, sir, I'm talking business.
How much money do you want?"
"Well, four thousand dollars. The
goods are worth nine thousand; but
at the rate he is marking them down,
four thousand will do. Might as well
say four millions though; who will
lend nae anything?"
aUncle John. He is rich, and you
know he can't refuse anything to his
little Betsey-when she leases
Joe laughed drearily. "Better GO
to Concord, miss; it's only three
hundred miles!"
''Just where I'm going," replied
the maiden gaily.
''Get me Squire Smiths mare and
I'm off tomorrow.
''Betsey, are you crazy? All that
journey on horseback; and uncle
John won't give you the money
either.''
"Of course he won't if don't ask
him." retorted Betsey saucily. '.Ofl
with you and see Mr.. Smith about the
mare. I must do monstrous baking,
for 1 I,shall be away perhaps fort.
night, and I'm not going to leave my
brother to starve.'
Wheat bread, rye and Indian bread
election cake, crisp hard gingerbread
pumpkin, mince and apple pies, baked
beans, Indian pudding as red as the
inside of ripe watermelon-all thes.
danced into the oven and out agair
before brisk Betsey slept.
The next morning in her best gown
black riding-habit, and bonnet O.
pasteboard covered with green silk
she mounted Asa Smiths gray mare
bade good-by to Joe, and cantered of
to Concord, a town which seemed a
far away in those days, to say tn
least, as Montana seems now.
The neighbors wondered where ''ou
Betsey'' was going; but even Squir
Smith could not tell them. He onl,
knew she was "riding off yonder
piece to see some of her folks, an
wouldn't be back for quite a SPELL"
Meanwhile Mr.. Crumh was happy
''I'm marking down the goods prett
low, you see," said he with chuckle
''It's as fair for one as it is for th
other, because there's no knowing ye
who'll buy 'em."
| But he thought he knew very vel
/ Betsey came home in less than thre
weeks with alight heart, heavy purse
land uncle Johns blessing.
go Joe," said she, as her brothe
helped her out of the saddle, she say
you may keep the money for ten years
and needn't pay any interest unles
you choose. What do you think now?
81 think you're a diamond of til
first water!" cried Joe, carrying h,
into the house in his arms.
The sixtieth day came.
siLet's see," said Mr.. Crumb; sit
time that little business was settle
between u.s.
E He smiled almost genially, and ru1
I bed his hands as if he had made
B rare joke.
< "Yes, yes, young man, the time
l up now, and if you can pay for the
$ goods they're yours. Maybe you
t like to look over this paper where l.
+ added up the figgers.''
' Joe took the paper and glanc
t down the columns. "You say il
; can pay for the goods, sir, they a
d mine?"
O .Yes, yes, to be sure, that's wha
said. I'll give you the first chance
- replied Jonathan Crumb, actua
K laughing.
it Joe thrust his hand in his pock
drew out leathern wallet, opened
e and began slowly to count out
t. money.
= Mr.. Crumb looked on IN ama1
ment. "What, what, what, you
ID man! Where did you get that? WI
ID what's all this?'
lie Il came by it honestly" repl
Joe. II suppose you know me v
enough by this time not to doubt th
lg And now if you really mean to g
~ me the first chance to buy these goo
I'll take it, and thank you kindl,
Mr.. Crumb was speechless, and
face turned fairly yellow with surpl
he and chagrin.
The first chance to buy th
IL goods?" repeated he as soon as
all could find voice. ''do you wan
ne drive me out of town, young maj
"Oh, no, sir; it was you who m
he the bargain, yon remember, not
[r. Mr.. Crumb hung his head. He
laid his trap well, very well; and
I'D he had walked into it himself!
he could have howled with rage and
rs appointment.
He left Roscoe, of course. A
gain is bargain; and more than t
to he had no desire to stay where ev
me body would laugh at him and kno'
2" had been outwitted by "that 70