The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-11-15

day, q l wish you would come back to the store this ev>ning."
 "Yes, sir"
 "I want to talk over some business matters with you, don't you know? You are the only person in whom have any faith in business way. almost mort ally offended my brother some time ago because vouldn't take his son as my acknowledged heir and let him take charge of my business. I'll catch my seit you understand, engaging in such foolishness Said he was going to send his son out here-hves in Missouri-but wrote and told him, you understand, that if he did, I'd take hoop pole or something, and run him cut of town, don't you knowT
 T am glad you have confidence in me, Mir. Battomly."
 @YeA yes, of course, but you deserve it. You are a good book.keeper, have excellent judgment you understand, and well you've got sense. l talk about business great deal, but don't you know that 1 am pretty we'll fixed, as the saying is? Yes, am we'll fixed. Reckon I've got about twenty-five thousand in the bank. Yes. and own a good house and lot, you understand. really makes no difference, you know, whether have an active trade or not. but like to sec something going on. It is hard for an old chap like am to entertain the thought of giving up the fight Of life, even ii he has saved enough of the victsr's spells, you understand, to make him comfortable"
 What did you ask me?' A
 @Why, didn't you hear mer
 Oh, yes, sir, ,-but don't know how to divide your question from your opinion You asked me something and then de- livered an opinion on something"
 "Yes, l understa- q. Let's see, what did I ask you5 Oh, yes, said that didn't have to workout how could ask you about it. We'll, no matter, I l don't Did you say you would come back this evening""
 "Yes, sir"
 That's right. want to consult you l on business proposition that may change all the plans have hitheytn made, you understand? You are the | first person from whom ever asked ad- | vice. Don't forget to come back this | evening. No, that's a fact, you never forget anything
 CHAPTER III.
 Mir. Ba,tomly returned early to tbe store. He put scuttle of coal into the | stove swept up s.e of shavings that 1. he had whitsled while musing; brough, a bucket of fresh water; gave the cat a piece of beefsteak that he had brough, wrapped in bill of fare which Battomly could not read and which the restaurant could not i'll and then sat down. "She is magnificent womaA," he mused 1 . Been here nearly three months and has never made a mistake. Fewess number of women like her. Fewest number of men, for that matter. believe she would make good wife. She may not be beautiful and graceful, but when she takes hold of . set of books, she makes 'em walk the chalk line. Nov, if | ask her to marry me. she'll begin to talk about love. All women think of love even though they marry for mosey. l ] must tell her tha, love her. We'll, do love her as much as 1 could love any body. respect and admire her. Those are the two main features of love; for. | remove them and no affection is pure. Here she comes"
 CHAPTER ".
 You have made an excellent fire, MT. BAttomly. Why don't you make the porter attend to such matters. You wear yourself out attending to the duties that oeieng to others You should be more 
 "That's fact, you understand, but am like my father. He thought that no one but himself could make a fire. I took up similar idea, don't you know, and always execute that service"
 May ask what business you have with me, Mir. Battomly? don't care tc stay out late"
 "Ye& yes. of course Very natural on your part. Let's sec, what vas the busi- ness; oh, what do you think of-of putting in a small ten cent counter and getting boy to attend to it?n
 It may be well enough, but the busi- aess of which you spoke this afernoon, ks s~. .> ..~.. |