The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-03-05

i
money during tie last three years I've
paid ont three hundred dollars fr fenc
ing"
"Um-h'm see, said Butler. whils
Haskins went on
q The kitchen there cost two hundred
the barn ain't cuss much in money, but
I've put a lot O. lime ON il. I've dug a new
well, and -
Z" Yes, yes, / see You've done well.
Stock worth a thousand dollars said
Butler, picking his teeth with straw.
About that, said Haskins, modestiy.
" We begin TO feel 5 if We WIZ git'n
home fr ourselves: but we've worked
hard. / tell ye. we begin to feel It, Mr.
Butter, and we're goin' t begin Z ease up
party soon. We've been a plannin'
/ trip back to her folks after the fall plow-
in's done
Eegs-actly p said Butler, who was
evidently thinking Of something else.
suppose you've kline o kalkalated on
stayin' here three years more ?"
We'll, yes. Pact Is. think / kin buy
the farm this fall, if you'll give me a rea-
sonahle show -
Um-ml What do you cali a reasona-
bic show ?"
WAL, say quarter down and three
years time"
Butler looked at the huge stacks Of
wheat that filed the yard, over which
the chickens were fiutteripg and crawl
ing, catching grasshoppers. and out Of
which the erickets we're singing innu-
merably. He smiled in a peculiar way as
be said, Oh. won't be hard on yer
but what did yer expect ter pay fr the
placer
Why, about what you offered it for
before, $500, or possibly the s3O00 - he
added, quickly, as ne saw the owner
shake his head.
This farm is worth five thousand and
FIVE hundred dollars said Butler, in a
careless but decided voice.
What almost shrieked the astoun-
ded Haskins What's that2 Five
thousand ? Why, that's double what you
offered it :or three years ago.
" OF course and It's worth it. It was
all run down then now its in good
shape You've laid out fifteen hundred
dollars in Improvements. according TO
your own story
Bat you had nothin' Z do about that. (
It's my work and money"
You bet It was but its my land
But what's TO pay me for all?"
Amt you had the use Of EN- >" re-
Piled Butler, smiling calmly into his face
Haskius was ike man struck on the 1
head with a sand bag he couldn't think,
he stammered as he tried to say But
II neverd get the use. You'd rob me
More'n that, you agreed-you promised
that I could buy or rent at the end Of
three years, at"
That's al right But didr't say
would let youearry of the improvements,
nor that would 90 on renting the farm
At two-fiify The land is double in value,
it don't matter how It don't enter into
the question; an now you can pay me
five hundred dollars a year rent, or take
on your own terms at fifty five hundred,
or-git out.
he was turning away when Haskins,
the sweat pouring from his face. fronted
him, saying again
But you've done nothing to make it
50. You hai'nt added a cent. I put it all
there myself, expeetin' to buy. ] worked
an sweat to improve it. l was workin'
r. myself and babes.
=" Well, why did7't you buy when l Of
fered TO sell? What y kickin' about -
g I'm kiekin' about payin' you twice
Tr my own things-my own fences,
ny own kitchen, my own garden."
Butler laughed. You're to green Z
Eat. young feller. Your improvements
The law viii sing another tune.
"But trusted your word.
Never trust anybody, my friend Be
sides, didn't promise not to do this
thing Why, man, don't look at me ike
hat Don't take me for a thief. It's the
aw. The reg1ar thing. Everybody
ioes it.
don't care if they do. It's stealin'
Just the same. You take three thousa nd
iollars Of my money. The work O. my
hands and my wife's7 He broke down
At this point. lie vas not strong man
mentally. He could face hardship, cease
ess toll. but be could not face the cold
and sneering face Of Butler.
But don't take il, said Butler. cool
y. All you've got TO do is to go on lest
IS you've been a.doin'. or give me
thousand dollars down. and mortgage
It ten Per cent. On the rest.
Haskins sat down blindly on 4 bundle I
floats near by, and with staring eyes and ( /
lropping head went over the situation.
lie was under the lions paw. lie felt a
horrible numbness in his heart and limbs. /
lie was hid in a mist, and there was no /
,ath out.
Butler walked about, looking at the ,
huge stacks OF grain, and pulling now
nd again few handfulls out, shelling j
he heads ia bis hands and blowing the /
haf eway. lie hummed a little tune as
le did so. lie bad an accommodating !
.ir of waiting.
Haskins was in the midst Of the terri {
BE toll Oft the last year. He was walking
gain in toe rain and the mud behind j
lis plow, he felt the dust and the dirt of I
he thTeshing. The ferocious husking
ime, with its cutting wind and biting,
.lingIng SHOWS, lay hard upon him. Then
he thought Of his wife, how she had {
cooked and baked, without I
lolisay and without rest.
swell, what DO you think Of it - in {
Iuired the cool, knocking, insinuating c
'oice Of Butler. Ii
I think you're liar and thief, !
ihouted Haskins, lesping up. \ black /
hearted houn'w Butler's smile madden
d him with a sudden leap be caught a
ork in his hands, and whirled it in the |
lir. You'll never rob another man, 4,
lamn ye - he grated through his teeth, /
. look Of pitiless feroci,y in his accusing :
yes. 4