Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-11-24

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only summer Irritation, and she re-
solved to check Mr.. Bentons advances,
should they become too serious.
That the rich admirer "meant bust
ness" soon became apparent to Gram
dali, whose love for the girl made him
SO keen that he intui. vely read the
mind Of any man who paid court to
her.
1t needed but few words from the
farmer to lower Mr.. Benton in the
opinion of Miss Archmuty. She could
be told that he was a cheat, who sought
as his victims, not his equals, but farm
ers, ignorant and too poor to fight him
in the courts of law.
But Crandall scorned to take what he
regarded as q mean advantage of his
rival, although his delicate silence
might be the means OF his losing the
girl whom he fairly worshiped.
One day the young woman desired to
do some shopping in the village, and
for this purpose hired Amos Northrop,
an old farmer of the neighborhood, to
drive her to her destination.
Amos had long, bushy hair, which
sadly needed the shears of a barber,
and was otherwise rather uncomely in
appearance, in spite of the broadcloth
Sunday suit which he had donned for
the occasion.
But he was very shrewd individual,
his ability being especially respected
by those who had tried to get the bet
ter of him in horse trades.
On the return from the village Amos
pointed toward the Benton residence
and said:
There's the finest house there is in
these ere parts. thought you might
be interested in it" he added, with a
smile, because the young man I've
seen We drivin' with of late lives there. u
yes" replied Miss Archmuty, coolly.
Mr.. Northrop was quick to perceive
the annoyance which she betrayed,
and shrewdly planned his next words
to suit the situation.
miss Archmuty, don't want to in
terfere with anything that is none Of
my business. But like you fust rate;
you're bright and sensible girl, If ye
be from the city, and as a friend I'd
like to give you leetle good advice,
which, although it may sting we al
fust, you'll thank me for later. May
speak?"
Certainly" replied the girl, who
was impressed by his sincere manner
well, I'm sorry to say it, but this
young Benton as is payin' We atten
tions and his father are Two of the
worst tobacco lockers in these parts
There's no honor in EN-"
Miss Archmuty's cheeks flushed, but
she nerved herself to learn more.
what do you mean by tobacco dock
ing?" she asked.
Folks around here know wei
enough what it means. Doclkin' came
about in this way:
'ln order to get into their hands the
best crops, greedy and unscrupulou'
dealers or middle men went out int
the country early in the season and en-
gagged crops of the farmers at higl
prices, while the tobacco was still
standin' in the fields. The farmer
took the bit and sold their crops, agree
in to deliver them in merchantabl,
condition.
Usually the agreement was verbal
sometimes written contracts were made
but SO loosely drawn that the buyer
could find q hole to creep out of on da.
of settlement.
Now, tobacco in the field and to
bacco stripped and in the bundle, whel
bought, may be altogether different
A fine crop purchased in the field ma.
afterwards git hail cut or be frost bit
ten, or may show white veins, or ia
butts, or pole burn. There never wa
an absolutely perfect crop delivered a
the warehouse, but the honest buyer
when there's only leetle damage
makes but small dock, payin' tn
raiser what is his due; full price 70
the good, lower price for the somewha
damaged, while the worst is rejects
entirely, the farmer rightly bearia' tn
loss.
But this rascally buyer, when h
ought to dock fifty dollars, docks on
hundred dollars, two hundred dollars
or even three hundred dollars, perhaps
on crop of tobacco valued, Il all good
at one thousand dollars.
"But the devil leads the dishones
buyer still further. AT fust he kinde
docks, accidentally, to save himself
then he finds how well it pays and be
comes actooally diabolical at it Ii
systematizes the cussed practice, fine
in that by dockin' fifty dollars off thi
farmer, one hundred dollars off another
and so on, he can make big lot c
money besides his regular profits o
what he does pay for.
"He sits down and calk'l when h
buys his next tobacco to dock his twer
ty-five or thirty per cent. off the crop
Of all farmers that he dare try it on"
DO you mean to say" said Mis-
Archmuty, that Mr.. Benton docks l
this dreadful manner?"
II do. That ere fine house which yo
admire so much was, accordin' to m
best belief, paid for by money made b
outrageous dockin'."
Amos then explained to Miss Arcl
muty what the peculiar circumstance
of the business were which induce
farmers TO continue selling to dishor
est buyers, and why all Of the cror
could not readily be sold to honest bu.
ers alone. He also informed her tina
there were few lawsuits, because tn
buyers dealt fairly with the well-to-d
and influential farmers, and cheate
; only those who were too poor to see
legal redress.
When they arrived at the Cranda
, house, Miss Archmuty thanked NJ