The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-08-29

should 70 to Montana before giving you
the deed" he declared. u can become
q stock raiser,' too"
He took two or three turns across the
floor, and then resumed:
81 was only Joking in what / said about
selling. I've no intention of disposing
of the property-not the slightest. No
offer can tempt me-"
This declaration worried Jerry Skid
der quite as much as similar one from
Wynans had previously worried the
merchant
"What! You're going back on your
word?" he protested, after long stare
of anger and CONSERVATION. 81 ought
not to say word moro on the subject.
But I told Daisy she should have the
iand Tor a weoGlng present, ana I'm
willing on that and other accounts to
give you ten or twenty times what 1t is
worth, the more especially as I've just
sold twenty thousand cattle and don Z
know what, to do with the money. What
will you take, Hiram?"
"Once for all, isn't 1t?
ayes, final offer"
@Cash down, too?"
0S, CdSu QUHu, LII ou'
"Well, you may have my Interest In
that Musselshell property for 5000, 600.
"All right; I'll take it," said Jerry.
without an instant's hesitation, produc-
ing a second wad of greenbacks like the
first. aGive me the deed and I'll hand
you the money"
For nearly q minute Hiram Skidder
looked as if threatened with stroke OF
apopIexy. His eyes had CLASSY stare;
his tongue lay motionless in his open
mouth. The veins on his forehead stood
out like skeleton fingers. The thought
that his brother had taken all this money
secretly from the lands which had been
so persistently decried, and which had
now been so fatally fooled away by
Jerry's falsehood, was simply whitening.
But he managed to conceal in part the
tempest raging in his soul. and to re-
mark, with forced calmness:
3I'll get the deed, Jerry, and let my
cashier draw up o new one. Make
yourself ct home few moments. I'll
be back soon."
Wiping his damp brow vigorously, he
took mis- way toward Pefry's desk.
His senses were in a whirl. Just what
to do he didn't know. Perhaps he would
make another attempt to. buy Perry out.
He was busy with all sorts OF desperate
schemes for recovering his lost footing
when he reached Perry's desk, only to
find that he was not there,
@Whcre is Mr.. Wynans?" he asked OF
the first clerk he encountered.
"He went out little while ago, sir,
was tho answer, @but he didn't say
where he was going or when he would
return"
@No2 That's odd. Have you any idea
where he is?"
aNot tho slightest, sir. He said, how
ever, this morning that he should not be
here longer than to-day"
@Not longer"
The words died away upon the lips OF
Hiram Skidder, and an awful trouble
.oo,:ed from his eyes.
@Gone?" he gasped. @Where can he
be?"
aTheres note on his desk addressed
to you, Mr.. Skidder." said the clerk. II
noticed it momentago, and should have
brought it to you If you hadn't made
your appearance just as you did"
"A motel" cried the merchant; "let me
have it instantly"
The note was handed to him, and ne
hastily tore it open, reading as follows:
beg to resign my position as cashier.
Mr.. Skidder. Ihave taken the precaution
to have my accounts examined by Mr..
Spoor, tho well-known accountant, and ne
finds then quite correct The balance OF
my salary you may hand to any PUBLIC char
ity. If any one inquiries for me, you may
say that I am going to Montana to take
care Of my wild lands, which have become
immensely valuable, and that my future
postofice address will be Musselshell, Mont
PERRY WYNAES