The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-07-10

"IOu SIT TlSub SILL, &A' -T7g } , n
send I'll be out just as soon as can "
him about it, and find out where ~
wants 'em put. And heaven knows
she added, cropping under the seat 1or
b;tching strap, "that shall be giad
enough when it's all over" Annie SAL
IN a maze of childish fancies set IN mo-
ton by the ever-changing crown "
fore her, until her aunt reappeareu'
Mrs. Hart knocked timidly at an OAK
door bearing on its ground glass Pane'
the legend:
RIFLE CREEK RESERVOIR AND
IRRIGATION COMPANY.
JOHN d. SEYMORE, President.
She waited long in luxurious ante
room, and was at last admitted 10 tne
private office. She stood anXlously
canning the face OF Mr.. Seymore. ne
did not look like hard man, shc
thought: on the contrary there was
something about the mouth that MADE
one think he might at any time De con-
caaIinp a smile beneath the dropping
mustache. >.
"Mv name is Hart" she found herself
saving after he hal motioned her to-
chair. ELIZA M. Hart, widow VI Henry
Fart. who was killed when the Miners
Delight caved in last spring.
Mr.. Seymore nodded.
II live at the mouth OF Rifle Creek
canyon,' she went on, right under
where your big fame turns round tc
the north, there--al3a that's what !
come to see you about"
She paused and cleared her throat
nervously, and noted how Mr.. Seymore
was playing with an ivory-handled
paper knife, resting or one end OF the
desk and sliding his thumb and fore
finger down it.
.sI-I've been raising some beets this
summer" she continued, determinedly-
"for the sugar factory here, and came
10 tell you II did it by stealing your
water"
seymore's fingers stopped midway
on the paper-knife, and he darted .
quick glance at her. He saw her evil
dent distress and his eyes softened.
"How was that?" he asked.
..There was a leak in the fiume," she
said. 1T is right where t runs through
a path Of scrub oak, SO your men didn't
find it. The water ran right under my
fence. and I sunk a barrel there for
kind of reservoir, hut truly, Mr.. Sey
more, / had no idea how much thai
water was worth, and never thought
Of stealing a thing from you; and "a
give it back this blessed minute, every
drop of it, If l could, but can't-so
did the next best thing-I brought yo,
| ali the beets raised, and / only hops
they'll be worth as much as the water.
Seymore had tipped hack his chai7
and was pulling his lorg. black mus
tache down over his mouth.
where are they he asked.
| s'They're right down here in til
wagon" she said. You can see EN-
from the window"
Seymore rose and looked down on thu
dusty ranch wagon and che little figur'
ir the brown gingham dress absorbed
| in studying the throng before her.
"Beets have fallen this month";" h
said. turning from the window with
deepened twinkle in his eye. He ha'
not noticed whether they were beets o
turnips.
Don't you think they'll pay for it?
she asked anxionsly.
He pulled at his mustache harde
than ever. well, it's hardly Gus
tomary," he began, ito settle such maj
ters in this way
az can take them round to the suga
factory and get the money for EN-,
she interrupted, eagerly.
"Mrs. Hart" he said, soberly. IF 20
will agree not to bring suit for dan
ages against me for the bursting OF M
fiume, I'll agree to say no more abou
the beets."
"Damages!" she said, wonderingl.
II EXACTLY" he said; land if the waite
has been any accommodation to 20
L shall be glad to let it run where
| will" lie was writing as he spoke.
| But, Mr.. Seymore," she proteste'
"after all you pay for that water"
| "I am indebted to it for this call
: he interrupted, ''and that more tina
pays for it. 1 shall send man arour
B. tomorrow to look over the groun
] and / hope you will tell him just no
: YOU would like to have things fixe
D II you give this to the foreman of Il
sugar factory, think he will see th'
! the recent fall in the price of bee
!. does not affect your crop"
He gave her the note he had write
The next day there came to MI
e Hart's .ottage tw burly Swedes wi
;. built a neat little fiume down the hi
y side, dug trim. small bitches about al
across the garden, and delivered to h