River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-08

odd his fatted hogs. when one day.
- lille he was engaged in re-roofiug his
>hackled old barn. Squire Beeson rode
mp and said:
"Mornin'. Simei"
How air We. squire ?"
"Hev We heerd the news. Sime?"
NO: what uewssH
"Erbout them Herringtons."
NO; haiu't." Slime said. turning sud
denly pale with an unconscious dread.
What erhout 'em?'
"Wal. it's CT bad piece Nv business.
lemme tell &c, an many er homes
the squire stopped, and. squirting one
eye. very deliberately chewed away on
lis tobacco. while he left Shrimp agon-
ling on the rack of suspense.
''What is il. MANI" Simon demanded.
Speak out"
'Ther long an Their short NV it is,
them Herringtons is busted higher N
or kite"
Down went Skrimp's hammer. but in
his excitement he missed the nail and
hit his thumb squarely, MASKING it al
most into a jelly.
Dye reckon it's SOP" he gasped
y hen he was a little recovered from the
shock.
"Yas, reckon Il air." the squire went
on, coolly. "Yistidy was down TO the
county seat. an heern them a-talkin' NV
il on every corner. an Their lawyers wus
er fivin' erbout like later bugs on er
hot skillet Their hain't no doubt Nv it,
slime. not Their least in Their world. an
KNOWN es how they he'd borried o you,
I thought il proper ter ride over an let
yer know"
"But their LAM" Simon said; AL
them fine acres!"
"Yas. know, but thet's kinder mort
c5ged an decided around among their.
selves an their wives, till Their bain'i
nc doin' nothin with il. Leastwise ,heir
creditors can't tech it,"
Simon Shrimp got down TO the
ground in some way. though he could
never tell afterwards how. All that day
he felt like one in dream, and for
years after, that time rose up befo:e
him as a hcrrid nightmare.
II was several days before he was able
to ride, but when he felt equal to il he
had horse saddled, and he rode over to
Bob HerringtOn's. He was shown into
the best room, and told to wait till Mr.
Harrington came up from dinner. Ii
v-ss a good half hour that Slime had to
it, and in the meantime his eyes
W. ldered about the richly-furnished
room.
These fine fxin's," he unused. "air
bought with my money. Them easy
chairs, an that cyarpet, my money PAID
fer. An them picturs. too. an that
pianer. I've been humpin' myself da \
in an day out. year arter year. a-makin
an savin' money Jest SOS Bob Herring
tons wife and gals could hev all then
pooty things, while Liza an my girls
hes never he'd NOT thin"
Bob Harrington came in at last. A
smiling and affable as you please.
Good morning. Mr.. Shrimp" he said
81 am glad to see you. hear you hav'
not been we'll"
"No. 1 hain't felt well lately"
well. what can l do for you to-day
Mr.. Skrimp?'
Il rode over" Shrimp began to say
etc see erbOut tibet money"
Yes. yes. I'm glad you came. bu
YOU see we are not in a position to do
anything now. The matter is in th'
courts, and will be adjusted in time. Al
YOU can do is &c wait" And almost be
fore Shrimp realized il, he found him
self gently worke out of the room an'
the door closed after him.
As Shrimp rode slowly along on hi
homeward way. he fell to ponderins
very seriously over what had transpire'
in the last few days. and at last h.
asked himself:
What is err teller ter do with hi
money? IF he buys Ian he don need
/ it is Jest er 'cumbrance on i'm an the
taxes eats it up. Eff he loans it he git