The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-04-14

ion kindly signify the same by"
"Ain't yer goin' just bit too fast,
Mester Spencer?' said Amos Atkin,
edging forward so that he sat quite on
the edge of his chair. "Now, I'm what
think yer call preferential creditor,
amt l, cause I'm tn landlord, an hav
tn fust bite?"
Hal" pulled Needham, rubbing his
hand up the side of his unshaven cheek.
Il dunno as anybody oughter hev any
preference like ere, an least O all Mes
ter Atllin theer, whose Setter able ter
lose than"
quite right, quite right, Mr.. Atkin,"
interposed the lawyer, placing the
palms of his hands together. You are
technically correct. 1 had that in
mind"
but 'ow abaat my slates?" ques-
toned Needham. Cant get 'em back
fur l think most of ems still at Mrs.
Morris shop?"
I'm afraid not. no, I'm afraid not
They will have to be sold, and the pro-
ceeds will be properly administered"
"Ay," argued Needham, but when
that's been done, an you've ed your
pull, and Mester Atllin ere hes he'd Us,
there WANT be much worth tn pickin'."
Il merely state the law" said Mr..
Spencer, jerking his pen into the ink
bottle.
"Oh, hang TIL law! What wants is
Justice"
81 suppose am right, Mrs. Morris, in
saying you have no offer to make?'
said the lawyer, looking up.
81 dunno what ter say, sir
81 mean you have no proposition to
make that these proceedings may be
suspended with the prospect of you Ill
timately clearing off your indebted
ness?"
mo, sir, amt"
"Then, gentlemen, if you are all
agreed we may"
I'm thinlin', Mrs. Norris said
Tucllwell, the local preacher, that yer
goes to the Parish church?"
YES, sir-sometimes!"
"Ah, Just SOL" and he began tapping
his fingers with rather more energy.
''Well, so do ~ said Needham, who,
having had his temper rutfied, was pre-
pared to quarrel with somebody. 80
do I, but l don't see as 'ow that's got
owt ter do wit"
81 think" replied Tuckwell, I'm en-
titled ter ask Mrs. Morris some ques-
tons. Amt that so, lawyer"
"Of course, of course; any questions
that may throw light on how the in
solvency was brought about"
well, you fire ahead, Tuckwell,"
said Needham, sticking his arms as far
as they would go in his breeches pocket,
and stretching his legs out straight,
''go ahead, an you bully-rag the 'owd
wGmman, an We'll wait till you've
done"
"TNn yer mis- tell us, Mrs. Morris"
said Tuckwell, unheeding the remon-
STRANGE, " 'ow much you've been mekin'
these last few months like"
sometimes one thing, sometimes
another, Mester Tuckwell," said Martha
Morris, in her thin, cracked voice.
Sometimes I've made as much as Thu
teen shillin' an sometimes nobbut
much abuv seven.'
"Ah, just so. Yer niver tho't O ply
in ter church folks?"
mo, sir. | was niver exackly wi'out
sup i tn 'ouse'
But yer knew as how yer was livin'
on yer capital
"Yis, SIR, I'll not be denyin' that.
But I soort O. 'spected things I'D work
round, an they didn't"
"An-an'-what dye expec' ter do
now?"
81 suppose I'll hev ter go i TIL
union" she replied.
Just so! Hev ye--do we feel an OBJ
lection like ter go i tn union?"
"Idunno, sir. If l hes ter go suppose
1 hes ter CO.
"Ah! How long hev yer lived i
Trentboro', Mrs. Morris?
81 wor born i tn White Hoss yard
that wor 70 year sin come next October
mart"
"Ah!"
hC IoNol preacher > IHStIS OuCc
more began tapping while the man
looked thoughtfully beyond the win
dow. Needham was tidgety, and kept
throwing one leg over the other. He
was indignant at Tuckwell's cross
questioning. Amos Atkin was mildly
indignant also, but his indignation
took the form of blowing out his
cheeks. Catsby, the hairdresser, pulled
at individual hairs in his stunted beard,
and then he tugged at the buttons of
his coat as though he would pull them
off. Young Horton leaned forward
with his elbows on his knee making up
his mind what had best be done.
well, gentlemen, what shall it be
what shall we do?" questioned the
lawyer.
No one made a reply. The rough
men began to feel ashamed-not of
their action against the widow-but of
I. sentiment which sprang up in each
of their breasts. To be thought weak,
to waver in anything was merely to
hold themselves up to contempt.
Not a man liked to say what was in
his mind for fear of the others.
Tuckwell, the general dealer, the To-
cal preacher, the man with tight-cor-
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