The Southern herald., 1899-03-24

again for month.
I'm mighty sorry now that Didn't
attach his furniture the day he moved
away put in Mort. "He owed me two
months rent aud knew darned well
he had the moRey is pay, but his wife
came to me and begged 80 hard that
didn't make any trouble. | say that
any man that's got the mcaey and
won't pay his honest debts osght TO
be tarred aud feathered and rode Cat O.
town on a rail-"
"Well, gentlemen, | never said much
about IT," observed Wesley. who was
still standing with his back to the stove,
"but the fact is that hauled Jim Fra
zee's furniture down to the car the
time be left here and the blamed scala
wag told me that Id get my money up
at Pierce's hardware store. You know
how got it. That mans nothin' more
or less than bunko shark"
Il never told this before because
scme people might think it was good
joke on me-" put in Uncle Ed, "but ]
always thought there wasn't any joke
about H. TO ne 1t was a plain case
o. highway robbery and the man that'd
do a thing like it ought to be in the
penitentiary maxim barrels. 1t cost
me $50 slick and clean. Never told any
one about it before, but il you fellows
are willin' to own up how you've been
done, don't mind breakin' silence,
It's been a long time now, and don't
think I'll ever hear much about it. Do
you remember that purity white COW
that Jim's father-in-law gave him2"
THE one that" began Mort.
''The same one. That's part of the
story. Of course, the old man had TO
give it to Jim because Jim wasn't a
man that'd buy and pay for anything
himself unless he had TO. Well, / had
COW that had been sent in from the
farm, but she went dry on me as sum
mer come on, and was lookin' around
to get another. This COW Of Jim's |
always liked. She was nice, plump
animal and gentle as you could ask,
and the old lady is kind o. partial to
white cows, anyway. ] spoke to Jim
two or three times about her, not pre-
tendin' TO be too anxious. He said he
didn't want TO sell her, and il he did he
wouldn't think of takin' less than forty
dollars. l just waited because knew that
he was hard up most O. the time, and
might come down in his price if he
needed money purity bad. One even
in, just about six o'clock, l was out
stringin' up some vines that had been
kind O. beat down by the hail, and Jim
come by in front of the house. Iyelled
at him and says: Jim, how about that
cow? He stopped and said: Uncle
Ed, I'm tired o. hearin' you talk about
that COW. Do you want her? Well,
| says, that depends on what the price
is. Mebbe ! do il you've come to your
senses as to what she's worth. I'll tell
you what I'll do Jim says. You can
have her for thirty spot cash here and
now, and il we waited till to morrow
morning we couldn't agree on thirty
five I'd expected TO pay thirty-two
fifty, so up and says: She's my COW.
Where's the money! says Jim. lie
must a'-knowed that l always had a
little with me just to clinch such bar
gains. peeled out my pocketbook
and gave him three tens. Your cows
down in the lot he says. you can get
her any time Well, you know how
man likes to stand around and look
at any property he's just bought, so,
as soon as had the vines strung
walked down TO the lot and gentle
men, hope III never draw another
breath il there wasn't that white COW
stretched out under a tree deader'n a
door nail-struck by lightnin'!"
There was roar Of laughter, in which
Uncle Ed joined quite unwilllngly.
81 remember it mighty WE'LL" said
Mort. That was crackin' good cow"
"Yes, but nobody knew it was mine.
Jim got all o. the sympathy. l didn't
even claim the hide for fear somebody'd
find out. The next time 1 saw him
he was just as brassy as you please.
He says: why, Uncle Ed, | didn't
claim she was alive, and you never
asked me- Then, Of course, he had
me, because 1 started the dicker and he
claimed it was my fault, and he
wouldn't have sold her to me If l hadn't
insisted. What's more he says, 4 told
you that II we waited till mornin' we
couldn't agree on thirty-fve.' Then
be laughed. The blamed scoundrel
knew wouldn't dare tell anyone, and
I'll swan l never did, before tonight.
But, seein' that Jim amt dead and
that there's no chance Of showin' dis
respect to his memory, I'd like to re-
mark that he was and is, in my opinion,
the orneriest whelp in seven states"
"Well, well, WELL" said Bill Gregory,
shaking his head "Jim's caution,
and no mistake. He beat you out OF
thirty, Uncle Ed, and me out o. 1even.
That makes forty-one. How much was
yours, Mort?'
sixteen dollars"
That makes ffty-seven--and how
much was you to get for haulin' his
wood, Wes?"
"a dollar'n a quarter"
II figure, then, that the four Of US
is interested in that internal snake to
the tune Of fifty-eight dollors and a
quarter. I guess be robbed everyone
in town"
II don't s'pose hes got friend on
earth" said Mort
"For one, I'm mighty glad be amt
dead" added Bill, as be rose from his
chair. "It'll give The hangulan chance
to get in his work."
1t being time TO close up. the ne
eorr,lonr =, - a. : :.