The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-10-10
+ Continued l

81 have been thinking the matter
over, gentlemen, and l feel sure that
old Palmer has put you on pat
thing" said the merchant when they
were seated. "As the old man says, it
is nobody's property, and no southern
er need feel any scruples about helping
himself. 1t is merely kind of inform
al administration. This concealed cot
ton is the estate of the defunct Con-
federacy, and you are the heirs.'
Brown paused moment to beam his
kind feeling.
81 don't think We'll suffer any pangs
of conscience if we can get the cotton
without being captured by the blue
coats" said Meriweather debonairly.
Eyes; that's the difficulty, that's the
rub" said Brown pensively. adams,
the commander of the garrison, is very
active. He has confscated a great deal
of government cotton in the county,
and there isn't much left l am in
clined to think these fifty bags that
Palmer has told you of are the last of
it,"
Il presume, Mr.. Brown" said Lay
burn after a pause, ''that you are 60
ing to hire us your wagons and teams
We are willing to pay you the highest
price"
81 was just coming to that" said
Brown, with oily suavity. Il really
want to oblige you, and we shan'r
quarrel about terms. When do you
wish the wagons"
Tonight" said Leyburn.
"You mean business, 1 see," smiled
the merchant. "But, gentlemen, it is
impossible to accommodate you to-
night. One Of my wagons has gone to
GAINESVILLE, and one of the mules that
draw the other wagon is lame. Now,
if you'll put it off two nights can let
you have both wagons. There's really
no hurry, you know. You'll wait, won't
you"
The mans tones We're almost be-
seeching.
II suppose we must" said Meri-
weather, greatly disappointed. "What
do you say, Alf"
hC VII lCI lAC IcSI lOT tuG
present." replied Layburn quietly.
This closed the interview.
'Jack," said Layburn when they
reached the street, "if we follow
Browns advice and wait till Thurs
day night we will be forestalled"
'By whom?" asked Meriweather in
surprise.
"By Brown"
"Oh, no, Layburn. He would not do
such dirty trick. 1t would ruin him
in the community"
''You don't understand. He will carry
off the cotton and then evince the
greatest surprise and indignation when
we tell him we have been to the place
and found it missing. The thing will be
managed so neatly that there will not
be shred of evidence against him.
But there he is at the window watch
ing us. Let us walk on" said Lay
burn, filling his pipe.
''Well, what can we do in the matter?
We can't insult the man by manifest
ing any distrust," said Meriweather
when they had turned corner.
"Of course not" returned Layburn.
They stopped under a large china
tree on side street and leaned against
the fence in silent meditation. Baffied
In the first move and conscious that de-
lay was dangerous, for few moments
their thoughts were as confused and
formless as the dappled sunlight that,
sitting through the wind shaken
boughs, quiyered on the sand at their
feet.
Meriweather looked Layburn in the
eyes.
"We won't give it up, Alf?"
''Never, Jack. We've got to have
that cotton" replied Layburn. "Come
home with me and We'll talk it over
with old Ben"
1t was quite dinner time when they
reached the Layburn mansion. After
plain but satisfying meal. Of which