The evening Republican., 1902-08-04
COON FLATS
,FIuANCIER.

lllGl lllStu CultlCu.
Coin down, of course?"
mo; goin' up" Bill answered
promptly. "A man hollered to me
from the aige of the hill this morn
in an said twas TO-"
Seventy" Jake grabbed his old
crutches and rose tottering to his
feet, but sank back with snarI Of
mingled pain and rage. '''Sevent y
cents, an I've got 80 bushels Durn
the old back! Time Pm over the
rheumatics. It'll be down to 50. like
twas last year, an there'll be a
clean loss of slS.
Blame it ALL"
"Thars Bill, Pap suggested his
daughter. He's mighty strong an
willin'."
The face darkenel, then gre " light
err. Evidently the idea, at first
secuted, was being tolerated. That
meant the hired man had moved
forward.
'I-dunno," doubtfuliy.
Bill saw his opportunity and rose
to it like a man.
IN take it down all right" he
said confidently. I've sold wheat
to Stanton afore." He was think
ing of two bushels he had Oncs tax
en- to market for his father, the pro-
ceels of which he had lost on the
way home.
Jack suorted. "Thar's more
fallin's thin raisin's 10 wheat" he
snapped. 80 | reckon ye'd better
60 An mind, l want ye to Git it
all in lomorrcr.'
Bile head was whirling. but
there was Laurel looking at him
confidently.
IAN right" he said as steadily
ss he could. "IA,e mulee can
draw hall OH the long Wagon. an
III berry Tom Stuarl's mule an
Ike Browns old boss an hitch EN-
to Ben Co!Der's hay Vaughn.
That'il take the other half. lke's
boy sam eau drive ahind me. SO |
can keep an eye on. 10 him. Oh,
yes; we'E get OH fuit rate. "
Jake nodded approviuyly. 1t
was good plan.
After the wheat was loaded the
next morning Bill contrived to
draw Laure! into the kitchen for a
. moment.
Say. Laurel be beg an eagerly.
81 l-say, would We mind IRE gi,tin
ring to Stauuton, a gold ring, for
We an me!'
She looked at him quickly. under-
standIn.iv, her face flushing.
"Why, no, wouldn't mind, Bill"
she said simply. On be real glad.
"An' an would yc mind speakln'
to yer pap bout 1t while Pm gone,
Laurel? 1t might be Il good time
now IN a-totin' his wheat"
"N.no; don't mind"
She watched him from the doorway
until the heavy wagons runbIed out
of sight; then she went in to her
father.
Pap. she announced abruptly,
"B!Il's asst me to marry him.
AN you?'
GIVE SAID yes, composedlv.
Jake controlled himself with q
mighty effort. With Laurel he
must be diplomatic
"Well, mebbe, We know best. " he
g,imaced atlab!y, but yc know how
it is with Bill. Yea have to wait
till he's able to keep We. | don't
reckon he saved enough to buy Il runt
pig yet
But Laurel smiled contentedly.
People were easily mistaken. she
thought. Had Bill not promised her
a gold ring out OF the pleu:itude OF
his riches? So S.ie said softly, 1--WE II
wait till Je say yerse't that Blll's
able to keep 10 me.
Curiously enough, at that very
moment Bill was wondering dIsmaily
how lie would be able to contrive the
purchase CT gold ring. Twenty. five
cents represented the accumulation
Of his Is years.
They expected him back by the
end Of the third day. 1t was the
afternoon Of the sixty when he re-
turned. AS he dismissed young Sam
aud attended to his mules there was
look Of bealitic joy upon his face,
which remained there until he open
ed the cabin door and saw the ex.
pectant face of Jake. Then he
whIlened aud staggered to the near.
est chair.
"Ye pore boy"' cried Laurel
teuderly. Eyer plumb beat OUT
"Dld 70 git the To cenls?" de.
munded Jake eagerly.
Bill gasped and tried to collect
his thoughts. What was he here
for! IL was about the wheat,
wasntit! He had almost forg gotten
that unimportant matter after the
gold ring took possession OF his
mind. lie remembered the whc at
had been taken to the storeroom Of
big ilouiisg mill and that he
had told q clerk he would be back
later and attend TO its sale. Then
he had hurried away 10 search of a
job Of hauling with the mules and
had carried sand two days for So
and bought the gold ring. And he
had given Sam the Is cents to pay
his fare to u cousins to get him out
Of the way for the two day. That
was all, only he had torgotte u 10 go
back and sell the wheat
"Did We GIT the 10 ee1ts?" de.
manded Jake for the second time.
Bill felt that it was a crisis with
him aud he drew long. hard
breath.
I'VE see, it's this away, he said.
Signs are for risin', san' I amt
sold it. But I'll 60 down''-He was
about to say ITO oncet," but 70
strained himself, for that might be.