The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-07-31
COON FLATS FlNANClER
BY FRANK H. SWEET.

might be good time now I'm a-totin his
wheat"
mo; 1 don't mind"
She watched him from the doorway unta
the heavy wagons rumbled out OF sight; then
she went to her father
Pap" she announced abruptly, 'Sih ask
me to marry him
AN you?"
1--WE said yes" composedly.
Jake controlled himself with mighty cts
fort. With Laurel he must be diplomatic.
Well mebbe ye know best" he grimaced
affably, "but ye know how it Is with Bill.
Yell have to wait till he's able to keep ys.
don't reckon he's saved enough to, buy
runt pig yet"
But Laurel smiled contentedly. People
were easily mistaken, she thought. Had Bill
not promised her gold ring out of the
plenitude of his riches? So she said softly,
We'll wait till We say yerse'f that Bills
able to keep me-
Curiously enough, at that very moment Bill
was wondering dismally how he would be able
to contriye the purchase of a gold ring.
twenty-five cents represented the aecumula-
ton of his twenty-five years.
They expected him back by the end of the
third day. 1t was the afternoon of the sixth
when he returned. AS he dismissed young
Sam and attended to his mules there was Q
look of Qualification upon his face, which re.
manned there until he opened the cabin door
and saw the expectant face OF Jake. Then ne
whitened and staggered to the nearest chair
"Ye pore boy!'' cried Laurel tenderly. "Yer
plumb beat out" - ID.
".Did We git the 20 cents?" demanded Jake
eagerly.
Bill gasped and tried to collect his thoughts.
What was he here for? It was about the
| wheat, wasn't it? He mad almost forgotten
| that un1mportant matter after the gold ring
took possession of his mind. He remembered
ia IN no af0 of
a, big Touring mill and that he had told
clerk he would be back later and attend to its
sale. Then he had hurried away in search OF
| a job of hauling with the mules. and had
carted sand two days Tor S. and had bought
| the gold ring And he had given Sam the Is
cents to pay his fare to a cousins to get him
out of the way for the two days That was
! ALL only he had forgotten to go back and sell
! the wheat.
/ "Did We git the 70 cents?" demanded Jake
| for the second time.
| Bill felt>that 1t was "a crisis with him, and
he drew long, hard breath.
| "Ye see, it's this away" he said. Signs
are for risin', an amt sold yet. But I'll go
DOWN" He was about to say 'to onct,"
| but restrained himself, for that might betray
him. He added instead, '.But III go down In
a few daSs an see how the risin' is comm
I on"
Under ordinary circumstances the invalid
would not have controlled his establishment
and wrath, but this was an extraordinary OPP
l'portunity, and Jake was nothing if not diplo-
matte, SO he forced himself into semblancs
of composure.
"Waal, it's yer lookout, BILL he said sig
lnifcantly. IT ordered We to sell. am OF course
I'll hold ye responsible for all fallin's from
the 10 cents.
1t was very miserable Bill who went out
to attend to the evening chores. He imagined
all sorts of fallingstfrom life of toll spent
in atoning for the carelessness to the probable
loss of Laurel. He stuck 1t out, however, IN
til the third morning. Then he left the cabin
with steady, confident strides. which. how
ever, changed to frantic haste as soon as he
| was beyond view of Laurel in the doorway.
But the mills of the gods sometimes turn
out unaccountable grst When Bill returned
at the end of short twenty-four hours,
his face was again expressive of beatife Joy.
Going straight to Jake, he handed him roll
Of bills. 1.-The risin' was even better, than I
lowed on he said nonehalantly. IT sold for
a dollar. Ye see, thar was signs of breakn.
an lowed better not hold on any longer"
Jake gazed at The money; at the strong,
handsome figure before him lat Laurel smil-
ing a few feet away. and bowed his head in
surrender. 49,. - = :.
81 reckon I might "a been mistook. Lau-
rel" he said submissively. "Bill will be able
to keep We, sure 'nough.' -..--- :