Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-08-18

Alan mentioned Pole Bakers prop0-
sition. Miller thought it over for q
moment, his brow wrinkled, and then
he said: "Good-a good idea, but you
Nust call Pole in and let me give him
few pointers. By George, he could
keep Wilson away from dangerous
people anyway"
Alan went after Pole, and Miller
took him into his consultation room In
the rear. where they remained for
about fifteen minutes. When they came
out, Poles face was very grave. II
won't forget thing" he said to Miller.
"I understand exactly what you want
When git through with i'm, he'll
want that land bad enough to pay any.
thing fer it, an he won't dream I'm In
cahoot with you nuther. I can man
age that. I amt no fool eff do have
fits"
"Do you remember my description Of
himf' asked Miller.
"You bet I do-thick set, about fifty,
bald, red faced, sharp black eyes, iron
gray hair, an mighty nigh always with
q cigar in his mouth"
THAT'S right" laughed Miller. "Now
do your work, and we won't forget
you. By all means keep him away
from meddlesome people"
When Pole had left the Office and
Miller had resumed his revolving chair,
Mrs. Bishop addressed him, looking
straight into his eyes.
81 don't see," she said in timid,
hesitating way and yet with a note of
frmness dominating her tOne-"I don't
see why we have to 60 through all this
trickery to make the trade. Eff the
land is good security fer the money,
we needn't be afeerd Of what the man
will find out. Eff it amt good secur-
ity, l don't want his money, as fer as
I'm concerned"
Il was Jest thinkin' that, too," chimed
in her husband, throwing troubled
glance all round. 81 want money to
help me out O. my scrape, but I don't
want to trick no man, Yankee or what
not, into totin' my loads. AS Betsy
says, it seems to me If the lands wuth
the money we needn't make such a
great to-do. I'm afeerd l won't feel
exactly right about it,"
The young men exchanged alarmed
glances.
"You don't understand" said Miller
lamely, but he seemed to be unprepared
for views so heretical to financial deal.
ings, and could not finish what he had
started to say.
"Why." said Alan testify, "the land
Is worth all Wilson can make out Of it
with the aid of his capital and the rail.
road he proposes to lay here. Father,
you have spent several years looking
up the best timbered properties and
getting good titles to it, and to a big
lumber company body Of timber like
you hold is no small thing. We don't
want to cheat him, but we do want to
keep him from trying to cheat US by
getting the upper hand. Rayburn
thinks If he finds out we are hard up
he'll try to squeeze us to the lowest
notch"
"Well," sighed Mrs. Bishop, ':I'm
shore never had no idea we'd resort
to gittin' Pole Baker to tote anybody
around like hog after yeer o corn.
l lowed we was goin' to make open
and shut trade that we could be proud
of an stop folks mouths about Al
frGds foolish dealin's. But"-she look.
ed at Abner, who stood in the door,
way leading to the consultation room
"I'll do whatever Brother Alb thinks
Is right. l never knowed i'm to take
undue advantage Of anybody"
They all looked at Abner. who was
smiling broadly.
"Well, l say git his money" he re-
piled, with short, impulsive laugh
"git his money. and then, eff you find
he's starvin', hand i'm back what you
feel you don't need. l look on a thing
like this sorter like / did on scramblin'
fer the upper holt in wartimes. I re-
member l shot straight at feller that
was climbin' up the enemy's breast
works on his all tours. l said to my
se'f, Eff this ball strikes you right, old
chap. fore you drap over the bank,
yo're one less agin the Confederacy;
eff it don't, you kin pop away at me-
don't think give i'm anything but
flesh wound In the back, beca'se he
lest sagged down little an crawled
on, an that's about the wust you could
do fer Wilson. believe he ort to hold
the bag awhile. Alf's hung on to it till
his fingers ache an he's weak at the
knees. / never did feel like thar was
any harm in passin' a counterfeit bill
that some other chap passed on me.
Ef the government, with all Its high
paid help, cayn't keep crooked shin
plasters from slidin' under our noses,
it ortn't to kick agin our l0okin' out
fer ourselves"
"You needn't lose any sleep about
the Southern Land and Timber COM
pany, Mrs. Bishop" said Miller. "They
will take care of themselves. In fact,
we'll have to keep our eyes peeled to
watch them even If we get this loan.
Wilson didn't come up here for his
health"
"Oh, mothers all right" said Alan,
"and so is father, but they must not
chip in with that sort of talk before
Wilson"
ooh, no, you mustn't" said Miller.
"In fact, I think you'd better let me
and Alan do the talking. You see, If
you sit perfectly quiet he'll think you
are reluctant about giving such big
security for such small amount Of
money, and he will trade faster"
ooh, I'm perfectly willin' to keep
quiet" agreed the old man, who now