The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-07-23
CHAPTER II-COntinued.


her brother knew she would in her
own time
81 don't call buyin' thousands O.
acres O. unstable land providin' fer
anything except the porehouse," she
fumed
"That's beca'se you don't happen to
know as much about the business as
do" said Bishop, with a satisfied
chuckle, which to the observing Dan
lei sounded very much like exultation
when you all know what l know,
you'll be laughin' on t'other sides O
yore mouths. I reckon I'll jest have
to let you all know about this or I
won't have a speck O peace from now
on. I didn't tell you at fust becase
nobody kin keep secret as we'll as the
man it belongs to, an I was Altered it
I'D leak out an damage my interests,
but this last 5000 acres jest about
sweeps all the best timber in the
whole Cohutta section, an mought as
well let up. I reckon you all know
that eff say ef-my land was nigh a
railroad it I'd be low at five times
what l paid fer it, don't you? Well,
then, the long an short of it is that
l happen to be Oh the inside an know
that railroad is goin' to be run from
Blue Lick Junction to barley. It'll
be started inside of the next yeer an
IL run smack dab through my proper
ty. Thar now! You know more'n you
thought you did, don't you?'
The little group stared into his glow
ing face incredulously.
"A railroad is to be built, father?"
exclaimed Alan.
''That's what said''
Mrs. Bishops eyes flashed with sud-
den hope, and then, as if remembering
her husbands limitations, her face fell.
Alfred" she asked skeptically,
chow does it happen that you know
about the railroad before other folks
does?'
How do L? That's it now-how do
I?'' and the old man laughed freely.
"1've had my fun out O this thing,
listenin' to what every crank said
about me bein' cracked an so on, but l
was jest a-lyin' low waitin' fer my
time"
''Well, III be switchedv calculated
Abner Daniel, half seriously, half sar-
castically. "Geewhilikins! A railroad!
I've always said one would pay like
rips an open up dern good, God
fersaken country. I'm glad you are
a-goin' to start one, Alfred
Alan's face was filed with an ex-
preston of blended doubt and pity for
his fathers credulity. Father" he
said gently, "are you sure you got your
information straightY
II got it from headquarters" The
old man raised himself on his toes and
knocked his heels together, habit he
had not INDUCED in for many a year
1T was told to me confidentially by a
man who knows all about the whole
thing, man who is in the employ O.
the company that's goin' to build it."
"Huh!'' The exclamation was Alb
ner Daniels. DO you mean that At
lanta lawyer, Perkins?'
Bishop stared. his mouth lost some
of it's pleased frmncss and he ceased
the motion of bis feet.
"What made you mention his name?'
he asked curously.
"Oh, I dunno. Somehow i lest
thought O. him. He looks to me like
he mought be buildn' a railroad ur
two"
well. that's the man I mean," said
Bishop. more uneasily
Somehow the others were all looking
at Abner Daniel, who grunted sudden
" and almost angrly.
Il wouldn't trust that skunk no fur
der n could fling bull by the tall
You say you wouldn't?' Bishop
tried to smile, but the effort was a ia.
cial failure
Il wouldn't trust i'm nuther, Brother
Ab," chimed in Mrs. Bishop Gas soon
as | laid eyes on i'm l knowed he
wouldn't do. He's too mealy mouthed
an fawnin'. Butter wouldn't melt in
his mouth. He Dragged on everything
we had while he was heer. Now, AL
fred, what we must git at is, what was
his object in tellin' you that tale"
"ObJect!' Numbered her husband,
losing his temper in the face of the aw-
full possibility that her words limited
at "Are you all a pack an passle O.
fools? If you must dive an probe,
then III tell you he owns a slice O.
timber land above Holley creek, j'inin'
some O mine, an so he let me into the
secret out O. puore good will Oh, YOU
all cayn't skeer me. I amt one O. the
skeerin' kind"
But, notwithstanding this outburst,
it was plain that doubt had actually
taken root IN the ordinarily cautious
mind of the crude speculator
Abner Daniel laughed out harshly all
at once and then was silent whats
the matter?" asked his sister in de-
spair
II was jest a-wonderin'," replied her
brother.
"You are?' said Bishop angrily. 1T
seems to me you don't do much else''
"Folks at wonders q lot amt so apt
to believe everything they heer," re-
torted Abner. II was just a-wonderin
nv cl,