Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-07-29

good"
well, maybe will,' promised Pole.
And he came to the steps, and, put
ting his bacon down. he bent toward
them.
Its powerful hard matter to know
exactly what's right an what's wrong
in some things" he said. "Now. looky
heer." Thrusting his hand down into
the pocket of his trousers, he drew out
a piece of quartz rock, with lump Of
yellow gold about the size of a pen half
imbedded In 1t. That thar's puore
gold. got 1t this away: A Teller that
used to be my right bower In my still
business left me when l swore of an
went over to Dalonega to work In them
mines. Tother dry he was.back on q
Visit. an he give me this chunk an
said he'd found 1t. Now. know in
reason that he nabbed it while he was
ut work, but don't think I'd have q
right to report 1t to the mimi compa-
ny, an SO Pm Jest obleeged to receive
stolen goods 1t amt wuth mOre'n q
dollar, they tell me. an I'll hing on to
1t, reckon. ruther n have labOrin'
man discharged from a job. I'm tryin'
my level best to live up to the line,now,
an ! don't know how to manage sech
a thing as that. I've come to the con-
clusion that no harm, will be done mo-
how. beca'se miners ain't too well paid
anyway. an eff jest keep 1t an don't
sit no good out of 1t won't be In 1t
any more N eff I'd never got hold O. the
blamed thing
But the law. Brother Baker," said
Dole solemnly. without the law we'd
be an awful lot o. people, an every
man ort to uphold 1t. Render the
things that are Caesars unto Cesar
Poles face was blank for moment,
and Abner came to his rescue with q
broad smile and sudden laugh.
Il reckon you don't remember him,
Pole" he said. Hes dead. He was q
niger that used to belong to old man
Throgmartin. in the cove. He used to
be sech an awful thief during slavery
days that 1t got to be common sayin'
that everything lynn round mought as
well be his'n. fer he'd take 1t soones ur
later anyways.s
I've heerd q that Niger" said Pole,
much to the preachers disgust which
grew us Pole continued: well, they
say Teller that knows the law is
broke an don't report 1t is rs guilty as
the man who. does the breakin'. Now,
Mr.. Dole, you know how come by
this nugget, an ef you want to do
your full duty you'll ride over to Dalo-
mega an report 1t to the right parties.
I can't afford the trip"
Abner lnughed ont at this and then
forced serious look ON his face.
That's what you rally ort to do,
Brother Dole" he said. .'Them Caesars
over thar nd appreciate It"
Then Mrs. Bishop came out to shake
hands with the preacher and invited
him to go to his room to wash his face
and hands. AS the tall man followed
his hostess away Abner winked slyiy
at Pole and laughed under his long.
scrawnys hand.
Uncle Alb. you ort to be killed."
smiled Pole. you've been settin' beer
the last half hour pokins fun at that
felles an you know 1t. Well, I'm go
In on home. Sally's a-goin' to fry some
q this truck fer me, .an' I'm as hungry
as a bear.
A few minutes after he had gone
Dole came out OF his room and sat
down in his chair again. ''That seems
to be a sorter bright young man, he
remarked.
"As bright as q new dollar" returned
Abner In a tone Of warm admiration.
did you notice that big. wedge shaped
head O his'n2 It's plumb full O. brains.
One day Teller come down to BIZ
more's store He made a business o.
feelin' O heads an writin out charts
at Is cents apiece. He didn't waste
much time on the rest q the scab1 he
examined, but when he got to Poles
noggin he talked fer a good hour.
never heerd the like. He said ef his
talents had been properly directed Pole
nd a. made big public man. He said
he hadn't run across sech head In q
month O. Sundays. He was right, you
bet, an every one O the seven brats
Poles got is Jest Us peert as he ts.
They are a-growin' up In idleness an
rags too. wisht l could meet some
q them durn big Yankees that are
a-sendin' Their money down beer an
buildin' fine schools to educate niggers
an negaactin' Their own race beca'se It
at agin' 'em. You cayn't hardly beat
larnin' into a nigger's head, an 1t nd
he only common sense to spend money
iwhar It nd do the most good Amt
got nothin' agfHf a niger bein' larnt
to read an write. hat cayn't stomach
Their bein' forced ahead o. deservin'
white folks sooner N the Lord counted