Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-24
CHAPTER xxvII.-(continued,

y -
but If this business matter turns out to
be what think it is, may be able to
save you considerable trouble"
II don't think you would ask me any
question that l ought not to answer, =
replied the Deacon, glancing up at
Quincy with sly lok in his eye and
a slight smile on his face.
Well" continued Quincy, "are you
going to let Strout have that money to
pay down on account Of the grocery
store?"
why, yes" said the Deacon, II
guess you have hit it about right.
4 Strout seemed to think that there
warn't any doubt but what he could
get the store, but as he said the town
clerk was willing to endorse his note,
came over here last night just on
purpose to find that out. kinder
thought was perfectly safe in letting
him have the money"
sOh, you would be all right, Deacon,
{ financially, if the town clerk or any
other good man endorsed his note; but
you see Strout won't need the money.
happen to know of another man that
Is going to bid on that grocery store.
How much do you think Strout can
command; how high will he bid?"
Well, he told me- the Deacon an
swered, that he had parties that
would back him up to the extent of
$4,000, and this $500 that was goin'
to lend him would make $1,000, and he
had sort o. figured that the whole
place, including the land and buildings
and stock, warn't with any more than
that, and that Benoni Hill would be
mighty glad to get such good offer"
That's all right" said Quincy, "but
happen to know man that's going
to bid on that grocery store and he will
have it if he has to bid as high as
$4,000, and he is ready to put down the
solid cash for it without any notes"
The Deacon glanced up at Quincy,
and the sly look in his eye very much
resembled a grin.
/ guess it must be some outside fell
Ter that is a-going to buy it them said
the Deacon, for don't believe there
Is man in marlborough that would
put up $4,000 in cold cash for that gro
Gerry store, unless he considered that
he was paying for something besides
groceries when he bought, it."
Well, / don't think, Deacon" contin-
ued Quincy, that we need go further
into particulars; think we understand
Eeach other; all is you come up to the
Auction this afternoon, and if the place
Is knocked down to Strout will let
you have the $500 that have here in
my pocket; besides, it would have
b IN poor business policy for you to
let him have the money on that note
before the sale; for if the store was
not sold to him you could not get back
your money until the note became
due"
That's so,'' assented the Deacon.
Well, I've got to get home, cuz
promised to meet him by IL O'Clock"
$50 have t. said Quincy, for l
have got to see the man who is going
to buy the grocery store and fix up a
few business matters with him"
Both men left the bank and got into
their respective teams, which were
standing in front of the building.
Which road are you going, Dea
CONF" asked Quincy
WAL, guess, for appearances
sake, Mr.. Sawyer, you better go on the
straight road while I'll take the curved
one. Yer know the curved one leads
right UP to my barn door"
Yves, know" said Quincy, 81 found
that out last night" and the two mer
parted.
Quincy made quick time on his
homeward trip. AS he neared the
, Pettengill house he saw Cobb's twins
and Hiram standing in front of tn,
barn. He drove up and threw thu
reins to Bill Cobb, saying, Il shall
want the team again right after din
ner:" and turning to Hiram, he said
Come down to Jacobs Parlor. I wan
to have little talk with you"
They entered the large wood-shet
that Ezekiel's father he'd called by tn,
quaint name just referred to, and tool
their old seats, Quincy In the armchai
and Hiram on the chopping block fac
ing him. Hiram looked towards tn,
stove and Quincy said, ut is not yer,
cold this morning, don't think W,
: shall need a fire; besides, what hay
got to say will take but short time
Now, young man." continued he, 'hoy
old did you say you were?"
4 am about 3d." replied Hiram.
You are about 30?" repeated Quinc.
and yet you are satisfied to stay witt
Deacon Mason and do his odd jobs TO
about $40 a month and your board,
suppose"
well, he isn't mean man." sal,
Hiram, he gives me $40 q month an,
my board, and two suits of clothes
year, including shoes and hats"
"Haye YOU no ambition to do an,
better?" asked Quincy.
Ambition" cried Hiram, "why Tn
full of it. I've thought of more thai
a dozen different kinds of bushes
that would like to go into and worl
day and night to make my fortune, bu
what can Teller do if he hasn't an
capital and hasn't got any backer?"
well, the best thing that you ca
do. Hiram, is to find partner; that
what people do when they have n
rooney; they look around and fin
somebody who has.
You mean" said Hiram, that Nv
got TO lock round and find some on
who has got some money, who's wilhi
to let me have part of 1t. There's lot
OF fellers in Marlborough that have &c
money, but they hang to 1t tighter
the bark to tree"
"And yet" said Quincy, "a man lik
JAYNE'S u
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