Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-11-12

Say' ooys! they haint much stuck
on their shop, heh?' The low, drawing
voice was perfectly distinct and arrest
ing.
Hain't got no use for it seemingly"
was the answer from the dark corner.
'Oid Scotchie takes his religion out
In prayin', I guess" drawled in Bill
put wants to sponge for his plant"
Ihls reference to Robbie's proposal
10 use the school moved the youngsters
TO tittering and made the little Scotch
man squirm, for he prided himself
upon his independence.
There amt $7oO in the hull BANKED
outfit" This was n strangers voice,
and again Robbie squirmed, for he
rather prided himself also on his abil-
NY to pay his way.
~"No good" said another emphatic
voice. "A blanked lot Of psalm singing
snipesv
Order, order" cried the chairman.
"Old Windbag there don't see any
show for swipin' the collection with
Scotchie round,' said Hi. with a fol
lowing ripple of quiet laughter, for
Williams reputation was none too Sc
cure.
Robbie was in a most uncomfortable
state of mind. So unusually stirred
was he that for the first time in his
history he made a motion.
II move we adjourn, Mr.. Chairman"
he said in voice which actually vi
brated with emotion.
Different here! Eth, boys" drawled
Bill
You bet" said HI, in huge delight.
1.-THE meetin' amt out yit'
Eye can bide till mor-rnin'," said
Robbie angrily. "A'm gaen hame." be-
ginning to put on his coat.
Seems as IL he orter give the pass
word" drawled Bill
Right you are, pardner," said HI,
springing to the door and waiting in de-
lighted expectation for his friends lead.
Robbie looked at the door, then at
his wife, hesitated a moment. have no
doubt wishing her home. Then Bill
stood up and began to speak.
"Mr. Chairman, l hain't been called
on for any rsmarks"-
go on" yelled his friends from the
dark corner. Hear, hear"
AN 1 didn't feel as if this war
hardly my game, though the Pilot amt
mean about invitin' Teller on Sunday
afternoons. But them as runs the shop
don't seem to want us fellers round
too much"
Robbie was gazing keenly at Bill and
here shook his head. muttering angrily:
"Hoots. nonsense! Yere welcome
eneuch."
But" went on Bill slowly, II guess
I've been on the wrong track. I've
been a-cherishin' the opinion" ["Hear,
hearr' yelled his admirersl "cherishin'
the opinion" repeated Bill, that these
fellers," pointing to Robbie, was stuck
on religion, which l amt much my
self, and RELY consarned about the
blocking Of the devil which the Pilot
says can't be did without n regular
gospel factory. OF course, it amt any
biznis of mine, but II us fellers was
RELY sot on anythin' condoocin',"
["Hear, hearw yelled Hi in ecstasy J.,
"condoocin'," repeated Bill slowly and
with relish, "to the good Of the Order
(Bill was a brotherhood man, II
b'lieve l know whar $500 mebbe cud
per'aps be got"
You bet your sox," yelled the
strange voice in chorus, with other
shouts of approval
"Of course, amt no bettin' man."
went on Bill insinuatingly, ''as regu-
lar thing, but I'd gamble a few jst
here on this pint; II the boys was stuck
on anythin' costin' about 500, it seems
to me likely they'd git it In about two
days, per- APPS"
Here Robbie grunted out an AYE" OF
such fullness of contemptuous unbe-
lief that Bill paused, and. looking
over Robbie's head, he drawled out,
even more slowly and mildly:
II amt much given to bettin', as re-
marked before, but If a man shakes
money at me on that proposition I'd ac-
commodate him to limited extent"
t"He,r, hear Bully BOY" yelled Hi
again from the door.1 Not bein too
bold, cherish the opinion" Tagain wells
Of approval from the corner that
even for this here gospel plant seem
the Pilots rather sot on to it, b'lieve
the boys could find $500 inside Of a
month, II perhaps these fellers cud
wiggle the rest out Of their pants"
Then Robbie was in great wrath,
and, stung by the haunting, drawing
voice beyond all self command, he
broke out suddenly:
yell no can max that guild, doot"
"D'ye mean I amt prepared to back
II up?"
aye" said Robbie grimly.
"Tain't likely I'll be called on. /
guess $500 is safe enough" drawled
Bill, cunningly drawing him on. Then
Robbie bit.
100 ayew said he in voice of quiet
contempt THE twa hummer wull be
here and twill wait ye long eneuch
Use warrant ye."
Then Bill nailed him.
II hain't got my card case on my per.
son." he said with slight grin.
left It on the pianner," suggested
HI who was in a state Of great hilarty
at Bits success in drawing the Scottle
But" Bill proceeded, recovering
himself and with increasing suavity
III some gentleman would mark down
the date of the almanac / cherish the
opinion" [cheers from the corner that
In one month from today there will be
$500 lookin' round for 5000 on that