News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-07-08

gether to pay the taxes. Why, last yeer
his taxes mighty nigh foored i'm, an
the expenses on this county he's jest
annexed will push i'm like rips, fer
now, you know, he'll have to do with
out the income on his factory stock.
But he thinks he's got the right sow
by the yeer. Before long he may yell
out to us to come hep i'm turn 'er
loose, but he's waltzin' with 'er now"
At this juncture Mrs. Bishop came
out of the dining room wiping her-eyes
on her apron.
Mother" said Alan tenderly, "try
not to worry over this any more than
you can help"
Your pas gettin' old an childish"
whimpered Mrs. Bishop. Hes heerd
somebody say timber land up in the
mountains will some day advance, an
he forgets that he's too old to get the
benefit of it. He's goin' to bankrupt
u.s."
"Ef l do" the man accused thun-
dered from the hall as he strobe out,
it'll be my money that's lost-money
that l made by hard work."
He stood before them, glaring over
his eyeglasses at his wife. 1--WE had
enough of yore tongue, my lady. Eff
I'd not had so much to think about in
thar jest now, I'd "a shut you up soon
er. Dry up now-not another word.
I'm dom the best | kin accordin' to
my lights to provide fer my children,
an | won't be interfered with"
No one spoke for moment. How
ever, Mrs. Bishop finally retorted, as
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
ehuckle, which to the observing Dan
iel sounded very much like eXultation.
when you all know what | know,
you'll be laughin' on t'other sides O.
yore mouths. | reckon I'll jest have
to let you all know about this or l
won't have specli O. peace from now
on. | didn't tell you at fust beca'se
nobody kin keep a secret as well as the
man it belongs to, an ! 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. | reckon you all know
That of " Of lonH IoiOh
railroad it I'D be low at five times
what paid fer it, don't you? Well,
then, the long an short of it is that
l happen to be on 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
III run smack dab through my proper
thought you did, don't your
The little group stared into his glow
ing face incredulously.
"A railroad is to be built, fatherT
exclaimed Alan.
THAT'S what | said.'
Mrs. Bishops eyes flashed with sud
den hope, and then, as if remembering
AGi hNlNbCtlAl lliIlI tiCtlS, lICl law IGlI'
Alfred" she asked skeptically,
"how does it happen that you know
about the railroad before other folks
does?'
How do /? That's it now-how do
II" and the old man laughed freely.
give had my fun out O this thing,
listenin' to what every crank said
nh hof al. ~ co on I
was jest allyn low waitin' fer my
time"
"Well, I'll be switchedr' calculated
Abner Daniel, half seriously, half sar-
eastically. "Geewhilikins! A railroad!
I've always said one would pay like
rips an open up dern good, God
feSsaken country. FIN 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 straightT'
81 got it from headquarters" The
old man raised himself on his toes and
knocked his heels together a habit he
had not INDUCED in for many year.
1T was told to me confidentially by a
man who knows all about the whole
thing, a man who is in the employ O
the company that's goin' to build il"
"Huhr' The exclamation was Alb
nG Daniels do you mean that At
Ia1ta lawyer Perkns?"
Bishop stared, his mouth lost some
of its pleased firmness, and he ceased
thu motion of his feet.
What made you mention his name?"
he asked curiously.
"Oh, | dunno. Somehow l jest
thought o. him. He looks to me like
he mought be buldin' a railroad ur
two"
"Well, that's the man mean," said
BAhop, more uneasily.
Somehow the others were all looking
at Abner Daniel, who grunted sudden
ly and almost angrily.
81 wouldn't trust that skunk no fur
der n l could fling a bull by the tail"
you say you wouldn't| Bishop
tried to smile, but the effort was a ia
cial failure