Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-09-15

CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
4" HE next morning at breakfast
Alfred Bishop announced his
SfSf;SI intention Of going to Atlanta
Nsssss to talk to Perkins and Incl
dentally to call on his brother William,
who was successful wholesale mer-
chant in that city.
II believe would" said Mrs. Bish-
op. Maybe William will tell you what
to do
I'D see Perkins fust," advised Abner
Daniel. "Ef 1 felt shore Perkins had
bunkoed me, I'd steer cleer o. William.
I'd hate to heer i'm let out on that sub
ject. He's made his pile by keepin' a
sharp lookout"
II hain't had no reason to think I
have been lied to-" said Bishop logged
ly as he poured his coffee into his
saucer and shook it about to cool. IA
body could hear his deathknell rung ev.
cry minute eff he'd jest listen to old
women an'"
"Old bachelors" interpolated Abner.
81 reckon they are alike. The longer a
man lives without q woman the more
he gifts like one. reckon that's beca Sc
the man at lives with one don't see
nothin' wuth copyin' in Ter an vice-a-
yersy."
Mrs. Bishop had never been an ap-
preciative listener to her brothers phi.
losophy. She ignored what he had just
said and its accompanying smile, which
was always Abner's subtle apology for
such observations.
"Are you goin' to tell Adele about the
railroad?" she asked.
II reckon won't tell Ter to git up a.
excursion over it fore the crossties is
laid" retorted Bishop sharply, and Alb
ner Daniel laughed, that sort Of re
Spouse being in his own vein.
II was goin' to say" pursued the
softly treading wife, "that wouldn't
mention it to FER ef-ef-Mr. Perkins
amt to be relied on, beca'se she wor-
ries enough already about our pore way
o. livin' compared to her uncle's folks
IF she knowed how spent last night
she'd want to come back. But ain't
a-goin' to let Brother Alb skeer me yet
1t is jest too awful to think about
What on earth would we do? What
would we, say?"
That afternoon Bishop was driven to
barley by negro boy who was to
bring the buggy back home. He first
repaired to barber shop. where he
was shaved, had his hair cut and his
shoes BACKED; then he went to the sta
ton half an hour before time and i'm
patiently walked up and down the
platform till the train arrived.
It was 6 o'clock when he reached At
lanta and made his way through tn,
jostling crowd in the big passengel
| depot out into the streets. He had hi
choice of going at once to the residence
Of his brother, on Peachtree street, tn,
most fashionable avenue of the city
or looking up Perkins in his Office. HI
decided to unburden his mind by a,
once calling on the lawyer, whose OF
flee was in tall building quite neal
at hand.
1t was the hour at which Perkin!
usually left for home. but the old plant
or found him in.
"Oh. It's you, Mr.. Bishop" he sai(
suavely as he rose from his desk ii
the dingy, disordered little room, witt
Its single window. He pushed a chat
forward. "Sit down; didn't know 70,
were in town; at your brothers, reck
on. How are the crops up the road
Too much rain last month, I'm afraid
Bishop sank YEARLY into the chair
BE had tired himself out thinking owe
what he would say to the man befor
him and with the awful contemplation
Of what the man might say to him.
"They are dom as well as can be ex
pected," he made answer. But b,
didn't approve of even that platitude
for he was plain and outspoken ant
hadn't come all that distance for ,
mere exchange of courtesies. Still, b
lacked the faculty to approach easil,
the subject which had grown so heav,
within the last twenty-four hours an,
Of which he now almost stood in terror
j ."Wcll. that's good" returned Per
| o1s. He was swarthy man Of kfty
NE or sixty, rather tall and slender
with bald head that sloped bacl
sharply from heavy. jutting brows, un
der which pair of keen black eye
shone and shifted. "Come down t,
see your daughter" he said; s.goo,
thing for her that you have brothe
in town. By the way, he's'a fine typ
OF man. He's making Roadway toe