News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-07-22

| Alan lldu uOl, anu AlliltI llcu lis
head to the open door. An old negro
happened to be passing, with an ak on
his shoulder.
"Heigh, there, Uncle Ned" Miller
called out.
The negro had passed, but he heard
mis- name called, and he came back
and looked in at the door.
"Want me, Marse Rayburn"
Eyes, you old scamp. Get me a
match or I'll shoot the top of your
head off,"
"All right, sub; all right Marse Ray
! burn"
you ought to know him." said Mil
Ter, with a smile as the negro hurried
! into the adjoining office. "His wife
| cooks for Colonel Barclay. He might
tell you if Miss Dolly's going tonight,
| but know she is. Frank Hillhouse
checked her name off the list, and
heard him say she'd accepted. By the
way, that fellow will do to watch.
think he and the colonel are pretty
| thick"
Twill you never let up on that?'
Alan asked, with a flush.
81 don't know that SHALL" laughed
| Rayburn. F"It seems so funny to see
| you in love, or, rather to see you think
you are"
81 have never said was" said Alan
| sharply.
/ But you show it so blamed plain"
said Miller.
Here it's, Marse Rayburn. Marse
Trabue said you could have whole
box eff you'd put up wild sulphur ones"
| Miller took the matches from the out
stretched hand and tossed a cigar to
Alan. "Say, Uncle Ned" he asked,
do you know that gentleman? indi-
eating Alan with ned of his head.
A quizzical look dawned in the old
negro's eyes, and then he gave re-
sounding guffaw and shook all over.
Il reckon | know his boss, Marse
Rayburn," he Uttered
That's a good one. on you, Alan"
laughed Miller. ''He knows your boss
I'll have to spring that on you when
see you two together"
AS the negro left the office Mr.. Ira
bue leaned in the doorway, holding his
battered silk hat in his hand and mop
ping his perspiring face.
He nodded to Alan and said to Mil
Ter, ''Do you want to writer
Not any more for you thanks" said
Miller. Il have the backache now
Ionagi+;n,,, I fo
you yesterday"
"Oh, | don't mean that" the old
lawyer assured him, but I had to
borrow yore ink just now, an, SEEM
you at yore desk, | thought you might
need it."
"Oh, if l do" TESTED Miller, 81 can
buy another bottle at the bookstore.
They pay me a commission on the ink
furnish the row. They let me have it
cheap by the case What stumps me
is that you looked in to see if | needed
it. You are breaking the rule, Mr..
Trabue. They generally make me hunt
for my office furniture when | need it.
They've borrowed everything | have
except my iron safe. Their ignorance
of the combination, it's weight and
their confirmed laziness are all that
saved it."
When the old lawyer had gone, the
two friends sat and smoked in silence
for several minutes Alan was study
ing Miller's face. Something told him
that the news of his fathers disaster
had reached him and that Miller was
going to speak of it. He was not mis-
taken, for the lawyer soon preached
the subject.
I've been intending to ride out to
see you almost every day this week."
he said, "but business has always pre-
vented my leaving town."
Then you have heard
Eyes, Alan, I'm sorry, but it's all
over the country. A mans bad luck
spreads as fast as good war news. l
heard it the next day after your IA.
Their returned from Atlanta, and saw
| the whole thing in fash The truth
is, Perkins had the cheek to try his
scheme on me. I'm the first target of
every Scoundrel who has something to
sell, and I've learned many of their
tricks. didn't listen to all he had to
, say, but got rid of him as soon as
! could. You must not blame the old
| man. AS see it now, it was a most
| plausible scheme. and the shame of it
| is that no one can be handled for it.
Your father will have to grin and bear
it. He really didn't pay fabulous
| price for the land, and If he were in q
condition to hold on to it for, say,
twenty-five years he might not lose
1 money. But who can do that sort of
thing? | have acres and acres of
mountain land offered me at a much
lower figure, but what little money
I've made has been made by turning
my capital rapidly. Have you seen
| Dolly since it happenedW
mo; not for two weeks" replied
Alan. 81 went to church with her
Sunday before last and have not seen
her since. | was wondering If she had
heard about it."
"Oh, yes; she's heard 1t from the colo
| mel. 1t may surprise you, but the
thing has rubbed him the wrong way"
"Why, don't understand" exclaimed
| Alan. HAS he"-
"The old man has had about 1000