Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-10-08

$~1HE following morning Pole
rose before daylight and rode
E;;.',s,-;s7 to barley. AS he reached the
E...S.ssEJ place the first rays of the
sun We're touching the slate covered
spire of the largest church in town
He went to a public wagon yard and
hitched his horse to one of the long
racks. a mountain family he knew
slightly had campcd in the yard, sleep
ing in their canvas covered wagon,
and We're making coffee over n little
fire. Poe wanted cup of the bcVcr-
age, but he passed on into n grocery
store across the street and bought a
dimes worth of cheese and bareback
crackers. This was his breakfast. lie
washed it down with a dipper of water
from the street well and sat around
the store chatting with the clerk, who
WAS Sprinlling the floor and sweeping
and busting the long room. The clerk
WAS Il redheaded Young man with a
short hristing mustache, and a suit
of clothes that was too large for him.
Don't Mr.. Craig stay around Finch
ers warehouse a good dealE' Pole
asked as the clerk rested for a moment
on his broom near him.
"Mighty nigh all day long" was the
reply. Him an Fincher's some kin,
l think"
"On his wife's side" said Pole Il
want to see Mr.. Craig wonder eff
hell be down thar this mornin."
"Purty apt" said the clerk. "Finch-
crs his best friend Sonce his bust up.
an they are mighty thick. reckon he
gifts the cold shoulder at a lots O.
places"
You don't say
AN of course he wants somewhar
to go besides home. In pasSin' I've
seed i'm a-tigurin' several times at
Fincher's desk. They say he's got
some notion O workin' fer Fincher as
his bookkceper."
Well he'll have TO make livin'
some way said Pole.
The clerk laughed significantly.
EFF it amt already made" said he
with a smile.
Pole stood up. Il don't think that's
right" he said coldly. ME nur you
nur nobody hain't got no right to hint
at what we don't know nothin' about
Mr.. Craig may a lost ever cent tS
had"
I'm pigs valisew sneered the red
beaded man. I'D bet my hat he's got
mOney-an' plenty Of If. huh
We'll, l don't know nothin' about
it," said Pole. sill coldly.. An whats
more, Dunn, amt a-goin' about
slnirchin' any helpless mans character
nuthcr. Ell | knowed he had made 10y
the bust Id talk different, but | dom
/ know it."
"Oh, see which side you are on
Baker" laughed the clerk Folks are
about equally divided. Half is fer i'm
an half agin. But mark my words
Craig will Side OUt o this town some
day AN be LCerd OF after aw lille a-Sit
tin started aGin somers else That
racket has been worked to Death al
I over the country"
Pole carried the discussion no fur.
/ ther. Half an hour passed Customers
] :,
and examining the wares on the coln.
tiers and making slow purchases. The
proprietor came in and let the clerk &C
to breakfast. Pole stood in the door
way looking up the street in the dircc'
ton of Craig's residence. Presently he
saw the oX-banker coming from tho
postolticc reading his mail. Pole step
it,f h., ct, md 1,t |, q
by; then he went TO the door again
and saw Craig go into Tincher's ware
/ house at the end OF the next block OF
struggling, wooden buildings. Pole
sauntered down the sidewalk in that
direction, passing the front door of the
warehouse without looking in. The
door at the side of the house had a
long platform before it, and on il
| Fincher, the proprietor, was weighing
bales of hay which We're being unload
ed from several wagons by the coun
trymen who were dsposinS of it.
Hello Mr.. Finchcr!" Pole greeted
him famliarly. Want any help IN
loadin?"
Hello, Baker, said Fincher, look
lllS w lIblll lut' DldHhbbDk III WUltn III
was recording the weights. NO, reck
on they can handle it all right" Finch
er was short, fat man, very bald anC
with a round, laughing face. He haG
known Pole long time and consid
cred him II most amusing character
How do you come on, I'olcE'
"Ch, about as common. jest thought
them fcllers looked sortcr light weight
The men on the wagon laughed MS
they thumpcd a bale Of hay on to The
platform. You'd better dry up" one
of them said, Wen git the mayor It
put You tp work aain."
"Well, he'll have to be quicker about
it than he was the last time said Polk
dryly.
Some one laughed Justify from be
hind tall stack of wheat in bags II
the warehouse, 1t was LAWYER Ira
bue. lie came round and picked III
Fmchcr's daily paper, MS he did every
morning, and sat down and began t.
| read it.
Now you are talkin'," he said