Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-07-22


benefit of it. He's goin' to bankrupt
U.S."
EFF l do" the man accused thun-
dered from the hall as he strobe out,
It'll be my money that's lost-money
that made by hard work"
! He stood before them, glaring over
his eyeglasses at his wife. "I've had
enough Of yore tongue, my lady. Ell
I'd not had 30 much to think about In
thar jest now, I'd a shut you up soon-
er. Dry up now-not another word.
I'm doin' the best l kin accordin' to
my lights to provide fer my children.
an l won't be interfered with"
No one spoke for a 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
chuckle, which to the observing Dan
lei sounded very much like exultation.
when you all know what l know,
you'll be laughin' on t'other sides o
yore mouths. l reckon I'll jest have
to let you all know about this or l
won't have speck O. peace from now
on. I didn't tell you at fust beca'se
nobody kin keep secret as well as the
man it belongs to, an / was Altered It
nd 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
we'll let up. l reckon you all know
that ef-I say ef-my land was nigh
railroad it I'D be low at FIVE times
what l paid fer it, don't you? Well,
then, the long an short Of it Is that
| I happen to be on the inside an know
that a railroad is goin' to be run from
Blue Lick Junction to Darley. It'll
be started inside of the next yeer an
IL run smack dab through my proper
ty. Thar now! You know more'n you
thought you did, don't you"
The little group stared into his glow
ing face incredulously.
"A railroad is to be built, father"
exclaimed Alan.
"That's what said"
Mrs. Bishops eyes flashed with sud-
den hope, and then, as If remembering
her husbands limitations, her face fell.
| Alfred" she asked skeptically,
chow does 1t happen that you know
about the railroad before other folks
does2"
"How do I? That's It now-how do
II" and the old man laughed freely.
"I've had my fun out O. this thing,
listenin' to what every crank said
about me bein' cracked an 80 on, but !
was jest a-lyin' low waitin' fer my
time"
"Well, I'll be switchedr CALCULATED
Abner Daniel, half seriously, half sar-
castically. "Geewhilikins! A railroad!
I've always said one would pay like
rips an open up a dern good, God
| fersaken country. I'm glad you are
a-goin' to start one, Alfred"
| Alans 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 straight"
II got it from headquarters" The
old man raised himself on his toes and
knocked his heels together, habit he
had not INDUCED in for many a year.
ut was told to me conddentially by
man who knows all about the whole
thing, q man who is In the employ o
the company that's goln' to build it."
"Huhw The exclamation was Alb
ner Daniels. "Do you mean that At
lanta lawyer, Perkins?"
Bishop stared. his mouth lost some
Of It's pleased firmness, and he ceased
the motion of his feet.
"What made you mention his name"
he asked curiously.
"Oh, | dunno. Somehow jest
thought O. him. He looks to me like
he mought be buildin' a railroad ur
two"
"Well, that's the man I mean," said
Bishop, more uneasily.
Somehow the others were all looking
at Abner Daniel. who grunted sudden
" and almost angrily.
II wouldn't trust that skunk no fur
der n 1 could fling bull by the tall"
"You say you wouldn't" Bishop
tried to smile, but the effort was ia
cial failure.
II wouldn't trust i'm nuther, Brother
Alb" chimed in Mrs. Bishop. "As soon
as | laid eyes on i'm I knowed he
wouldn't do. He's too mealy mouthed
an fawnin'. Butter wouldn't melt in
his mouth. He Dragged on everything
we had while he was heer. Now. Al
fred, what we must git at is. what was
his object in tellin' you that tale"
"Objectw thundered her husband,
losing his temper In the face Of the aw-
| full possibility that her words hinted
at. "Are you all pack an passle O.
fools? II you must dive an probe,
then I'll tell you he owns slice O.
! timber land above Holley creek. Jinin'
some O. mine, an so he let me into the
secret out O. puore good will. Oh. you
all cayn't skeer me. I amt one O. the
skeerln' kind"
But. notwithstanding this outburst,
It was plain that doubt had actually
taken root In the ordinarily cautious
mind of the crude speculator.
Abner Daniel laughed out harshly all
at once and then was silent. whats
| the matter" asked his sister in de-
spair.
II was jest a-wonderin'," replied her