Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-24

44.,f.s>>1..zs,2. asss..E..&..SssR4.s29.
Copyright lsoo-lsoa by chas. F. pIdgia

" ~ ~ -
| Obadiah Strout can go around this
town and get parties to back him up
to the extent of $2,o00'
| Yes, | know" answered Hiram, ''but
The couldn't do that if the parties didn't
have a mortgage on the place, and O.
course If Strout can't keep up his pay
ments they'll grab the store and get
the hull business. | happen to know
that one of the parties that's goin' to
put his name on one of Strout's notes
said quietly to another party that told
a Teller that heerd it from that it
wouldn't be more'n a year afore he'd
be runnin' that grocery store himself. !"
\ We'll. Hiram Maxwell, I've got some
money that am not using just now.
You know that I've got quite large
account to settle with that Professor
Strout, and l can afford to pay pretty
handsomely to get even with him. Now
4 do you think If you had that grocery
/ store that you could make d success
of it?"
Gould ~" cried Hiram, "waal, I
know could. ] know every man, wo-
man, and child in this town, and there
isn't one of them that's got anythin'
agin me that knows of"
/ s'I'd back you up" said Quincy, abut
live got something against you, and
will not agree to put my money into
that store until you explain to me
! something that you told me several
weeks ago. don't say but that you
told me the truth as far as it went, but
you didn't tell me the whole truth
7 and that's what / find fault with you
/ for"
Hiram's eyes had dilated, and he
Hooked at Quincy with a wild glance
Of establishment. Could he believe his
ears? Here was this young man, a
millionaire's son, saying that he would
have backed him up in business but
| for the fact that he had told him a
wrong story. Hiram scratched his
head and looked perplexed.
"True as live, Mr.. Sawyer. don't
remember ever tellin' you a lie since
I've known yer. may have added a
little somethin' to some of my stories
that have brought inter yer, jest to
make them little more interestin',
and p'r'aps ter satisfy little personal
spite that might have agin some o.
the parties that was tellin' yer about,
but know as wells I'm standin' here
| that / never told yer nothin' in the
way of lie to work yer any injury
You've alwus treated me white, and If
there's one thing that Mandy Skinner
says she can't abear, it's a man that
| tells lies"
Then" remarked Quincy with a
smile, you think a good deal of Miss
Mandy SINNERS opinion?"
I amt never seen any girl whose
opionion / think more Of" answered
Hiram.
did you ever see any girl that you
| thought more OFF" continued Quincy.
WAL, guess it's an open secret
| round town, said Hiram, "that I'd
marry her quickern lightin', If she'd
have me-"
We'll, why won't she have you?"
persisted Quincy.
That's easy to answer" said Hiram.
i .sYou stated the situation purity plainly
yourself when you counted up my in
come, $40 a month and my food and
two suits of clothes. How could I per.
vide for Mandy out o. that?"
well" asked Quincy, "supposing
4 bought that grocery store for you and
you got along well and made money
4 Do you think Mandy would consent tc
become Mrs. MAXWELL"
/. II can't say for sure, Mr.. Sawyer, but
l think Miss Mandy Skinner would be
at loss for any good reason for re
fusin' me, in case what you jest talked
h about come to pass" said Hiram.
Now" proceeded Quincy eve will
settle that little matter that referred
!, to a short time ago. You remember
you were telling me your war expert
!, ences. You said you were never shot
, but that you were hit with fence raj
| at the battle of Cedar Mountain"
"Waal, 1 guess if you git my war re
), cord you will find / didn't tell yer any
! lie about that"
well, no." said Quincy, "that's al
right; but why didn't you tell me tina
on one occasion, when the captain O
/ Your company was shot down, togeth
er with half the attacking force, tina
you took his body on your back ant
J bore him off the field, at the same time
, sounding the retreat with your bugle
J Why didn't you tell me that on two
} separate occasions, when the color ser
geants of your company were shot ant
I the flag fell from their grasp, that you
took the flag and bore it forward
sounding the charge, until you were re
fllCfCu III y Oul o0uUlC uuCy LII otllS
/ words, when there were so many goot
: things that you could say for yourself
why didn't you say them?"
Hiram thought for a moment ant
| then he said, WAL, l didn't think
| had any right to interduce outside mat
! tiers not connected with what we wer,
talkin' about. You asked me if I'd ev
Z er been shot, and told yer how / go
hit; but / didn't consider the luggin
/ the cap'n off the field or h'stin' Ok
/ Glory, when there wasn't anybody els,
) to attend to it jest that minute, come
( under the head of bein' shot"
Quincy laughed outright and extend
Y ed his hand, which Hiram took. Quin
cy gave 1t hearty shake and said, Hi
1 ram, think you're all right. I've de
$ cided to buy that grocery store for yol
0 for two reasons. The first Is that 20,
i have served me well; Mandy has beef
very kind and attentive to me, and
e want to see you both prosper and b.
e happy. My second reason relates t,
I the Professor, and, of course, does no
s need any explanation, SO far as your
t concerned. Now, you go up to tn
d house, put on your best suit of clothes
tell the Deacon that want your com
Q pany this afternoon; will drive. III