Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-08-19
was, but 1t seemed impossible for him

.
was, but 1t seemed impossible for hin
to refrain from it now.
you've been looiin fer the las
| three months like a man that needed
more land" he said. Jest no furde!
back an last night you lowed eff yor
could git enough fer yore folly to raist
the debt off'n yore farm you'd die hap
Ply, an now yo're a-frettin' beca'se yor
| didn't buy up the sides o. the earth an
| give nobody else a foothold. Lee me
| tell you the truth, even eff 1t does hurt
a little. Eff Alan hadn't thought %
this heer railroad idea, you'd n beer
| the biggest human pancake that ever
lay flat in its own grease
II hain't said nothin' to, the contra.
ry," admitted Bishop, who really took
| the reproof well. Alan knows what
think about it
Then Bishop and his wife went to
Craig's bank, and moment later Mil
Ter returned, rubbing his hands with
satisfaction
I'VE got through. and he's gone to
catch his train" he said
II NoihSh SODSt s,EedSe
l wonder what Pole Baker said to him,
or If he saw him. have an idea he
did, from the way Wilson danced to our
music"
Hers Pole now" said Abner from
the door. Come in heer, you trihin'
loafer, an give an account O. yore-
self"
sty,, trf ,
laughed Pole, IAN so sneaked- in to
see what you uns done He walked
like he owned the town.
ut went through like lightnin', with
out hitch or bobble," Abner told
him.
You did noble" said Miller while
Pole and Alan We're silently clasping
hands. Now ! told you we wouldn't
forget You. Go down.to WimbleF's ana
tell him TO give you the best suit of
clothes he's got and to charge them to
me and Alan
Pole drew himself up to his full
height and stared nj the lawyer with
flushing eyes.
BLAST yore SOUR he said. Don't
you say a thing like that to me agin.
I'll have you know I've got fcelin's
as well as you or anybody else. I'd cut
off this right arm an never Vince TO do
Alan Bishop favor, but I'll be DANCED
eft anybody kin look me over after I've
done little one an pay me for it in
store clothes. I don't like that one biz
an l amt afeerd to say So
u didn't mean any offense, Pole
apologi2cd Miller most humbly.
We'll, you wouldn't a said it to
some men, growlcd role. Il know
that. When want pay fer a thing
like that, III jest SO to that corner o.
the street an lock down ut that rock
pile whar Alan found me one day an
paid me out Jest to keep me from bein'
the laughin' stock o. this town.
Alan put his arm over his shoulder.
"Rayburn didn't mean any harm,s he
said gently. You are both my friends
and We've had Il Big victory today.
Let's not have hard feelings
Pole hung his head stubbornly and
Miller extended his hand Abner Dan.
Tel was an attentive listener, half
smile on his face.
Say, Pole he said, with little
laugh. you run down TO Wimbley's
an tell i'm not to wrop UP that suit.
Pm a-owin' him a bill, an he kin jest
credit the value of it on my account
Pole laughed heartily and thrust his
big hand into Miller's.
"uncle Abb" he said. you'd make Il
dog laugh
81 believe yo're right" said Abner
significantly, and then they all roarea
at Poles expense.
| The next day Alan received the fol
lowing letter from Dolly Barclay;
Dear Alan-Rayburn Miller told me In
confidence of your wonderful success yes
terday, and ] simply cried with joy. 4
knew-I felt that you would win, and
this is. as he says, n glorious beginning
am so proud of YOU and am SO fun OF
hope today. All our troubles will come
out right some day. and now that know
you love me can wait. Rayburn would
not have confided so much to me. but he
said while he would not let me tell father
anything about the prospective railroad.
he wanted me to prevent him from selling
his tract of land near yours. You know
my father copsults me about all his busl-
ness. and he will not dispose of that
property without my knowing of It, Oh,
wouldn't 1t be fine joke on him to have
him profit by your good Judgment.
Alan was at the little postotiice in
Tilmore's store when he received the
letter, and he folded it and restored it
to its envelope with a heart filed with
love and tenderness. AS he walked
home through the woods it seemed to
him that everything in nature was
ministering to his boundless happiness.
He felt as light as air as he strobe
along. "God bless her dear, dear little
soulF he said fervently.
[To BE ccN71vpED.l