Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-11-25

here shook his head. mutterlng angrily:
"Hoots, nonsense!> Ye're welcome
eneuch."
"But," went on Bill slowly, 81 guess
I'VE been on the wrong track. I've
been a-cherishin' the opinion ["Hear,
hearn yelled his admirersl, "cherishin'
the opinion" repeated Bill, that these
fellers," pointing to Robbie, was stuck
OH religion, which amt much my
self. and RELY consarned about the
blocking of the devil, which the Pilot
says can't be did without regular
gospel factory. OF course, 1t amt any
biznis Of mine, but If US fellers was
rccly : sot on anythin' condoocin',"
['sHear. hea!' yelled Hi in ecstasyl,
"condoocin'," repeated Bill slowly and
with relish, .to the good of the Order
Bill was a brotherhood NAM, IT
b'lieve l know whar $500 mebbe cud
perhaps be got"
"You bet your sox," yelled the
strange voice in chorus, with other
shouts of approval.
'.Of course, amt no bettin' man."
went on Bill insinuatingly, "as regu-
lar thing, but I'd gamble few jist
here on this pint; II the boys was stuck
on anythin' costin' about 500, 1t seems
to me likely they'd git 1t In about two
days, per'aps."
Here Robbie grunted out an faye" of
such fullness Of contemptuous unbe-
lief that Bill paused. and. looking
over Robbie's head, he drawled out,
even more slowly and mildly:
II amt much given to bettin', as re-
marked before. but II man shakes
money at me on that proposition I'd ac-
commodate him to limited extent"
["Hear. hear! Bully boy" yelled Hi
again from the door.l mot bein' too
bold, 1 cherish the opinion" [again yells
of approval from the cornerl ."that
even for this here gospel plant, SEEM
the Pilots rather sot on to 1t, b'lieve
the boys could ind $500 inside Of
month, ii perhaps these fellers cud
wiggle the rest out OF their pants.''
Then Robbie was in great wrath,
and, stung by the tauntng, drawing
voice beyond all self command, he
broke out suddenly:
yell no can max that guild, doot."
"D'ye mean amt prepared to back
1t up?"
aye" said Robbie grimly.
Tain't likely I'll be called on.
guess $500 is safe enough" drawled
Bill. cunningly drawing him on. Then
Robbie bit.
100 aver said he in voice of quiet
contempt. ''The twa hummer wull be
here and ,twull wait ye long eneuch,
Use warrant ye."
Then Bill nailed him.
II hain't got my card case on my per-
son." he said with a slight grin.
Left 1t OH the pianner," suggested
HI. who was in n state of great hilarity
Mt Bills success in drawing the Scottie.
But" Bill proceeded recovering
himself and with increasing suavity,
'if some gentleman would mark down
the date Of the almanac cherish the
opinion [cheers from the cornerl that
in one month from today there will be
$500 lookin' round for $500 on that
there desk, mebbe, or p'raps you would
incline to two fifty" he drawled in his
most winning tone to Robbie, who was
growing more impatient every moment.
NNea matter the me. Ya're haverin'
like daft loon. ony way"
You will make memento of this
slight transaction. boys, and per'aps
the schoolmaster will write It down.
said Bill.
1t was all carefully taken down, and
amid much enthusiastic confusion the
ranchers and their gang carried Bin
on to old Latour's. while Robbie, in
deep wrath but in dour silence, went
OF through the dark, with his little
wife following some PAGES behind him.
His chief grievance, however, was
against the chairman for "allooin' sic
a disorderly pack O looms tae disturb
respectable fowk," for he could not
hide the fact that he had been made
to brenk through his accustomed de-
Tense line of immoyable silence.
But when he understood, some days
later, that Bill was taking steps to back
up his offer and had been heard to de
clare TINT "he'd make them pious
ducks take water IL he had to put up
a years pay Robbie went quietly to
work to make good his part of the bar
gain, for his Scotch pride would not
suffer him to refuse a challenge from
such quarter.