Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-29

downstairs to the kitchen, and as usu-
al, found Hiram engaged in converse
ton with Mandy.
you are just the man want" said
he to Hiram; 81 would like to have
you take these letters to the Mason's
Corner postoffice and mail them at
once. You can tell Mr. Hill that the
papers relating to the store are nearly
ready and if he and his son will come
here this afternoon we will execute
them. would like to have you and
Mr.. Pettengill on hand as witnesses"
Hiram started on his mission, and
Quincy returned to his room and bust
ed himself with the preparation of the
documents for the transfer of the gro
Gerry store and the making out of the
necessary notes to cover the twenty.
five hundred dollars due for the same.
He had not seen Alice at breakfast,
nor did she appear at the dinner table.
He followed the rule since she came
to the house not to make any open
inquiries about her health, but from
words dropped by Ezekiel and Uncle
Ike. he had kept fairly we'll informed
as to the result of her treatment. At
dinner Ezekiel remarked that his sis
ter had commenced to take her new
medicine and that he reckoned 1t must
be purity powerful, for she had said
that she didn't wish anything to eat,
and didn't want anything sent to her
room.
Quincy politely expressed his regrets
at her indisposition and trusted that
she would soon be able to join them
again at meal time.
About o'clock in the afternoon,
Samuel Hill and his father arrived.
and Hiram. remembering Quincy's in
structions, had found Ezekiel Petten-
gill, and all came to the room togeth.
er. 1t took comparatively short time
to sign, seal and deliver the docu-
ments and papers. 1t was arranged
that Samuel Hill and his father should
take charge of the grocery store and
Carry on the business until a. week
from the following Monday; as Quincy
told Young Hill that he had some bust.
ness to attend to the early part of the
following week that would prevent his
giving any attention to the store until
the latter part of the week.
Quincy treated his principals and
witnesses to cigars and an interchange
OF ideas was made in relation to the
result of the auction sale.
How does Strout take it?" inquired
Quincy. :
I don't know" spoke up Hiram. HE
acts as though he thought was pizen.
Every time he sees me he crosses over
on the other side of the street, if we
happen to be comm towards each 9th.
err"
well, imagine" said Quincy, chat
your usefulness to him has departed
IN some respects, but it's just as we'll"
Well, said young HILL, II can tell
you what he said the other night in
the grocery store. There was a crowd
OF his friends there and he remarked
that you," turning to Quincy, "might
own Hills grocery store, but that
wasn't the whole earth. He said that
he had no doubt that he would be elect
ed unanimously as tax collector. and
he was sure of his appointment as
postmaster, and IL he got 1t he would
start another grocery store on his own
hook and make it lively for YOU
Well, said Quincy with a laugh,
competition is the life of trade, and I
sha'n't object if he does go into the
business; but if he does, / will guaran-
tee to undersell him on every article.
and / will put on couple Of teams and
hire couple of men, and we'll scour
Eastborough and Mason's Corner and
Montrose for orders in the morning.
and then we'll deliver all the goods by
team in the afternoon in regular Bos-
ton style. never knew just exactly
what was cut out for know don't
like studying law, and 1t may be, after
all, that it's my destiny to become a
groceryman."
Quincy took Ezekiel by the arm, led
him to the window, and whispered
something to him.
Ezekiel laughed, then turned red in
the face, then finally said In an under
tone, WAL, dunno, seems kinder
early, but I dunno but 1t Jest as well,
might be then as any other time. /
hain't got nuthin' ter do this afternoon.
so think I'll take walk up there to
see how the land lays"
He said, Good afternoon" to the
others and left the room.
Quincy then took Samuel Hill by
the arm in the same manner as he had
done to Ezekiel, led him to the win
dow, and said something to him which
wrought similar effect to that pro-
duced upon Ezekiel.
Samuel thought for moment and
then said, "That amt bad idea; Pm
satisfied If the other party Is. I'm go
ing to drive over this afternoon and
tell the old gentleman that matters
are all fixed up, and I'll find out if
there's any objection to the plan.
Guess I'll go now, as I've got to git
back tonight"
So he said, "Good afternoon" and
accompanied by his father, took his de-
parture.
"sit down, Hiram" said Quincy, II
want to have talk with you. Have
you settled up that little matter with
Mandy?"
mo" said Hiram, mot yet; I've
been tryin' to muster up courage, but
I haven't been able to up to the present
moment"
II should think" remarked Quincy.
that a man who had carried his CAP
tain off the field with shower of bull
let's raining about him, or who had
pushed forward with his country's flag.
in the face Of similar storm Of bull
lets, ought not to be. afraid to ask
young girl to marry him"
WAL, do yer know" said Hiram.
VvNNa g.