Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-09-11

but this last 5000 acres jest about
sweeps all the best timber in the
whole Cohutta section, an mought as
well let up. reckon you all know
that ell say ef-my land was nigh a
railroad it nd be low at five times
what 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 railroad is goin' to be run from
Blue Lick Junction to barley. It'll
be started inside Of the next yeer an
II run smack dab through my proper
ty. Thar now! You know more'n you
thought you did, don't your
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 it happen that you know
about the railroad before other folks
does?'
How do L? That's it now-how do
II" and the old man laughed freely.
1--WE had my fun out O this thing,
listenin' to what every crank said
about me bein' cracked an SO on, but
was jest a-lyin' low waitin' fer my
time"
"Well, I'll be switched! calculated
Abner Daniel, half seriously, half sar-
castically. "Geewhilikins! A railroad!
I've always said one would pay like
rips an open up dern good, God
fersaken country. I'm glad you are
a-goin' to start one, Alfred"
Alan's face was filled with an ex-
preston of blended doubt and pity for
his fathers credulity. Father" he
said gently, "are you sure you got your
information straightW
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 confidentially by
man who knows all about the whole
thing, a man who is in the employ o.
the company that's goin' to build It,"
"Huh" The exclamation was Abb
.ner Daniels. do you mean that At
lanta lawyer, Perkins?"
Bishop stared, his mouth lost some
of its pleased f1rmness, 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' 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
ly and almost angrily.
Il wouldn't trust that skunk no fur
der n could fling bull by the tail"
"You say you wouldn't?" Bishop
tried to smile, but the effort was a ia
cial failure.
II wouldn't trust i'm nuther, Brother
Alb" chimed in Mrs. Bishop Gas soon
as l laid eyes on i'm knowed he
wouldn't do. He's too mealy mouthed
an fawnin'. Butter wouldn't melt in
his mouth. He Dragged on ever thing
we had while he was heer. Now, AL
fred, what we must git at is, what was
his object in tellin' you that tale"
"Object!' Numbered her husband,
losing his temper in the face of the aw-
full possibility that her words limited
at. ".Are you all pack an passle O.
fools? If you must dive an probe,
then I'll tell you he owns slice o.
timber land above Holley creek, j'inin'
some o mine, an so he let me into the
secret out O. puore good will Oh, you
all eayn't skeer me. amt one o. the
skeerin' kind"
But, Notwithstanding this outburst,
1t was plain that doubt had actually
taken root in the orul4..tr.., caucus
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
brother.
"You areT said Bishop angrily. ut
seems to me 1ou don't do much else"
"Folks AT wonders lot amt so apt
to believe everything they heer," re-
torted Abner. II was just a-wonderin'
why that little, spindle shanked Peter
Mosely has been holdin' his head SO
high the last week or So I'll bet I
could make durn good guess now"
what under the suns Peter Mosely
got to do with my business?" burst
from Bishops impatient lips.
Hes got sorter roundabout con-
nection with it, reckon" smiled Abb
ner grimly. II happen to know that Abe
Tompkins sold i'm 1000 acres O. timber
land on Huckleberry ridge jest after
yore Atlanta man spent the day lookin'
round in these parts"
Bishop was no fool, and he grasped
Abner's meaning even before it was
quite clear to the others.
"Looky heer," he said sharply, what
do you take me fer?"
II 'ain't tuck you fer nothin'," said
Abner, with grin. "Leastwise,
'ain't tuck you fer $1,000 with O. cot
ton mill stock. To make a long story
short. the Atlanta jack leg lawyer ia
akin to the Tompkins family some
way. I'd bet new hat to ginger
cake that Perkins never owned n
spoonful o. land I'M heer mn, thot hos