Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-09-11

sSS chapter old man Bishop, just
$9 at dusk one evening, rode up
to Pole Bakers humble domicile. Pole
was in the front yard making fire Of
sticks, twigs and chips.
whats that fer?" the old man ques-
toned as he dlsmounted and hitched
his horse to the worm fence.
ITO drive off mosquitoes" said Pole,
wiping his eyes, which were red from
the effects of the smoke. "TH never
pass another night like the last un ef
I kin hep it. lowed my hide was
thick. but they bored fer oil all over
me from dark till sun-up. never we
tried smoke. but Hank Watts says it's
ahead O pennyr'yal."
"Shucksr' grunted the planter. "You
amt workin' it right. A few rags
burnin' In a pan nigh yore bed may
drive 'em out. but a smoke out heer In
the yard IL jest drive 'em in"
"What?" said Pole in high disgust
"Do you expect me to sleep sech hot
weather as this is with fire nigh my
bed? The durn things may eat me
raw, but I'll be blamed eff I barbecue
myself to please 'em."
Mrs. Baker. appeared in the cabin
door holding two Of the youngest chill
dren by their hands. "He won't take
my advice, Mr. Bishop" she said. II
Jest rub little lamp oil on my face an
hands, an they don't fetch me-"
Pole grunted and looked with laugh
ing eyes at the old man.
"She axed me t'other night why I'd
quit kissin' 'er," he said. "An' told
'er didn't keer any more fer kerosene
than the mosquitoes did"
Mrs. Baker laughed pleasantly as
she brought out chair for Bishop and
invited him to sit down. He complied,
twirling his riding whip in his hand.
From his position, almost on a level
with the floor, he could see the interior
Of one Of the rooms. 1t was almost
bare Of furniture. Two opposite cor
ners were occupied by crude bedsteads;
In the center Of the room was a cradle
made from q soapbox on rockers sawed
from rough poplar boards 1t had the
appearance Of having been in use
through several generations. Near it
stood a spinning wheel and three
legged stool. The sharp steel spindle
cleaned in the freight from the big
LOG and mud chimney.
"What's the news from town, Mr..
Bishop" Pole asked awkwardly, for It
struck him that Bishop had called to
talk with him about some business and
was reluctant to introduce 1t.
"Nothin' that interests any of us, 1
reckon, Pole" said the old man, "ex-
cept that I made that investment in
Shoal Cotton factory stock"
That's good" said Pole, in the tone
of anybody but man who had never
invested a dollar in anything. "1t's all
hunkey. an my opinion is that 1t III
never be wuth less"
81 did heer, too," added Bishop, "that
it was reported that Craig had set up
q little grocery store out in TeX;.:. nigh
the Indian Territory. Some thinks that
Winship II turn up thar an jine i'm,
but q body never knows what to be-
lieve these days"
THAT shore is fact" opined Pole.
"Sally. that corn breads a-burnin'. Eff
you'd use less lamp oil, you'd smell bet
ter"
Mrs Baker darted to the fireplace,
raked the live Goals from beneath the
cast iron oven and jerked off the lid in
cloud of steam and smoke. She
turned over the pone with the aid of a
case knife and then came back to the
door.
Fer the last month I've had my eye
on the Bascome farm" Bishop was
saving. There's a hundred acres
oven. some good bottom land and up
land an in the neighborhood O. thirty
acres O. good wood. Then thar's five
room house, well made an tight, an a
barn, cowhouse an stable"
Lord. | know the place like q
book" said Pole, IAN it's dandy in
vestment, Mr.. Bishop. They say he
offered it fer fifteen hundred. It's
wuth two thousand. You won't drap
any money by buyin' that property,
Mr.. Bishop. Id hate to contract to
build Jest the house an we'll an out
houses fer q thousand"
81 bought it," Bishop told him. "He
let me have it fer good deal less q
fifteen hundred, cash down."
"Well, you made a dandy trade,
Mr.. Bishop. All. that's what ready