The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-17

iisihs market, observed Hiram, gazing
sedulously at the toe of his boot, ga great
pity L wouldn't do it,
1 can use the money on a quick turn to
great advantage" explained the Judge,
and am only too glad to let you in on
the ground floor
Umhu! Hiram leaned forward and
Topped off a long sprig of crimson rambler
that thrust its prickly length almost in his
face "Umhu." he repeated, shutting his
knife with a click and returning it to his
pocket. "Jabe, you always was a consid-
crate fellow, and am afraid you're doing
too much for me just because I'm your
only brother. Couldn't you do better some
place else, some place where money is go
Ing begging in town, for instance?"
The judge flushed and paled, opened his
mouth to speak, and closed it again with a
snap.
Now, look here, Jabe," the voice drawled
on, that amt the reason you come to me
to sell that stock. Lord, if it's as good as
you say, and there was any place else on
this earth you could a-got the money on
1t, you wouldn't a-come here. / know YOU
You've got too much pride for that
Then you don't want the stock? Oh,
very well; 1 cam
Now. you just sit down. I amt said yet
1 wouldn't let you have money, and 1 want
to talk to you. There's goin' to be some
things said that never would a-been said If
this hadn't come up. When you go to the
Jews to borrow, you pay the Jews price;
well, this is my price:
In the first place, Jabe. I amt entirely
forgot the way you served Ezra and me
when we went up to see you in the fall of
49, Ezra he was in a great way to go off
to school. and didn't want to put loan
on the place nor sell any of my cattle then,
so thought Of you first thing
II didn't have it," said the judge shortly.
mo? Well, then, why didn't you say so;
'twould a satisfied me. Instead Of that
you acted as If you was just rollin' in
wealth, covered up with money, and all
that was necessary was just for you to
find time to sign the check"
:And I was busy at that time, too, very
busy"
Eyes, noticed it, so busy that you hadn't
even time to ask out to your house to
stay over night OF course, that's a little
thing to remember, but it's the little things
that worry us most in this life. You can
flap humble bee with your hat, and even
kill fly if he comes book once too often,
but what are you goin to do against
swarm of gnats? We managed to get
through all right without it someway. It's
a good deal like pullin a tooth; you think
beforehand you can't bear it, but it comes,
and afterwards, when the pains forgot,
you wonder how you could have worried
about such little thing. You've been run
ming politics pretty strong, Jabe. Now 1
never could see anything in politics. You
don't get returns on your investment 1t
always seemed to me a good deal like SOW
in wheat and reapin ragweed, or goin
to all the trouble of primin' a pump and no
water in the WE'LL Yes, know you was one
of the leaders. Pshaw, 1t don't take much
to be a leader; all you got to do is to watch
which way the crowd is headin' and run
around and get in front-not too far-and
holler. 1 reckon many a leader has been
drug clean across the field by holdin' on
to the tail of public sentiment.
About the first thing that holding office
does is to whet a mans appetite for more.
One nibble at public crib spoils the taste
for private corn. It's a good deal similar
to haulin' a heavy sled up a long hill for
a short ride down the other side Then
another thing; in politics you're perpetually
tryin for something better and actin as
if you already had it. It's the Twin up
to things you expect to get that ruins a
man. Its the mortgagin' of next years
crop to buy this years seed. And I've fig
gered out that's what you've been doin'
ever since you got elected judge.
Don't / know? Amt / been township
trustee, and didn't they want me to run for
commissioner? Nary commissionership for
me. boys says L; 81 believe I'll go back to
the plow; it pays better Well they run
Abe Harlow, and then he comes out for
county treasurer and puts a loan on his
farm to get the second term, which he
doesn't get He's out in Oklahomy now
startin' over again, and 1 own his place,
or, rather, Ezra does. He's got me most
paid for it.
"Jabe, amt blamin' you any. It's the
fault of the town and the greed of man.
There's too much shown and crowdin
There, now. look over in the yard. Allies
goin' to feed the chickens. There is plenty
of stuff for all. but you'll observe that most
of them-all of the sensible ones-win stick
to the pile A few of them will grab a big
piece of something and run, and few 9TH
ers will chase, and they'll both run till their
tongues nanS out. ABOUT that time of
those stay-at-home fellows that's already
had his share. and, perhaps, more out of
the general supply, will just walk up sorter
cool-like and snatch it away from both
them. Now notice-didn't ] tell you so?
That's greed; that's politics.
Look here, Jabe,' the man broke off,
suddenly, with a catch in his voice, and,
leaning forward, peered into his brothers
face. whats made you come out here
like some lightningrod peddler or patent
right man and try to get the best Of me?
Whyn't you jump out and slap me on the
back and say: Hi, I'm little close run
and want some money. I'll pay you soon
as cam
Eyes, I know what kept you from it
pride. Well. pride is all right in its place,
but a stiff neck and empty stomach is
poor company for each other. and the way
to get anything is TO ask for 1t and keep
on askin' till you get it. You married in a
proud family, too. They pride themselves
on their blue blood. Well, there's two things
can't abide-blue blood and blue milk.
They're both mighty thin TO country rela-