The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-07-30


Eyes. you old scamp. Get me
match or I'll shoot the top of your
head Off"
"All right, sub; all right, Marse Ray
burn
''You ought to know him." said Mil
Ter, with smile as the negro hurried
into the adjoining Office His wife
cooks for Colonel Barclay. He might
tell you if Miss Dolly's going tonight
but l know she is. Frank Hillhouse
checked her name off the list, and 1
heard him say she'd accepted. By the
way, that fellow will do to watch. l
think he and the colonel are pretty
thick"
Twill you never let up on that?'
Alan asked, with a flush.
II don't know that l SHALL" laughed
Rayburn. ut seems so funny to see
you in love, or, rather, to see you think
you are.''
II have never said 1 was" said Alan
sharply.
''But you show it so blamed plain.''
said Miller.
Here it's, Marse Rayburn. Marse
Trabue said you could have a whole
box eff you'd put up wild sulphur ones"
Miller took the matches from the out
stretched hand and tossed a cigar to
Alan. "Say, Uncle Ned" he asked,
DO you know that gentleman" indi-
eating Alan with a nod of his head.
A quizzical look dawned in the old
negro's eyes, and then he gave a re-
sounding guffaw and shook all over.
Il reckon I know his boss, A1arse
Rayburn," he Uttered.
THAT'S good one on YOU. Alan"
laughed Miller. "He knows your 'hoss.'
LII have to spring that on you when I
see you two together''
AS the negro left the office Mr.. Ira
bue leaned in the doorway, holding his
battered silk hat in his hand and mop
ping his perspiring face
He nodded to Alan and said to Mil
Ter, do you want to write?''
Not any more for you, thanks" said
Miller. II have the backache now
from those dispositions I made out for
! you yesterday"
"Oh, l don't mean that" the old
| lawyer assured him, "but I had to
borrow yore ink just now, an, SEEM
you at yore desk, thought you might
| need it,
"Oh, if 1 d." TESTED Miller, II can
buy another bottle at the bookstore.
They pay me commission on the ink
furnish the row. They let me have it
cheap by the case. What stumps me
is that you looked in to see if needed
| it. You are breaking the rule, Mr.
Irabue They generally make me hunt
for my office furniture when I need it.
They've borrowed everything I have
| except my iron safe. Their ignorance
of the combination, it's weight and
their confirmed laziness are all that
| saved it,
When the old lawyer had gone, the
two friends sat and smoked in silence
| for several minutes. Alan was study
ing Miller's face. Something told him
| that the news of his fathers disaster
had reached him and that Miller was
| going to speak of it. He was not mis-
taken, for the lawyer soon preached
IAS SUUJSCL.
''1've been intending to ride out to
see you almost every day this week."
he said, "but business has always pre-
vented my leaving town.
'"Then you have heard''-
| Eyes. Alan, I'm sorry, but it's all
over the country. A mans bad luck
spreads as fast as good war news. l
| heard it the next day after your ia
| Their returned from Atlanta, and saw
| the whole thing in a fash. The truth
is, Perkins had the cheek to try his
| scheme on ne. I'm the first target of
| every scoundrel who has something to
sell, and I've learned many of their
| tricks. l didn't listen to all he had to
say, but got rid of him as soon as
could. You must not blame the old
man. AS see it now, it was a most
plausible scheme, and the shame of it
is that no one can be handled for it.
Your father will have to grin and bear
it. He really didn't pay a fabulous
price for the land, and if he were in a
condition to hold on to it for, say,
twenty-five years he might not lose
A4OASS. Dul WHO call 40 InaI SORT or
thing? l have acres and acres of
mountain land offered me at much
lower figure, but what little money
I've made has been made by turning
my capital rapidly. Have you seen
Dolly since it happened?"
mo; not for two weeks" replied
Alan. IL went to church with her
Sunday before last and have not seen
her since. was wondering if she had
heard about it,
"Oh, yes; she's heard it from the colo
mel. 1t may surprise you. but the
thing has rubbed him the wrong way"
"Why, don't understand" exclaimed
Alan. HAS he''-
1.-The old man has had about 1000
acres Of land over near your fathers
purchases, and it seems that he was
closely watching all your fathers deals
and, in spite Of his judgment to the
contrary. Mr.. Bishops confidence in
that sort of real estate has made him