Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-09-08

an what he has he got at the bottom
figure"
'If 1t ever turns his way" said
Alan. "But do you see any prospect
Of its ever doing SO, Mr.. Trabue7"
The lawyer shrugged his shoulders.
II never bet on another mans trick,
my boy, and never throw cold water
on the plans of Spectator. used
to when l was about your age, but
saw so many of 'em get rich by paying
no attention to me that quit right
off. A man ought to be allowed to use
his own judgment"
Old Bishop was evidently not hear
ing word Of this conversation, being
wholly absorbed in studying the de-
tails of the deed before him. II reckon
it's all right" he finally said. you
say the Tompkins children are all of
age?"
Eyes, Effle was the youngest" an
swered Trabue, "and she stepped over
the line last Tuesday. There's her
signature in black and white. The
deeds all right. don't draw up any
other sort"
Alan went to his father and leaned
over him. Father" lie said softly
and yet with firmness, II wish you'd
not act hastily in this deal. You ought
to consider mothers wishes, and she is
nearly distracted over it."
Bishop was angry. His massive,
clean shaven face was red. 'I'd like
to know what I'd consult her fer" he
said. "In matter O. this kind wom-
ans about as responsible as a suckin'
baby"
Trabue laughed heartily. "Well, 1
reckon it's good thing your wife
didn't hear that or she'd show you
whether she was responsible or not. l
couldn't have got the first word of
that off my tongue before my wife
would "a knocked me clean through
that wall"
Alfred Bishop seemed not to care for
/ leyity during business hours, for he
greeted this remark only with frown.
He scanned the paper again and said,
"Well, eff thar's any flaw in this l
reckon you'll make it right"
ooh, yes, I'll make any mistake of
mine good" returned Trabue. 1.-THE
papers all right"
| you see," said Alan to the lawyer,
mother and think father has al
ready more Of this sort of property
than he can carry, and
II wish you and yore mother d let
my business Alone" broke in Bishop,
firing up again. "Trabue heer knows
I've been worryin' i'm fer the last two
months to get the property in salable
shape. Do you reckon after he gets ii
that away want to listen to yore two
tongues a-waggin' in open opposition
to it?"
| Trabue rubbed his hands together.
at really don't make bit of differ
ence to me, Alan, one way or the
other he said Practically. I'm only
acting as attorney for the Tompkins
estate and get my fee whether there's
transfer or not. That's where stand
in the matter"
"But it's not whar stand in 1t, Mr..
Trabue," said firm voice in the door
way. 1t was Mrs. Bishop, her blue
eyes flashing, her face pale and rigid.
Il think I've got right-and big
one-to have say so in this kind of a
trade. A woman ats stayed by q
mans side fer thirty odd yeer an
raked an scraped to hep save little
/ handful O. property fer her two chill.
dren has got right to raise rumpus
when her husband goes crooked like
Alfred has an starts in to bankrupt
'em all jest fer blind notion O. his'n.'
"Oh, thar you arew said Bishop, lift.
ing his eyes from the paper and glar.
ing Mt her over his glasses. II knowed
I'd have to have Touchdown an
drag out fight with you fore signed
my name, SO sail in an git it over
Trabue's got to ride back to town."
"But whar in the name O. common
sense is the money to come from?" the
woman hurled at her husband as she
rested one Of her bony hands on the
edge Of the table and glared ut him
! "As l understand 1t, thar's about 5000
acres in this piece alone. an yo're
a-payin' a dollar acre. Whar's II
a-comin' from, I'd like to know? Whar's
it to come from?"
Bishop shifted and ran steady hanG
over his short, gray hair. you sc.
how little she knows O. my business
he said to the lawyer. "Heer She.
! raisin' the devil an Tom Walker abou
s the trade, an she don't so much al
| know whar the moneys to come FROM
"How was to know" retorted the
woman, when you've been tellin' me-
] fer the last six months that thai
wasn't enough in the bank to give the
house a coat o. fresh paint an patch
the barn roof"
'You knowed had $1,000 with o.
stock in the Shoal River cotton mills.
didn't your" Sa'led Bishop defiantly
and yet with the manner of q man
would fall lightly.
Eyes, knowed that, but The
woman's eyes were two small fires
burning hungrily for information be-
Eond their reach.
"Well, 1t happens that Shoal stock is
Jest the same OH the market as ready
money, up little today an down to-
fraction of cent on the dollar, an SO
the Tompkins heirs say they'd jest as
lieve have it, an as I'm itchin' to re.
lieve them of Their land it didn't take
us long to come together"
If he had struck the woman squarely
in the face, she could not have shown
more surprise. She became white tc
the lips and with low cry turned tc