Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-10-23

t5SeSS da to get the cool air before
LseSSSJ retiring. There was only one
light burning in the house, and that
was the little smoky lamp in the kitch-
en-, where the cook was washing the
dishes. Bishop sat near his wife, his
coat of and vest unbuttoned, his chair
tilted back against the weatherboard-
Ing. Abner Daniel, who had been try
Ing ever since supper to cheer them up
In regard to their financial misfortune
sat smoking in his favorite chair near
the banisters, on top of which he now
and then placed his stockinged feet.
"You needn't talk that away, Broth
er Alb" sighed Mrs. Bishop. "Yo're
Jest dom it out O. goodness O. heart.
We might as well face the truth.
We've got to step down from the posi-
ton we now hold, an present way O.
livin'. An thar's Adele. Pore child!
She said in Ter last letter that she'd
cry 'er eyes out. She was bent on
comm home, but 'er Uncle William
won't let 'er. He said she'd not do any
good"
"An' she wouldn't" put in Bishop
gruftly. 'The sight O. you an Alan be-
fore me all the time is enough to show
me what fool I've been"
"You are both crossin' bridges fore
you git to 'em," said Abner. "a lots o.
folks has come out'n scrapes wuss'n
what you are in, ten to one. l amt
never mentioned 1t, but my land hain't
got no mortgage on it, an could raise
few scads to hep keep up yore in
trust an taxes till you could see yore
way ahead"
"Huh! snorted his brother-in-law.
do you reckon I'd let as old man
MS you are, an no blood kin, stake his
little all to help me out of hole that
is gittin' deeper an wider all the time
hole 1 deliberately got myself into?
We'll, not muchw
II wouldn't listen to that nuther,"
declared Mrs. Bishop, "but not many
men would offer it."
They heard a horse trotting down
the road, and all bent their heads to
listen. cts Alan" said Abner. 81 was
| thinkin' it was time he was shown
up.'
Mrs. Bishop rose YEARLY to order the
cook to get his supper ready, and re-
| turned to the yeranda just as Alan was
coming from the stable. He sat down
on the steps. flashing the legs of his
| dusty trousers with his riding whip.
1t was plain that he had something
Of Importance to say, and they all
waited in impatient silence.
Father" he said, "Tve had talk
with Rayburn Miller about your land.
He and have lately been working on
a little idea of mine. You know there
are people who will lend money on real
estate. How would it suit you to bor-
row $4,000 on that land, giving that
alone as security?"
There was q startled silence, and
Bishop broke it in tone of great irri-
tation.
do you take me fer plumb fool?"
he asked. when want you an Mil
Ter to dabble in my business, I'll call
on you. Twenty-Five thousand, 1 say!
If l could exchange every acre of it
fer enough to lift the mortgage on this
farm an keep roof over our heads,
I'd do it gladly. Pshaww
There was another silence, and then
Alan began to explain.
While he talked Mrs. Bishop sat like
a figure cut from stone, and Bishop
leaned forward, his elbows on his
knees, his big face in his hands. It
was as if tornado Of hope had blown
over him, shaking him through and
through.
You been dom this to hep me out"
he gasped, "an' never SO much as
axed yore opinion one way or another"
I'D rather see you make money out
OF that purchase than anything in the
world" said his son, with feeling.