Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-09-24

"Do you recon I'd let as old a man
as you are an no blood kin, stake his
| little all to help me out of hole that
| is g1ttin' deeper an wider all the time
hole deliberately got myself into7
| Well, not much"
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. "It's Alan" said Abner. IL was
thinkin' 1t was time he was showin'
up"
Mrs. Bishop rose YEARLY to order the
cook to get his supper ready. and re.
turned to the veranda just as Alan was
coming from the stable. He sat down
on the steps, lashing 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. eve had q talk
/ with Rayburn Miller about your land.
He and I have lately been working on
O 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 a startled silence, and
Bishop broke it in a tone Of great irri.
tation.
do you take me fer a plumb foolf"
he asked. when | want YOU an Nil.
Ter TO dabble in my business. I'll call
on you. twenty-five thousand, | saw,
If I could exchange every acre Of il
fer enough to lift the mortgage on this
farm an keep roof over our heads.
I'd do it gladly. Pshaw"
There was another silence and then
Alan began TO explain.
While he talked Mrs. Bishop sat like
q figure cut from stone. and Bishop
leaned forward, his elbows on his
knees, his big face in his hands 1t
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, IAN | never so much a
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.
people have made fun of you IN your
old age, but if we can build the road
and you can get your hundred thou
sand dollars some of these folks will
laugh on the other side of their faces"
Bishop was so full Of excitement and
emotion that he dared not trust his
voice to uttcrance. lie leaned back
against the wall and closed his eyes.
pretending to he calm. though his alert
wife saw that he was quivering in ev.
cry limb
"Oh, Alan" she cried. don't you SEE
how excited your pa is? You ought
not to raise his hopes this way on such
an uncertainty AS Mr.. Miller said,
there Nay be some slip, and we'd be
right back where we was and feel
wuss than ever"
Bishop rose from his chair and be
gan to walk to and fro on the veranda.
1T amt possible" they heard him say
Ing. II won't git out as easy as that
Jest caynt"
perhaps it would be wrong to ex-
pect too much" said Alan. but | was
obliged to tell you what We are going
in town for tomorrow.
Bishop wheeled and paused before
them EFF Wilson puts up the money,
I'd have enough to lift the mortgage
an clean 100000 besides to put in
some good investment"
Aunt Maria. the Colored cook, came
out and timidly announced that Alan's
supper was on the table. but no one
heard her. She crossed the veranda
and touched the young man on the
shoulder
"Suppers rady, Marse Alan" she
said. Zen its gittin' col ergin."
He rose and followed her into tho
dining room and sat dcwn In his &C.
customed place at the long table.
When he had eaten he went back TO
the group on the veranda.
II think III go up to bed" he told
them. My ride and running around
at barley have made me very tired.
Father. get all your papers together
and let's take an early start in the
morning"
TO BE CONTINUED.