News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-09-23

You don't understand" said Miller
lamely, but he seemed to be unprepared
for views so heretical to financial deal
ings, and could not finish what he had
started to say.
"Why." said Alan testify, "the land
is worth all Wilson can make out of it
with the aid Of his capital and the rail
road he proposes to lay here. Father,
you have spent several years looking
up the best timbered properties and
getting good titles to it, and TO a big
lumber company body of timber like
you hold is no small thing. We don't
want to cheat him. but we do want to
keep him from trying to cheat us by
getting the upper hand. Rayburn
thinks if he finds out we are hard up
he'll try to squeeze us to the lowest
notch"
"Weil" sighed Mrs. Bishop, I'm
shore l never had no idea we'd resort
to gittin' Pole Baker to tote anybody
around like hog after yeer o corn.
lowed we was goin to make open
and shut trade that we could be proud
of an stop folks mouths about Al
fred's foolish dealins. But'-she look
ed at Abner, who stood in the door
way leading to the consultation room
"Pll do whatever Brother Alb thinks
is right. / never knowed i'm to take
undue advantage of anybody"
They all looked at Abner. who was
smiling broadly.
"Well, l say git his money" he re-
piled, with short, impulsive laugh
''git his money. and then, eff you find
he's starvin' hand i'm back what you
feel you don't need. | look on thing
like this sOrter like | did on scramblin'
fer the upper holt in wartimes. | re
member l shot straight at a fellor that
was climbin' up the enemy's breast
works on his all tours. | said to my
self, EFF this ball strikes you right, old
chap, fore you drap over the bank,
yo're one less agin the Confederacy;
eff it don't, you kin pop away at me-
l don't think give i'm anything but a
flesh wound in the back, beca'se he
Jest sagged down little an craWled
on, an that's about the wust you could
the bag awhile. Alf's hung on to it till
his fingers ache an he's weak at the
knees. | never did feel like thar was
any harm in passin' counterfeit bill
that some other chap passed on me.
Eff the government, with all it's high
paid help, cayn't keep crooked shin
plasters from slidin' under our noses,
it ortn't to kick agin our lookin out
fer ourselves"
"You needn't lose any sleep about
the Southern Land and Timber COM
pany. Mrs. Bishop" said Miller. ''They
will take care Of themselves. In fact,
We'll have to keep our eyes peeled to
watch them even if we get this loan.
Wilson didn't come up here for his
health"
"Oh, mothers all right, said Alan,
sand so is father, but they must not
chip in with that sort of talk before
Wilson"
"Ch, no. you mustn't" said Miller.
"In fact, think you'd better let me
and Alan do the talking. You see if I
you sit perfectly quiet he'll think you
are reluctant about giving such big
security for such Il small amount of
money, and he will trade faster"
"Oh, I'm perfectly willin' to keep
quiet" agreed the old man, who now
seemed better satisfied
Pole Baker left the office with long,
swinging strides. There was an en-
trance to the Johnston House through
long corridor opening on the street,
and into this Pole slouched. The hotel
office was empty save for the clerk,
who stood behind the counter looking
over the letters in the pigeonholed key
rack on the wall There was Il big
gong overhead which was rung by pull
ing a cord 1t was used for announc-
ing meals and calling the porter A
big china bowl on the counter was filed
with wooden toGthpicts and there was
a showcase containing cigars. Pole
glanced about cautiously without be-
fng noticed by the clerk and then with,
drew into the corridor. where he stood
for several minutes listening Present
fy the dining room door opened. and
Wilson strolled out and walked up to
the counter.
'What sort of cigars have you got?"
he said to the clerk.
Nothing better than 10 three for a
quarter" was the respectful reply as
the clerk recognized the man who had
asked for the best room in the house.
Wilson thrust his fingers into his vest
pocket and drew out a cigar. 81 guess
I can make what have last me-" he
SAID, transferring his glance to Pole
Baker, who had shambled across the
room ard leaned heavily over the open
register. Want to buy any CHICKENS
fine fryin' size?" he asked the clerk.
well we are in the Market" was
the answer. where are they"
81 didn't fetch 'em in today" said
Pole dryly. II never do till l know
what they are a-bringin'. You'd bet
ter make a bid on a dozen of 'em any
way. They are the finest ever raised
ii