Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-07-25
CHAPTER III.

"AO was successful wholesale mer-
chant in that city.
L believe I would" said Mrs. Bish-
op. maybe William will tell you what
to do"
I'D see Perkins fust," advised Abner
Daniel. EFF l felt shore Perkins had
bunkoed me, I'd steer cleer O. William.
I'd hate to heer i'm let out on that sub
1ect. He's made his pile by keepin' a
sharp lookout"
II hain't had no reason to think I
have been lied to-" said Bishop logged
~ as he poured his coffee into his
saucer and shook it about to cool. "A
body could hear his deathknell rung ev-
cry minute eff he'd jest listen to old
women an'"-
"Old bachelors" interpolated Abner.
II reckon they are alike. The longer q
man lives without woman the more
he gifts like one. l reckon that's beca'se
the man at lives with one don't see
nothin' with copyin' In 'er an vice-a-
versy."
Mrs. Bishop had never been an ap-
preciative listener to her brothers phi
losophy. She ignored what he had just
said and it's accompanying smile, which
was always Abner's subtle apology for
such observations.
4'Are you goin' to tell Adele about the
railroad" she asked.
II reckon won't tell 'er to git up a.
excursion over it fore the crossties is
laid" retorted Bishop sharply. and Alb
ner Daniel laughed, that sort of re-
spouse being in his own vein.
II was goin' to say" pursued the
softly treading wife, that wouldn't
mention it to 'er ef-ef-Mr. Perkins
amt to be relied on, beca'se she wor-
ries enough already about our pore way
O. liv1n' compared to her uncle's folks.
Eft she knowed how I spent last night,
she'd want to come back. But amt
a-goin' to let Brother Alb skeer me yet.
It is jest too awful to think about.
What on earth would we do? What
would we, I say?"
That afternoon Bishop was driven to
barley by negro boy who was to
bring the buggy back home. He first
repaired to barber shop. where he
was shaved, had his hair cut and his
shoes BACKED; then he went to the sta
tion half an hour before time and i'm
patiently walked up and down the
platform till the train arrived.
1t was 6 o'clock when he reached At
1anta and made his way through the
jostling crowd in the big passenger
depot out into the streets. He had his
choice Of going at once to the residence
Of his brother. on Peachtree street, the
most fashionable avenue Of the city,
Or looking up Perkins In his Office. He
decided to unburden his mind by at
once calling on the lawyer, whose Of
flee was in tall building quite near
at hand.
1t was the hour at which Perkins
usually left for home. but the old plant
er found him in.
"Oh, it's you, Mr.. Bishop" he said
suavely as he rose from his desk in
the dingy, disordered little room, with
Its single window. He pushed chair
forward ''Sit down; didn't know you
were in town; at your brothers, reck-
on. How are the crops up the road?
Too much rain last month. I'm afraid"
Bishop sank YEARLY into the chair.
He had tired himself out thinking over
what he would say to the man before
him and with the awful contemplation
of what the man might say to him.
"They are dom as well as can be ex-
pected," he made answer. But he
didn't approve of even that platitude,
for he was plain and outspoken and
hadn't come all that distance for a
mere exchange Of courtesies. Still, he
lacked the faculty to approach easily
the subject which had grown so heavy
within the last twenty-four hours and
of which he now almost stood in terror.
"Well, that's good" returned Per-
kins. He was swarthy man of fifty
five or sixty, rather tall and slender,
with bald head that sloped back
sharply from heavy. jutting brows, un-
der which pair of keen black eyes
Sl,one and shifted. "Come down to
see your daughter" he said; good
thing for her that you have brother
in town. BY the way, he's a fine type
Of man. He's making Roadway too.
His rladt. is stretching out in all direc-
lions; funny how different you tw"
arev' 49,, - ..-
Il lowed I'd see William fore
went back" said Bishop rather irrele-
vanity. Then, seeing that Perkins was
staring at him rather fixedly. he said
It was a verbal plunge: -
II bought some more timber land
yesterday!'
's'Oh, you did, That's good Per-
kins' eyes fluttered once or twice be-
fore his gaze .steadied itself on the face
of the man before him. We'll. as /
told you, Mr.. Bishop, that sort OF Il
thing is a good Investment l reckon
it's already climbing up little. amt
it?'''4 .s5 =. .;.s - % s:2
..Not much yet" It struck Bishop
that he had given the lawyer splen-
did opportunity to speak of the, chief
cause for an advance in value, and his
heart felt heavier as he finished. ''But
Il / took quite. a slice the last time
q Nllni I, orne, fOf tho old fiOl,ro Won lxnnU