Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-10-01

'Xactly risht about It"
Tho young men exchanged alarmed
dances.
"Yo1 don't understand" said Miller
Imcly. but he seemed to he unprpparcd
or yiews so heretical to financial deal
ings, and could not finish what he had
started TO say.
Why" said Alan testify. "the land
is wol h 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 thr best tmbcrcd properties and
getting good titles to it. and to a big
lumber company a 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"
"Wcll," sighed Mrs Bishop. I'm
shore | never had no idea we'd resort
to gittin' Pole Baker to tote anybody
around like a hog after a yeer o corn.
l lowed We was goin' to make a open
and shut trade that we could he proud
of an stop folks mouths about Al
fred's foolish deain'S. But'-she look
ed at Abncr. who stood in the door
way leading to the consultation room
I'll do whatever Brother Alb thinks
is right. | never knowcd i'm to take
undue advantage of anybody"
They all looked at Abner, who was
smiling broadly.
"Woll, say git his money" he re-
piled, with a short, impulsive laugh
''git his money. and then ef you find
he's starvn', hand i'm back what You
feel you don't need. | look on a thing
like this sorter like did on scrambln'
fer the upper holt in wArtmes. | re-
nlemb,r | shot straight at a Teller that
was climbin up the enemys breast
works on his all tours. | said to my
SET, 'Ef this ball strikes you right, old
chap, fore you drap over the bank,
yOre one less aCin the Confederacy;
Of it don't. YOU kin pop away at me-
don't think | give i'm anything but a
flesh wound in the back, beca'se he
jest sagged down little an crawied
on, an that's about the wust you could
do fer Wilson. believe he ort to hold
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 its high
u,
plasters from slidin' under our noses.
it ortn't to kick agn 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"
ooh, mothers all right" said Alan,
'and so is father, but they must not
chip in with that sort of talk before
Wilson"
"Oh, no. you mustn't" said Miller.
"In fact, think you'd better let me
and Alan do the talking. You see. il
you sit perfectly quiet he'll think you
are reluctant about giving such big
security for such a small amount of
money, and he will trade faster"
ooh, I'm perfectly willin' to keep
quiet" agreed the old man, who now
seemed better satisfied.
Pole Baker left the office with long,
ri,
trance to the Johnston House through
long corridor opening on the street
and into this Pole slouchcd. The hotel
off1ce was empty save for the clerk
who stood behind the counter looking
over the letters in the pigconholcd key
rack on the wall. There was n bic
gong overhead which was rung by pull
Ing meals and calling the porter. 4
big china bowl on the counter was filled
with wooden toothpcks. and there was
a showcase containing cigars. Pole
glanced about cautiously without be-
ing noticed by the clerk and then with
drew into the corridor where he stood
for several minutes listening. Present
ly the dining room door opened. and
Wilson strolled out and walked up tc
the counter.
"What sort Of cigars have you got 2
he said to the clerk.
"Nothing better than 10 three for Z
quarter" was the respectful reply n.
the clerk recognized the man who hat
asked for the best room in the house
Wilson thrust his fingers into his YES
,, I can make what I have last me-" he
said, transferring his glance to Pole
Baker, who had shAmbled across the
room and 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"
II didn't fetch EN- in today" said
Pole dryly. 81 never do till I know
what they are a-bringin'. You'd bet
ter make bid on a dozen Of em any
way. They are the finest ever raised
on Upper Holly creek. jest this side o
whar old man Bishops lumber para
disc begins"
Pole was looking out Of the corner of
his eye at the stranger and saw his
hand which was in the act of striking
match, suddenly stay itself
I'VE don't bid on produce till we
see it," said the clerk.
well | rackon M harm was donp nv