The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-11-30

from the country he'll stick a clause
in my private papers that'll keep you
an that schoolgirl from beneftin' by
my death.
"Oh. I knew all this would come >
Bob said in regretful tone to George
who was eying him in slow wonder
"but l hain't the fool I look, George
Make Jake so out O the Office, an III
tell you folks all about it,
The negro did not have to be inform
ed that he was not wanted, and with
a sly laugh. half Of apology, he hur,
ried out into the warehouse.
You could be big enough fool fer
any use an not be as big a one as you
look" said old Hanks. with sneer.
"Look y here. young man." demand
ed Kenner, didn't you tell me t'othe1
day that you was goin' to let up or
that racket"
~ remember tellin' you wasn't go
in to steal the girl out fer any more
buggy rides" said Bob, with q smile
''There will be no need of that in the
future. hope"
so that's what you meant?' laughed
Kenner.
Eyes; that's what meant
Bob drew one Of the high revolving
stools up near the stove and got up on
it, his heels resting on one Of the rungs
His new broadcloth trousers glistened
in the light from the window.
81 see I'll have to tell you all about
it from tie first" be began in q strange
IL confident tone II don't ask any
body any odds, an wouldn't bother to
explain to r}ost folks, but III acknowl-
edge want you fellows down here to
think we'll Of me. for you are all busi-
ness n,en and I'm business man
That you are" snarled Hanks.
every pore house an asylum in Amer
lea"
Now. you keep quiet if you want me
to tell about this thing" said Bob. 81
an 4 business man. I KNOW how to
make money. Everything I've put my
Land to since I got start has turned
Out 4 fair profit, If couldn't make
money faster than you, father. I'd take
ir my sign. You've alwa::s been afraid
OF big deals. Co slow has been your
motto. en- it's hunting you to your
grave. Now, this is the way the whole
blamed thing come up. I'm old enough
70 marry, and that girl
"Cld enough the devil.: broke in
Hanks. ''You look like you are with
that fuzz on yore lip
~ reckon q man ought to be his own
Judge as to whether he is old enough
for step O that kind" Bob said, with
sudden dignity. ut begun this way.
There was three sophomores at Mrs.
Styles school and they all seemed bent
on seeing which one could make me
like 'en the most. They was all pretty
enough an sharp enough. an reckon
il was just human nature for me to
carry on with 'em little. don't know
as I liked one better than another at
first. 1t was just the fun Of seeing
'en1 wrangle" Bob laughed out impul-
sively. They pretended to be as thick
as molasses in the winter, but they hat
ed one another like snakes. Then they
got to telling les On each other. I
knew they were lies because I caught
Up with 'en. Finally saw that Dora
May
do you mean Mrs. Hanks?" asked
Kenner, with mock solemnity.
Eyes, my wife," replied Bob. GAS I
say, I finally saw she was just the
girl I was looking for, and l made up
my mind to get married and be done
with it. Thinking about her and try
Ing to see her took up too much time.
I told her my folks would object to it,
but she advised me to so ahead. She's
as independent US hog on ice. an she
can afford to be-" Bob paused for a
moment. tvirlirg his fingers between
his knees. and then be went on: Il
reckon I'll have to tell you all some
thing. I don't know as I'd tell it now,
but father is raisin' such row over
my marryin' that it puts me in a bad
light and hurts my business My credit
won't be worth shucks if it gets out
that my daddy has gone clean back
on me-that is. until they know about
my wife's connections. The truth is,
Dora Mays got plenty Of money"
Money! echoed Kenner and Hillyer
in breath.
''rhat's what said" answered Bob
calmly.
"Then you married her fer that"
said Kcnncr sternly.
"No, I didn't" replied Bob. ''The
truth is, I liked her before knew
about it. She suits me tiptop. and I
can't help it If she is we'll Off. She's
what would be called big rich in this
part Of the country. Her father left
her several blocks Of business houses
in Louisville The rent on one batch
alone is something over FIVE thousand
year and vii! ell come 70 hcr when
she's of age. Ter gaarG%S didn't