Mower County transcript., 1904-09-14

said I. Fred screwed about al the
glass q minute longer, an then he
said = 'Dern ef II don't give you five
fer It; it's jest what 1 want Well,
thar was, born southern gentleman
an room mate was AKIN to be pre-
ferfed over q nigger, an not clink
nur sight q coin anywhars around.
Well says I, after one O. my silent
prayers fer fresh light, TIL let you
have It, Fred, but I'm needin' the
money right now, I'm needin' It fer
a particular purpose, that's the reason
I'm .sellin' the coat I'm needin' it
powerful bad Oh said he, as be
tuck OF the coat an put it in his
trunk. IN git the money fer you. I'm
expecun' some next Monday I know
ed then that was done, an done
brown, but didn't know my crust
was burnt to cdnder. The next day
was Sunday, an nigeer baptizln'
day, an in the black procession headed
fer Mill Greek seed ALI Hardin
among the elect, On his way to be bap-
tized, with my oVeFooat on. It was q
solemn OCCASION, but was mad. I
stopped All an axed i'm whar he
got the coat. MaFse Fred Ddnslow
sol 1t to me, suh,' be said. How much
did you pay I'm fer 1tr 1 axed i'm.
Five dollars, suh,' said All; he tried
to git six, but didn't have It, At
another time, Fred-but see that cot
ton wagon out in front, an I've got
to git q move ON me-"
Hi1lyer was alone In the Office when
Bob Hanks and George came in, flushed
and hot, their task finished
'You are the right kind. George" the
old man heard Bob saying, in a CRATE
full tone, land rm not going to forget
It either"
"Pshawr' Buckley said. 1T was ex-
actly what needed to set my blood in
circulation. get the cramp sitting on
that STOOL"
Bob went to the wash pan in the cor
ner OF the room and cleansed hts hands
Of the brine and salt. Hillyer called
him when he had finished.
Say, Bob" he said, ''come sit down
here" The Old man indicated chair
near hts desk. The young man obeyed
wun<1a4n91y.
"Bob," began the merchant, II be.
heve I'm Fore friend an that I have
yure intrust at heart"
''WeH, I've always thought you treat.
ed me deoent1y, Mr.. Hnlyer. I was
just telling George out there In the car
that could work like a steam engine
for man like you. Mr.. Hfllyer, ]
may look like pretty tough specimen
but I'll give you my word that am
sick and tired of living like 1 am
That's Gods TRUTH"
'What sort O. work do you think you
would like, Bob? Hillyer could not
suppress the round note of: sympathy
that dominated his voice.
ut may seem very silly to you," Bot
declared slowly, ''but am just as sure
that could run business for myself
as am that I'm sitting here talking
to you. To make clean breast of il
for I know you will understand my
fx-I was on a trade with A. G. Sand
ford, up the street, for his grocery
store. Sandford's wife has got Indian
blood in her an she's entitled to hand
in the territory. He wants to move
out there and quit here. I've looked in
to his books an his trade, an he's go,
good thing-a thing that could be
built up till It would pay big. He's
got old fogy ways an hasn't kept uI
to date, an I believe money can be
made in this town according to ate
methods. Well. when I heard he was
thinking of selling out I had a tall
with him. I told him had no money
but If he'd sell the stock to me ON time
I'd pay him. Well that pleased him
and his wife, too, for they are anxious
to get away, and we even took stock
1t 1nvotced about $1,000, an be doesn't
owe cent in market, but somehow my
father got wind of It, an, Lord, the
row he raised over it! He made me
go out in the yard an cut wood all that
morning, an he went down to Sand
ford and said so much against me that
Sandford backed clean OUT
Hillyer stared for a moment a.
George, who was listening, and the1
he looked at Bob. "Are you twenty
one|' he asked.
II was last July, Mr.. Hillyer."
"Then you are yore own boss?'
II reckon am, as far as age goes
said Bob, with a good natured smile
"but my credit doesn't seem to amount
to much"
''Bob"-Hillyer was not looking al
him-"you must not lose that chance
It's a good one, and I believe you car
run the business. I believe it's in you
You are interested in it, an that's the
chief thing
''Thank you, Mr.. Hillyer. I like tc
hear you say that, but I don't much
blame father. I haven't been living
just like he wanted me to, and have
thought seriously of getting away from
this town. It's pretty hard to do the
right thing surrounded by a gang like
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