Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-08-19
CHAPTER XII.
,0ENNER was at the cotton COM
press the next morning watch
ing the gang Of negro hands

N ENNER was at the cotton com
k press the next morning watch.
IN ing the gang Of negro hands
S compress and load several cars
of cotton to be shipped to New England
This big piece of machinery and the ex'
tensive sheds and platform surrounding
it belonged to Hillyer and stood direct
ly across the railroad tracks behind the
warehouse. When bale Of cotton was
compressed there was loud escape
ment Of steam and clatter Of rough
shod feet as the negroes FASTENED to
bind and buckle the iron ties and truck
the bale into the open car.
'Look out thar, you trifin' scamp
Kenner yelled to negro who stood too
near the descending press for safety.
who'd pay damages on that bale ef
It got stained through and through by
havin' you mashed on It? Jake, II
seems to me you get a green hand on
every pressin' day."
II top dat fool niger to look out.
Marse Kenner." replied Jake. who. with
pared arms and neck and wet with per-
spiration, was bossing the others. "Ef
he git smashed ter jelly reckon he'll
be more careful next time"
Just then old Hanks came out Of the
rear door Of the warehouse and lazily
picked his way across the cinder strewn
tracks. He did not 60 round to the
steps, but climbed on to the platform
like schoolboy.
Jake, gi' me match" he called out
as he fshed a cigar from his Eocket
and bit the end Of 1t.
.Matchw snarled Kenner. "Ef that
coon handled matches around this plat
form I'd bust his skull"
"Well, l reckon I'll not smoke any
way" said Hanks, and he seated him.
self on q bale of cotton and took q
small piece Of tobacco from the pocket
of his vest and began to chew 1t. Say.
Jim," he went on, what do you think
about the way Hillyer Is actin about
wheat? Is he plumb losin' his mind?'
81 was Jest a-studyin' about that my
SELF" replied Kenner. ITS quar- to
me-"
Il reckon you don't feel like you are
exactly a Solomon" smiled Hanks,
with the market at SLAP, after all the
row you made about him payin' S1.Oo.'
Not exactly" and Kenner burst into
a harsh but hearty laugh. That's
whar I was wrong, I'll admit 1t, but
most O. what l said was jest to keep
George from maxim a mistake. 1t don't
do a young feller any good to start out
with record for bad judgment. But
what's got me is Hillyer's quar- excite
ment all along. Why, he Is as nervous
as he can be. 1t don't look like he'd
be that away with all that profit on bis
side. An then, whenever thar'd be a
rise an anybody advised i'm to SELL
he'd always turn to George and ak I'm
what about it-never knowed i'm that
way before - an whatever George
would say went. But the old man Is
ratified bad this mornin'."
"You say he is?"
"Yes; I was in the office just now
when he got the reports. Two brokers
wired that the top notch price was
S1.42 and that nobody colld predict
whether she'd advance or decline. The
old man was as white as sheet as he
handed the kilograms to George an
watched bis face. That boy Is simply
wonderful. He's as cool as cucumber
In a barrel O. frozen vinegar. Hes
read every newspaper bearin' on wheat
all over the country an knows the
thing from a to lizard. He's on to
every grain that's exported, every
fiourin' mill that's shut down on &C
count Of the rise-in fact, every detail
concernin' wheat in America an every
whar else. acknowledge ! was ex
cited just now watchin' the two
George didn't change countenance one
bit; be Jest sorter laughed an said
well, thars one thing certain. Mr.. Hill
yer. this strain ain't a-doin' you any
good, an, as fur as I'm concerned,
reckon we'd better try to unload"
aGood Lord, he said that. did heW
"You bet, an the old man got whittier
an more excited eff anything. Re
member, it is Jest with you, George,
he said. Tell me positive, would yol
sell Fight now Il It was Fore deal?
George hung bis head minute an
then he said: Yes, Mr.. Hillyer. since
you leave it to me; I've hung on jest
as long as I'm willin' to. 1t may
climb to $1.5O or even higher, but
don't want to resk it. Then the ole
man shot around the Office like dos
after it's tail, wirin' fer cash offers.
never seed the like. / tell you, ole
man, thar's some'n at the bottom o
thIs:"'
:@:Whar' are they now?" asked Hanks
::Theyy; T. wasn't in the office when
come through"
::Both Of 'em struck of uptown fel
the telegraph Office lickity split. They
was too anxious to wait fer messear
ger boy to bring the reports: Ha. thai
comes George now, long by Bob:
store-see imam Eight behind In
is the old man. Did you ever see Hill
yer walk like that? Let's 90 over t
the office an meet EN-"
Kenner and Hanks stood under thu
awning in front Of the warehouse
when George and the merchant ar
Fived. They all went into the of1e'
together:
@You. think Jacobs + Co. are th'
best to deal with, thenI" the old maj
-,os eorip1 90 porly s.T ord nv bow