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

| YOU q cock an Dull STORY like lQat,
| broke in Hanks, his salloW face work
ing visihly, "an' you swallowed it, like
| the sucker you are
- had 10 reason to doubt it, retort
ed Bob. with 4 flash. "But I found
out afterward that it was all true.
know tobacco drummer from up thai
way. He gets all my trade in that line
Ne an him are pretty friendly, an
lonfded in him. He told me he knew
all about the family and substantiatee
everything Dora May had said an
added a lots more about investments
of hers that she didn't even know
about"
"But why were you in such hur
ry?', asked Kenner, who seemed to be
the only one in the group capable Of
ready expression.
"Well," Bob hesitated, and a franb
flush spread over his face, there are
some boys in this town that would
run after q rich girl, and Dora May
would have been entirely too popular
to do her any good. Oh, you needn'1
worry about me an her! tell you we
know what we are doing. She's bust
ness from head to foot an knows car
manage her affairs all right. There
amt bit Of harm in fellow marry
ing money If he loves his wife and has
the ability to make some himself.
believe I'm g born money maker.
reckon I got it from father. I believe
If he'd "a had a fair chance and moi
been afraid he'd "a been the richest
man n this state He married poor
woman and had no start, and yet he's
done well-that is, pretty wcll-for his
chances"
EFF be ever is about to starve you
n1ought give i'm a job collectin' Dora
Mays rent" said kenner, who was
bubbling ever with enjoyment.
Then silence fell They were all
waiting for Hanks to speak, but he
had nothing to say. He rose and went
outdoors, his scrawny hands in the
| pCcHelS OF his -IfOuSeiS.
1.-The Lord only knows what he'll
do," said Bob. But the die is cast, an
I feel sorter Independent of him. Look
here, Mr.. Kenner," turning back from
the door, 'you must get the idea out
of your head that did this thing just
because Dora May was we'll fixed. !
| tell you she's just what I was looking
for. She's pretty, not bit lazy and
thinks that what I don't know amt
| worth learning. She's been so much
interested lately in my business that
she wasn't studying good at school any
way. She's give me a great many
| pointers, tell you. She helped me
write all them ads. that folks said was
so good, especially them with the poetry
in 'em. I'm bad speller, and she COT
rected all Of 'em before they was print
ed"
ssDid you eyerT Kenner said when
Bob had gone. "I'll swear don't know
whether to kick or congratulate i'm"
AS George was going home to din
ner he saw old Hanks leaning on the
fence Of a vacant lot waiting for him.
George paused. "That ground I'D make
good turnips,'' said Hanks, splitting
over the fence. 'I believe I'll make
Trotter an offer for it. could pasture
my COW On it in the spring."
George said nothing. He knew the
old man had waited for him to speak
Of Bob's marriage.
event up thar to see Mrs. Styles"
Hanks nodded in the direction Of the
schoolhouse.
"Oh, you dd?''
eyes. Found 'er with 'er head all
tied up in rags an smellin' like drug
store. At fust she kept up sech a
screechin' she wouldn't let me say q
word, but she euieted down after
awhile, an me n her sorter come to
understandin'."
"An understanding? That's good -
said George.
eyes. We both sorter come to the
conclusion that if she'd write to that
guarGeen that Bob was an only child
an could naturally expect something
at my demise that, maybe, he woC-c
not raise row."
"Tben the girl really is rich" said
George.
The old man spat over the fence
again. He avoided Georges glance.
4Yes, she's pretty well heeleo," he
said, 'an' not a fool by a lorg shot.
She was up at Mrs. Styles this morn
in, the old lady said, with long dress
on. She talked pretty straisht-didn't t
intend to have nobody meddlin' with
her affairs-ef anybody had anything
to say agin Bob Hanks to send 'em to
her, an so on Blamed eft [ hain't
sorter curis to see 'er: Somehow l al
ways wanted a gal in the family, an
one With plenty O scads is about as
acceptable as any othe; sort-safer in
the long run"
when Mrs. Hillyer was told at the
dinner table that day Of the outcome OF
Bob's marriage, she said: well, l
don't know as Bob Hanks is sech q
hard case after all. The highest in the
land is a-doin' jest what he done-mar-
ryin' with the'r eyes open. The only
difference is Bob don't make no bones
over it. He admits he's struck q good
thing an has too much business pride
to underrate his investment"
Nevertheless, Martha" said Hlllyer
over his poised coffee cup, "rd little
rather see Bob make more over the
girl than he does.''
"Oh, I don't know why the boy
should 90 about fore that gang down
thar with his feelin's on exhibition, an
even eff it's jest cut an dried business
deal on his part it will end a sigh
better, bound you, than g lots O slob-
BERN lcve affairs that run dry a montl
after the knots tried. But I don't
somehow think Bob an his gal will
end up bad. Thars sunny, cheerful
way O. lookin' out fer yourself, an
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