Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-16
"The wust / ever seed, squire. Oh

WV
what he was about, bat he's reg lar
rippin' terror. He come In here,
reckon, about an hour ago an tuck a
couple o. drinks an then set down
over thar at the little table. l lowed
he was asleep, he was SO quiet, an 1
reckon every body else did, fer Bascom
Truitt from over in the mountains
come in an begun to talk about old
man Buckley's sentence. He hadn't
said word that was wrong, but
George heard 1t an riz suddenly an
come up to him. 'Yo're a-sayin' that
to insult me- he said. right in TRUTHS
face. AS big as Truitt is you could
but he told George as straight as he
could that he never knowed he was
thar an dent mean no harm nohow
but, sir, George hauled away an hit
I'm in the jaw. 1t popped IKE the re
port Of pistol, an Truitt mighty nigh
went down. We parted 'em without
any trouble. In fact, Truitt thinks the
world an all Of i'm. George did I'm u
favor a long time back, an instead o.
gittin' mad about It Truitt is worryin
over ofYendin' the boy. He would have
apologized to i'm, but we all persuad-
ed I'm to wait till George was at his
SELF"
The merchant took long, trembling
breath.
Il wish, Hillhouse," he said, that
YOU wouldn't let I'm have any more
liquor IL you Yin git around It,"
"Git around itY' laughed the bar
keeper. III you'll show me mixer O.
drinks In this county that would re-
fuse that felier when he's OF I'd like
to sec i'm. It would cost i'm bis life.
He's one man, squire, that ortn't to
fetch drap. an between you an me
l don't think anything but this scrape
Of his daddy's would have started I'm.
George Buckley is the high strung sort
that makes either the finest citizens ur
the scum o creation"
II reckon yo're right" agreed Hillyer.
and, turning, he went down to the
warehouse, which was in the next
block below. He found the front door
ajar and saw q Hight burning IN his
clerks room in the rear. Entering
and softly treading over the rough
floor, which was strewn with chaff and
grain and the metal ties OF cotton
bales, Hil1yer stood IN the doorway Of
the young mans room. In cloud of
cigar smoke George Buckley sat near
little table, without his coat, his col
lar off and his powerful neck showing
through his open shirt. He gaared up
at his employer and then rose to his
feet and looked straight at him.
George" the old man began in q
voice that quivered through excessive
embarrassment, II was troubled so
much about you that couldn't sleep.
SO got up an come down. seed
yore light an couldn't keep from COM
in In"
81 don't see that you need bother
about me- was Buckeyes surprising
retort. "I'm no blood kin Of yours,
Mr.. Hillyer."
George, I'm as good friend to you
as know how to be, an Jest want
way under the sun that kin help you
I'll do It,"
Then let's me n you come to an
understanding" said Buckley. II don't
know exactly how to size you up. I've
been thinking about you ali this even
ing, and II don't understand You bet
ter than have done for several years
you aud win part. You can keep the
money I've made and saved up, and
II could Do 1t I'd throw the education
you gave me In your face. My intelh-
gence has been inanlted You have
done all these things for me under the
pretense Of lore, but It was not that.
Now let's understand each other"
IIi,iyer turned AZ white as death
could have made him. His eyes sank
to the floor, aud. with hating step. he
went to the young mans bed across
the room and sat down on the edge
OF 1t.
'You do me a great wrong, George"
he faltesed. III you knowed my
heart
"weil, that's all I'm asking. I want
TO know what It all means. l tell you
I'm no fool. It's not whisky in me
talking either, for I've puzzled over It
for years. an now that this thing has
happened-an' don't care whether
stay in your town anyway-I'm goin'
to be told the truth. What did you
give me my education for. and this
start in the world? Why, as look
at you gazing at me now It seems to
me you are the very personification Of
the fate that has Knocked me ever since
/ was old enough to know was alive.
Curse 1t, what's the matter with you!
Can't you talkY' /.
Hillyer rose to his feet I'm goin'
to leave you, George" he said. ITO
morrow well talk this over. You are
In no condition to-
Taking swift. steady stride for
ward, the young man laid his hands on
the merchants shoulders and forced
him back to his seat on the bed. NO"
10 t.~. 'H~'+ 'nNvo here tonight
~H ~