Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-08-12
was plain he had more to say in spite
of the pressure of business.

ed to make a good show to keep from
lookin' beat. Among the young men
in this place thar was some Of US that
Jest naturally would work, an pile
Of 'em that didn't seem to know how,
an us that knowed how seemed tokeep
up the rest, fer they was eternally
a-borrowin' our cash an never dream
in O. replacin' it. I remember thar
was one young feller, Fred Dinslow,
that kept my pocket change down to
low ebb. 1t went on SO long that I
got to prayin' over 1t, an finally got
the courage to put my foot down. I
kept tellin' i'm l didn't have 1t. He
knowed 1 did, an so did I, but I could
tell i'm that better'n anything else,
beca'se he hated to dispute my word,
as bad as / hated to refuse i'm my
wages. Me n him was a-roomin' to-
gether, an one day a niger, ALT
Hardin, begun to banter me to sell i'm
a light overcoat I was about through
with, an I laid it out fer i'm. Well,
Fred noticed it a-lyin' out on the table,
an axed me what was a-goin' to do
with it. l told i'm I was a-goin' to
sell it to ALI Hardin. Me n Fred was
a-lyin' smokin' on the bed, an he got
up all at once an put the coat on an
stood lookin' at hisse'f in the bureau
glass. He'd turn fust one way an
then another. like woman dressin' fer
a picnic, an then he said: 1T fits me
like a glove, Jim. How much is Alf
goin' to give you fer It? Five dollars
said |. Fred screwed about at the
glass a minute longer, an then he
said, 'Dern eff l don't give you five
fer it; it's jest what I want Well,
thar was, q born southern gentleman
an a room mate was AKIN to be pre-
ferred over niger, an not a clink
nur sight O. coin anywhars around.
WELL says l, after one O my silent
prayers fer fresh light, I'll let you
have 1t, Fred, but I'm needin' the
money right now. I'm needin' 1t fer
a particular purpose, that's the reason
I'm sellin' the coat. I'm needin' 1t
powerful bad Oh said he, as he
tuck off the coat an put 1t in his
trunk. I'll git the money fer you. I'm
expectin' some next Monday know
ed then that was done. an done
brown, but didn't know my crust
was burnt to q cinder. The next day
was Sunday, an a niger baptizin'
day, an in the black procession headed
fer Mill Greek seed Alf Hardin
among the elect. on his way to be bap-
tized, with my overcoat on. 1t was a
solemn OCCASION, but I was mad. l
stopped Alf an aXed i'm whar he
got the coat.-Marse- Fred -Btnslow
sol it to me, suh.' he said. How much
did you pay i'm fer tt! l axed i'm.
Five dollars, suh,' said Alf; he tried
to git six. but didn't have It, At
another time. Fred-but l see that cot
ton wagon out in front. an I've got
to git move on me-"
Hillyer 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 CRATE
full tone. land I'm not going to forget
it either"
"Pshaw" Buckley said, ut 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 his 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 his desk. The young man obeyed
wonderingly.
"Bob," began the merchant, Il be-
ieve Pm yore friend an that I have
vore intrust at heart"
"Well. I've always thought you treat
ed ME decently, Mr.. Hillyer. l was
Just telling George out there In the car
that could work like a steam engine
for man like you. Mr.. Hillyer, l
may look like pretty tough specimen,
but I'll give you my word that l am
sick and tired Of living like l am.
That's Gods truth"
What sort O. work do you think you
would like, BobT Hillyer could not
suppress the round note of sympathy
that dominated his voice.
ut may seem very silly to you," Bob
declared slowly, "but am just as sure
that l could run business for myself
as I am that I'm sitting here talking
to you. To make clean breast of 1t
for know you will understand my
fx-I was on 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 land
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 got
a good thing-a thing that could be
built up till 1t would pay big. He's
got old fogy ways an hasn't kept up
to date, an I believe money can be
made in this town according to late
methods. Well, when heard he was
thinking of selling out 1 had a talk
with him. l 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.
It invoiced about $1,000, an he 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
90 ont In the ward nm, cllt wood all that