Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-08-23
C- F-1A ANssVSSsorns-A
CHAPTER XIII.
.HAT afternoon the merchant
was calmer; his step was light
and his eye shone with subtle
$~f,

triumph.
Il reckon you ort to be sorter chip
per-" Jim Kenner remarked as he sat
looking at him in mild wonder. you've
made a fortune out O. that deal. Have
you figured on 1t yitT'
"Some," Hillyer smiled.
"That means NE an Hanks amt
a-goin' to be let into the secret" Ken
ner laughed. lib, amt me an you
pretty fools to set around here takin'
in a few nickels an dimes when them
two is jerkin' in Doodle from every
pint O. the compass? AS fur as I'm
concerned, I'm a salaried man an got
no Wall street aims. but ef I was a
hardened speculator like you I'd crawl
in hole"
Hanks stood up over the stove and
then moved to Georges desk and lean
ed on It.
Listen, everybody; Lbs goin' to
speak," said Kenner, with grin.
The room was quiet. Outside the
compress was groaning. There was
negroes beat out the iron ties and ad-
justed the iron buckles. Hanks leaned
closer to George. He had way OF
making brief disclosures to Buckley
that he made to no one else. II he
had heard a word that had passed in
the office no one could have told II
from his manner. George" he said
In his drawling tone, 81 don't exactly
like the way Bob is throwin' away
money advertisin' In the newspaper.
That sort O. pace will ruin any man
alive"
"Did you everv' exclaimed kenner.
"What on earth has Bob an his ad-
vertisin' got to do with certain mem
bers O. this gang maxim a sudden
fortune? BY gad, ef Lib was standin'
at the gates O. paradise an he seed
an acquaintance O. his on the way In,
he'd ak i'm to stop an give i'm chaw
O. tobacco"
Hanks face did not alter; his eyelids
did not flicker. He was waiting for
George to reply. But Buckley was
quietly laughing over his ledger.
81 was lookin' over his books this
mornin'," said Hanks, oblivious even to
Georges merriment. Hes paid that
trifin' galoet that runs the County Re-
porter $22 in the last month fer that
half page ad. that comes out once
week. It'll ruin anybody on the face
O. the EARTH"
Look here, Lib" and Kenner rose
and touched Hanks on the arm; "yo're
as green as q gourd vine when 1t comes
to some things. Now, jest to show
you that Bob's got brains, an got 'em
from his mammy's side O the house,
I'll tell you this: Six wagons o prod
uce an cotton come here last Sat'day
from beyond the Tennessee line. l got
the cotton, an Bob got the produce an
loaded the wagons with groceries fer
enough profit to pay fer his advertisin'
fer a year, l reckon. I'm always anx-
ious to learn, eff do live In the back
woods, an l axed the head man o the
gang how in the thunder he happened
to come 80 fer, an he told me, he did,
that some old woman up thar tuck the
Reporter an was always a-talkin
about Hanks cheap prices-nine pounds
o. green coffee fer dollar an the like
an that they all got headed this way
on that account. Now, I'm goin' to
let out some'n' that you may not want
to hear, but maybe it will soak through
yore hide an do you some good. The
feller said wharever he'd meet any
body on the road an mention the
Hanks store they I'D hold up Their
hands in holy horror an say: Hanks,
the man that sells meat at 20 cents a
pound on a credit an drives pore folks
out O. house an home to git It? No,
stree, excuse me, please! The feller
said he'd always tell 'em it wasn't that
Hanks, but another one that had q
conscience an believed In future tor
ment. La, me- the feller said, 'yore
town will have to spend lot fer print
ers' ink fore it gifts over the black eye
that fust Hanks give it,"
"Bob's talkin' some about addin' on
dry goods" Hanks went on to George
in his even tone, without the slightest
change Of face II reckon it won't be
q bad idea. He misses lots o trade
by not bein' able to fit folks up all
round. But he's got to 80 slow; he's
too headstrong. He don't know 1t all
yit by jugful."
"He ort to set around here an hear
you talk, Lib" Kenner laughed. "Tve
Parnt sight by listenin' to yore
harangues. But you cayn't rarn that
boy a thing about maxim money an
turnin' it quick. He could give you
pointers In his sleep. Tricky? Geewhili-
kins, l lowed l was some pumpkins
in that line when started out. but Bob
beats the Jews. Talkin' about Jews.
the boys uptown say feller looked IN
at Bobs shebang t'other day an start
ed out. Thought this was the Jew
store he said. I promised my OLD
woman to 60 thar the next time l come
In town. OATS vat 1t Is, mein frient"
said Bob as quick as flash. :Mr.
Eppstein has jhust gondt oudt. Vat
can do for you? An he whirled In an
sold the feller big bill. jabberin' all
the time like drove O. geese"
Then Kenner walked out to the COM
press and Hillyer went uptown to mail
some letters. Hanks took brown
paper parcel from his desk and opened
It. 1t was FIVE or six hard tack crack.
ers and some slices Of cheese; he was