Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-12

among the elect, on his way to be bap- tized, with my overcoat on. 1t was a solemn oc'asion. but I was mad. I stopped Ali an axed i'm whar he got the coat Narse Fred Dinslow soP 1t to me, suh,' he said. How much did you pay i'm fer it? I axed i'm. Five dollars, suh, said Ali; he tried to git six, but I didn't have it. At another time, Fred-but I 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 a grate- full tone, "and I'm not going to forget 1t either.''
 "PshawY Buckley said, it was ex- actly what I needed to set my blood in circulation. I 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
 H'Say, Bob,'' he said 'scome sit down here' The old man indicated chair near his desk. The young man obeyed wonderingly
 .:Bob,'' began the merchant, II be-, lieve I'm yore friend an that have | yore intrust at heart
 "Well, I've always thought you treat ed me decently, MT. Hillyer. was just telling George out there in the car that could work like a steam engine for man like you. MT. Hillyer, l may look like pretty tough specimen, but I'll give you my word that I ain sick and tired of living like I am. That's Gods truth"
 "What sort O work do-you think you would like, Bobg' Hillyer could not suppress the round note of sympathy that dominated his voice
 Tt may seem very silly to you," Bob declared slowly, "but am just as sure that could run business for myself as am that I'm sitting here talking to you. To make clean breast of it flor I know you will understand my | fix-I was on trade with A. c. Sand 1 ford, up the street, for his grocery l store Sandford's wife has got Indian 1 blood in her an she's entitled to land 1 in the territory. He wants to move | out there and quit here. I've looked in l to his books an his trade, an he's got l a good thing-a thing that could be l built up till it would pay big. He's l got old fogy ways an hasn't kept up l to date, an believe money can be made in this town according to late l methods. Well, when I heard he was ! thinking of selling out I, had talk \ r +N1I h Svr1 ' haG l 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 l to get away, and we even took stock. I It invoiced about $2,OO0, an he doesn't owe cent in market, but somehow my father got wind of it, an, Lord, the row he raised over iti He made me l go out in the yard an cut wood all that l morning, an he went down to Sand l ford and said so much against me that l Sandford backed clean out. 7 Hfllyer stared for a moment at l George, who was listening, and then l he looked at Bob. '.Are you twenty one?' he asked.
 tI was last July, MT. Hiliyer.'' 'Then you are yore own boss?"
 q reckon am, as far as age goes, :" said Bob, with good natured smile, "but my credit doesn't seem to amount to much"
 "Bob''-Hillyer was not looking at him-''you must not lose that chance. 1 It's a good one, and believe you can run the business. I believe it's in you. You are interested in it, an that's the l chief thing"
 Thank you, MT. Hillyer. I like to hear you say that, but I don't much blame father. haven't been living just like he wanted me to, and have thought seriously of getting away from this town. It's pretty hard to do the right thing surrounded by gang like I've been ina crowd that thinks it be- meath fellow to work"
 '"They wouldn't laugh at you if you were the proprietor O that grocery" ]" said Hillyer. Look here, Bob; I've
 got lot O money lent out on sight
 wuss security than yore word, an eff you'll give me yore note fer two thou