The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-10-05

year afterwards.
Hillyer turned round in his chair and
smiled. His face had L healthier glow
and his eye 4 deeper twinkle than
usual. To look at him one would moi
have suspected that he had passed
through storm the night before tha'
had almost shaken his soul out Of his
body
..I've always thought you'd insist on
your rights" he said to kenner. can
the truth is it's the only way to gel
on in business"
well" answered the cotton. buyer,
sI had to hold folks down, Mr.. Hill.
yer. was a green hand, but reckon
I ripened purity quick. Thar was q
young storekeeper next door to me,
Joe Gibbs. as sharp as q brler. He
could multiply four figures by four
figures in his head an give you the
answer in 4 minute. He used to tell
me who would do to credit an who
wouldn't, an I always relied on his
judgment.
But. Lord. cayn't set here telln'
yarns all day I'm goin' to handle a
sight O cotton fore sundown: it's roll
in in like circus parade
The days business had really begun.
Mountain men came in with samples
of their cotton or grain. Bascom
Truitt had al armful Of the snowy
staple. "Thar's /; whole gang O. ten
wagons from beyant the Tennessee
line" he said to kenner. 'They want
to know what's yore best figure"
Kenner pulled the wads apart at the
window and answered:
'Seven-eighths is the best I kin do,
Bas. # they take my offer git 'em
to drive it up to the side door. I've
rented space fer 500 bales here.
I hope they amt water packed or got
any dead niggers slowed away in 'em.
S!arery's over. an we never did buy
'em by the pound nohow."
Truitt smiled.
They'll let you have it" he said.
ssThey want to tank up an go back
home
He was turning away when Hanks
detained him. "Thar's several in that
gang that owe me fer supplies" he
said, pulling out his bunch Of notes.
''Bas, tell 'em I'm prepared to cash
the'r checks
cali right, Mr.. Hanks" said the long
mountaineer. ''Isll tell EN-
Kenner went out to receive the cot
ton, and Hillyer followed to indicate
the space Kenner was to use. This
left George Buckley and the note shay
er alone together. George was writing
when Hanks stood up and leaned on
the desk near to him. He cleared his
throat and chewed his cigar for a mo-
ment. then he said awkwardly:
II hain't much Of Q hand to talk, but
I've been wantin' to say some'n' to you
ever since yore pa got in his trouble,
but somehow I couldn't sit tQ it. I Jest
feel like tellin' you that I'm yore friend,
an eff it had been in my power I'd "a
helped you out O. all that ness
''I thank you, Mr.. Hanks" George
returned, with flush Of gratitude.
Pm glad to know you felt that way
The old man coughed and stroked his
beard with his scrawny hand. I've
been watchin' yore progress, George,
ever since Hillyer tuck you up. l
reckon I was more interested IN it on
account O. my bad luck with my own
boy. George, Bob hain't wueh his room
in hell, nur never will be-
George avoided the eye bearing down
on him when he answered:
"Of course can't dictate to you, Mr..
Hanks" be said cautiously, "but l
think you are wrong about Bob. l
think he will turn out all right when
he's a little older Hes in with the So
ciety set here and half Of them have
we'll to do parents, and the truth IS ne
doesn't know how to begin. think be
wants to, but
Hes always after me to put up the
money fer i'm to do business on
sneered Hanks. Now, wouldn't be
q daddratted idiot to put money IN his
hands when he hain't got enough
energy to keep wood cut to run our
fires at home? He's got to fust sho"
that he's got business capacity fore III
resk i'm. hes the biggest trouble
ever had, George, an when see wnat
{, man you've made O. yoresef on yore
chances it makes me mad enough TO
kick i'm. Oh, he's jest rotten. l hams
GOT no money fer i'm to dabble with,
but I'm here to tell you ct you need q
stake at any time all sou got to do is TO
call on me. IS 1 say, I've watched
you .
George flushed as he thanked the old
man again and assured him he was
not in need of money. kenner came IN
rubbing his hands. He was followed
BY Hillyer With a telegram in his
hands: he seemed excited as he spread
It open on Georges ledger. ''Tarbell q
Co. offer $1.O5 bushel fer our entire
lot O. wheat" he said. What's yore
Judgment, George is it sell or not
seli?"
"Td let 'cr slide like sled on a snow
mountain spoke up kenner. Good
ness knows thar's enough profit III 1t
at that. You bought the Charleston an
Atlanta lots under eighty
No one spoke for moment. Hanks
was paying only slight attention to the
conversation. He was seldom interest
ed in what did not personally concern
him.
"I Jest want yore judgment, George,
said Hillyer in the proud tone a man
might have in addressing successful
son. Buckley's eyes held the eager
look of the young speculator as they
met the old mans excited stare.
81 don't like to express myself, lie
answered finally. IF it were my money
would, but it is yours
sWell, yo're welcome TO fools ad-
vice." put in Kenner, deeply interested
.I've watched the market for twenty
odd year, an you'll hit the ceilin' in
Ia