Mower County transcript., 1904-09-07

The merchant gave MIN q steady
look. mo, cayn't say anything has
happened anything, at least, like you
mean-but my thoughts have happen
ed, George. Fer about hour after
you left me out in the woods I was
Jest too happy fer anything, but after
awhile got to thinkin'. got to Won
derin' what was so happy about, any
way, an the thought come to me like
a lick from q club in the dark that it
was jest beca'se lowed I was goin'
to escape the consequences o. my deed
without undoin' it. George, cayn't
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. give back that
boys life, an he had as much right to
it as have to the content I'm prayin'
fer right now. Huh! What, difference
does it make toto the dead how much
good Hank Williams an other folks
believe I'm a-doin'? How do know
Lynn Hambright hadn't ruther be
alive than fer me to be doin' any
thing?' -.
Buckley found himself unable to
make any reply adequate to the sftua-
ton. Different thoughts suggested
themselves, but be discarded, them one
by one. Something made him think
that the Odd man would like to be
alone, and be took his hat and went
out. As he did SO Kenner came into
the Office with some samples OF cotton
in his hands and threw them into q
huge pile that lay like snowdrift in
one corner Of the room.
1--WE jest dropped on to some'n'
don't exactly like" he said, standing
behind the merchant.
Hillyer looked up indifferently.
Its about George" said Kenner.
You say 1t isl" Hillyer frightened
visibly. what about him.?
The cotton buyer sat on the corner
Of Hlllyers desk and swung one Of bis
slim legs to and fro. George Buck
ley stands all right in the society O. this
town." he said. '*but the boys at sort
O turnin' point, Mr.. Hillyer. Joe Drake
an some more young men is organ
1zin' a club. It's Major Cranston's
idea, an the majors contributed $25
to help 'em ft up the room. The list
O. charter members was lynn ON the
show case at brakes drug store,
an I looked at it. Georges name
wasn't on it. I'm sure it was Jest a.
oversight, but don't exactly like the
idea O. havin' George left out O. any
thing jest right now Some busybodies
mought make capital out Of it. DO you
see what l meanr'
Hillyer understood, and he nodded
knowingly as he rose to his feet The
cloud had left his face.
'You stay here, Jim," he said. I'm
goin' uptown an look at that list"
He found Joe Drake busting the bot
ties on his Shelves and be turned to him
respectfully.
Anything can do for you, Mr.. Hill-
yer?'' he asked.
T. The old man smiled genially. "1've
got crow to pick with you boys" he
said, ''fer not calm on me fer a dona-
ton to that club you are a-gtt1n' up
among you. I'm interested in boys
Il used to be one-an' 1 want to see
'em have all the fun they kin gtt."
'Well, we certainly will take all you
want to give us, Mr.. Hillyer," the
young man laughed. 1.-The fact is, we
haven't called on a soul. Major Gran
ston"-~' ..~--
= "Well, you can put me down fer a
hundred" said Hillyer, as he took up
the list Of names on the show case and
ran his eye over them.
my Lord! You don't mean that, do
you, squire?" s9t'asas sas<assss aa1ssss.-.~~
Eyes, do. Why, you have left
Georges name off, as shores preachin'w
The druggist flushed as he took the
sheet and glanced at it with a waver-
ing eye. Then he managed to bring
out: '"The truth is, squire, some of
the boys thought perhaps George might
not care to join anything of this kind
now. You see, he hasn't seemed to want
to 60 out much since-slnce the old
man was arrested, and"-
Hillyer put his hand on brakes
shoulder and smiled. "Thats just why
I want him in this at the start" he
said. '"Then he kin go whenever he
wants to. You put his name down;
I'll be responsible. Put me down fer the
hundred, too, an, eff that amt enough
you know whar do business
Call right, Mr.. Hillyer," responded
the young man, land we are very much
obliged to you"
"Huh," said the merchant to himself
as he turned down the street with a
lighter step, "a feller's got to keep his
eye peeled these days. Eff this hadn't
been fixed it mought "a hurt Georges
feelin's. Kenner's the right sort. He'll
joke an carry on, but body kin
count on i'm ever t1me."