The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-01-20

ing aroun' like an aggravatin' fly.
What's eatin' you, Joel?"
Il want a gallon of your best oil"
said Joal; whats it worth today?"
Fifteen cents" answered Daniel.
crowded with patrons. Lets have
your can"
It's only IA cents at the White
Front" protested Joel, holding his
can obstinately behind him.
Fifteen here to regular customers
replied Daniel, meaningly.
Joel sighed. well, then, give me a
gallon, an dimes worth of eatin'
tobaccer, an a pound O Caroliny
prunes, an put it on the book"
"Californy prunes," amended Daniel.
'Caroliny," insisted Joel. Il reck-
on know what want. How are you
Mater"
Amt WE'LL" said Nathan crisply.
Rheumatic"
Nathan nodded his head, willing to
admit what was not altogether true
for the sake of discouraging converse
ton.
Miss Wickerson allows that rheum-
atiX is only another name for laziness.
i amt just prepared to agree with her
an yet never heered of it keepin' a
man from anything but work. Don't
operate agin' goin' fishin' does it,
heigh?" He chuckled his audience in
the side and leered knowingly.
MOI no n
alton that approached too closely to
the truth, and Joel, being notorious for
just such observations, there was moth
ing to do but retreat in as good order
as possible, so he got on his feet and
strolled carelessly toward the door,
you can look at that cow any time,
Daniel" he called back, over his shout
der
"Wait moment, I'll go right now.
Where's Dave?"
Playing dominoes for the cigars UP
to Andy Wiggins's," volunteered
Johnny Henly in his cheerful treble. Il
see him"
"Pick We out a handful of candy,
commanded Daniel magnanimously,
IAN run an tell him | want him-hus-
tie now!"
Dave soon appeared at the back door
and having busted his shoes, parted
his hair becomingly and adjusted his
necktie, took his place behind the coun-
ter and assumed an attitude of care
full attention to business Dave was
considered very stylish, wore broad
shouldered clothes and high collars,
a B fiat cornet in the Millville Band.
AS such he had quite following
among the boys and was also much
admired by the fair sex. A number OF
the girls would walk several squares
out of their way after school to pass
Freeman's store because Dave Marcus
was sure to be out in front about that
time, leaning gracefully against the
awning post, swapping "reminiscences
with Elmer Jordan, who had but lately
returned from Manila, and who still
affected a military carriage, wore his
leggins and army hat, and smoked
with his cigarette dropping ralishly
from his lips.
"Come along, Nathan said Daniel,
threading his way between Uncle Billy
Harlow and the cannon stove. We'll
go out and look at the COW. Did you
say you wanted a cheese sandwich?
Here it is.
Jimmy Henly picked up a crumb Of
cheese from the floor, wiped it on his
sleeve, and ate it. Uncle Billy Harlow
got up on his chair to reach for the
Millville Weekly Clarion, and in do
ing so stumbled over his dog, who
was always afraid he was about to be
left behind Rebecca Poulson came in
to buy a pattern from Dave Marcus.
and in the general excitement Joel
Wickerson managed to abstract cou-
pie of dill pickles and a handful OF
crackers, and to make triumphant
exit with them and his groceries.
Lets go up the mill race" suggest
ed Daniel
Z 1t was not far to walk. lust across
the railroad bridge down the steep
side of the grade, through forest Of
Spanish needles, between the sagging
wires of a fence and then you struck
a well beaten path that ran along the
bank of the race to the mill. Two sy-
camore trees, as spotted as leopards,
locked arms and leaned together far
ont over the listless current, and some
one had rugged up a board between the
trunks which made a very good seat
and a capital place for the hayward
small boys to smoke cigars and play
cards. Nathan picked up a stick and
nnened his knife with a click. Daniel
re-lit his cigar, tipped the match in.
tn the water and settled his back lux
uriously against the tree.
1t was hazy day in mid-autumn.
THE first frost had come and gone and