The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-03-17

Hold on TO It," gTinned Abner; that
is. eff he kin rake an scrape enough TO
gether to pay the taxes. Why, last yeer
his taxes mighty nigh foored i'm, an
] the expenses ON this county he's jest
annexed viii push i'm like rips fer
now. you know, he'll have to do with
| out the income on his factory stock.
But he thinks he's got the right SOW
/ by the yeer. Before long he may yell
! out to us to come hep i'm turn 'er
loose, but he's waltzin' with Ter now"
At this juncture Mrs. Bishop came
out of the dining room wiping her eyes
on her apron.
Mother" said Alan tenderly, try
not to worry over this any more than
you can help"
Your pas gettin old an childish, +"
whimpered Mrs. Bishop. He's heerd
somebody say timber land up in. the
mountains will some day advance, an
he forgets that he's too old to get the
benefit of it. He's goin' to bankrupt
u.s.
EFF | do" the man accused thun-
dered from the hall as he strobe out.
it'll be my money that's lost-money
that made by hard work"
He stood before them, glaring over
his eyeglasses at his wife. "Ive had
enough of ore tongue, my lady. Eff
I'd not had so much to think about in
thar jest now, I'd "a shut you up soon
er. Dry up now-not another word.
I'm doin' the best l kin accordin' to
my lights to provide fer my children.
an l won't be interfered with"
No one spoke for a moment. How
ever, Mrs. Bishop finally retorted. as
her brother knew she would in her
own time.
Il don't call buyin' thousands o
acres O. unstable land providin' fer
anything except the porehouse," she
fumed.
That's becase you don't happen to
know as much about the business as
do" said Bishop, with satisfied
chuckle, which to the observing Dan
lei sounded very much like exultation.
When you all know what | know,
you'll be laughin on t'other sides o
yore mouths. reckon I'll jest have
to let you all know about this or |
won't have a speck o. peace from now
on. l didn't tell you at fust beca'se
nobody kin keep a secret as well as the
man it belongs to, an | was Altered it
nd leak out an damage my interests.
but this last 5000 acres jest about
sweeps all the best timber in the
whole Cohutta section, an | mought as
well let up. l reckon you all know
that ell say ef-my land was nigh a
railroad it nd be low at five times
what l paid fer it, don't you? Well,
then. the long an short of it is that
/ happen TO be on the inside an know
that railroad is goin' to be run from
Blue Lick Junction to barley. It'll |
be started inside of the next yeer an |
III run smack dab through my proper
ty. Thar now! You know more'n you
thought you did, don't you"
The little group stared into his glow
ing face incredulously.
"A railroad is to be built, fathers" .
exclaimed Alan.
That's what | said"
Mrs. Bishops eyes flashed with sud
den hope. and then, as if remembering
her husbands limitations, her face fell.
alfred" she asked skeptically
chow does it happen that you know
about the railroad before other folks
does?"
How do |? That's it now-how do
II" and the old man laughed freely.
'I've had my fun out O. this thing,
listenin to what every crank said
about me bein' cracked an so on, but
was jest a-lyin' low waitin' fer my
time"
well, I'll be switchedr' calculated
Abner Daniel, half seriously, half sar-
"Geewhilikins! A railroad!
I've always said one would pay like
rips an open up dern good, God
fersaken country. I'm glad you are
a-goin' to start one, Alfred"
Alan's face was filled with an eX
preston of blended doubt and pity for
his fathers credulity. Father" he
said gently, ARE you sure you got your
straightT
II got it from headquarters" The
I'D man raised himself on his toes and
Knocked his heels together, a habit he
lad not INDUCED in for many year.
1T was told to me contidentially by
nan who knows all about the whole
hing, a man who is in the employ o.
he company that's goin to build it."
"Huhl" The exclamation WAS Alb
Ter Daniels. do you mean that At
anita lawyer. Perkins,
Bishop stared. his mouth lost some
# its pleased firmness. and he ceased
he motion Of his feet.
What made you mention his name" >
lie asked curiously.
"Oh. dunno. Somehow | jest
bought O. him. He looks to me like
lie mought be buildin' a railroad ur
wo"
"NVell. that's the man mean" said
Bishop more uneasily.
Somehow the others were all looking