The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-01-27
CHAPTER x co~rr,rsn

yer, flushing little.
There was silence for a moment, then
Hanks said. ''Well, you'll see whar yore
moneys gone eff you'll keep a watch
out"
It'll be gone clean to the Indian Ter
ritory as soon as Sandford's packed up
his Effects
Hanks grunsed again. You never d
"a done it eff you hadn't lowed I'd
make it good. but I'll tell you now
you'll rever git a cent ON that drafted
note from me-"
81 never expect to-" said HiIlyer.
smiling agreeably.
"Oh, that'll do to talk" answered
Hanks You think, though, that I'd
never stand by an see body lose by
a child o. mine: but this is different.
was fetchin' up that boy accordin' to
my lights, an you come in an inter
fered."
HE told me he was twenty ont"
said Hillyer. still amused, land l saw
q chance to lend i'm some money.
That's all there is to it,"
"Oh, well, you kin afford little loss
like that" retorted Hanks, IAN when
Bob's run through with the pile l kin
show everybody l was right in the
stand | tuck with i'm
AS it was a busy hour, nothing more
was said on the subject. a ragged
farmer in slouched hat came in to
talk to Hanks about mortgaging mule
and milk COW for his next years
supplies. and Hanks went out to see
the mule and hear a minute descrip-
ton OF the c5w-her age, weight, prog
eny and habits.
That afternoon, as George and the
merchant were closing the warehouse
to go to supper, Kenner came along on
the way to his boarding house. They
say old Lbs been hangin' round Bob's
store all day watchin' i'm like a hawk"
he informed them, with laugh. He
cayn't hide his interest AS soon as
Bub nd make sale the old man I'D
run up to the cash drawer an count
the change an ask the cost Of the
article. He's neglectin' his own mat
tiers. I'll swear it's funny. Ef he's
talked with one man today he has with
forty about Bobs venture He wanted
to find out what folks thinks, an he's
literally astonished to find so many
believe Bob knows what he's a-doin'.
81 seed i'm a-standin' In Bob's door
watchin' Bob an Heneker Brothers
biddin' agin one another to buy load
o. mountain chickens. spoke to Lib.
but he jest kept chawin' his tobacco,
so much absorbed he didn't hear me.
Then we seed the Teller start to drive
up to Bobs door, an old Lib clapped
his hands together an said: BY gum!
Bob got 'emr But he sorter cooled
down when the chickens was unloaded
an he heard Bob had bid 10 cents
apiece all round. He grabbed Bob as
he was passin' an said, Say. don't
you think you went too steep on that
Toadg- Bob was purity red, anyway.
from lifting at the cOops--he was SO
anxious to get 'em in his shebang-an'
he got redder. but he pulled the side
o. his face down an looked to see that
the Teller couldn't hear. an said: 81.
I've got ,em already sold in Atlanta at
20 cents apiece. an that galoot's goin'
to take his pay in coffee at IS cents 4
pound-coffee that cost 10 in New Or
leans. You see whar | come in, don't
your
"'You better go it sorter slow at the
start Lib said. but he was simply
tickled to death. III swear it was fun
to watch I'M! He'd rather see that
boy learn Low to handle money than
fer i'm to be elected governor o. this
state"
Old Hanks seldom left his home after
supper, but that evening he dropped
in at Hillys finding the merchant
and his wife before a cheerful fire in |
the sitting room. He came in awk- |
wardly, but his self possession was a
thing he always had with him. Ken !
ner had once said that Hanks could sell I
scrap iron in pigeon tailed coat and |
white vest and never realize the odd |
ity of his appearance. His brogan |
shoes were united. as if he had started ,
to go to bed and changed his mind.
ST see Bob's got that store to goin."
he said dryiy. I've been sorter watch |
IN i'm today. hardly know what to |
make of in
Hillyer looked knowingly at his smil |
Ing wife and replied:
$50 he's got opened up. has hep?
"Opened up? l reckon he has; tuck
In ninety odd dollars today, an the |
Lord only knows what profit he'll av-
erage. l don't reckon Bob does, from
what l observed, though he amt losin'
20 fur"
"Oh. he'll hold Sandford's trade"
said Hiilyer. You kin count on that"
"well. I reckon he win," said Mrs
Hnlyer. i've changed my account to
him from Waters & Co. An whJ
shouldn't 1? Do you reckon I'm not
goin' TO encourage rail enterprise?
Jest the minute he told me he was
a-goin' to run a free delivery wagon
10 take orders an deliver goods twice
/ day put my name down. The idea
D them old fogies waitin' for young
Bob Hanks to start free delivery!
why, the minute l told Mrs Dugan
II