The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-01-06
bout Ike 4 chicken wItL
dom It's last dance. We

started out Ill admit was purity close.
LIB, You know my daddy sold little
farm o. his when was twenty an
set me up IN the retail grocery busi-
ness. He talked to me so much about
the deadbeats lynn In wait fer suckers
that suspicioned even the preacher
whar l attended meetln'. He got be-
/ hind in his account onca an hauled
I'm -uD an told I'm the reason wasn't
artendin' church more regllar was be
case he wasn't totin' fair. an that |
couldn't Kenner laughed impulsive-
ly-~glt any SPIRITUAL good listenin' to
a man an wonderin' eff I'd ever git my
money. He paid up an quit me: but
/ usun' care; my renglon1 Improved, an
when his term was out he went on
OWN brother Lampkin seyenty-two
| dollars an odd cents Lampkin re-
fused to hep the heathens fer four
year afterwards"
Hillyer turned round in his chair and
smiled. Ills face had healthier glow
and his eye deeper twinkle than
usual. To look at him one would not
have suspected that he had passed
through a storm the night before that
had almost shaken bis soul out of his
/ BODY.
"Tve always thought you'd insist on
your rights" be said to Eenner. "An'
the truth Is it's the only way to get
/ on IN business
! "Well,t answered the cotton buyer.
IsT had to hold folks down. Mr. Hill
yer. was q green hand, but reckon
| / ripened purity quick. Thar was
young storekeeper next door to me,
Joe Gibbs, as sharp as brier. He
could multiply four figures by four
figures In his head an give you the
answer in minute. he used to tell
| me who would do to credit an who
wouldn't, an ! always relied on bis
| Judgment.
"But, Lord, 1 cayn't set here tellin'
yarns all day. I'm goin' to handle
sight o. cotton fore shutdown; It's roll
in in like circus parade"
i The days business had really begun.
Mountain men came In with samples
| Of their cotton or grain. Bascom
Truitt had an armful Of the snowy
staple. "Thar's a 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:
"Eeven-eighths is the best I kin DO
: fsas. III they take my offer git ZEN
!, to drive 1t up to the side door. I've
J rented spece fer 500 bales here
I | I hope they amt water packed or go
j any dead niggers slowed away in 'em
i Slayery's over, an we never did buy
: 'em by the pound nohow."
a. Truitt smiled.
E they'll let you have it." he said
= "rhey want to tank up an go baci
i home"
!. He was turning away when HANK
d detained him. "Thar's several In tina
t gang that owe me fer supplies" h
a said. pulling out his bunch OF notes
s BIAS, tell 'em I'm prepared to casl
; Their checks"
e "All right, Mr.. Hanks" said the lonl
9 mountaineer. "I'll tell 'em."
,fl Kenner went out to receive the col
h ton. and Hillyer followed to indicat
n the space Kenner was to use. Thl
). left George Buckley and the note shay
) err alone together, George was writin
n when Hanks stood up and leaned q
j. the desk near to him. He cleared al
q throat and chewed his cigar for me
E lment. then he said awkwardiv'
10 II hafnT inucn Oh a manu- ~
i rye been wantin' to say some'n' to 70
,r ever since yore pa got in his trouble
,e but somehow couldn't git to 1t. jes
/. feel like tellin' you that I'm yore frient
10 an, ef it had been In my power Ia 4
d helped you out O. all that mess
t. II thank you, Mr.. Hanks" Geore
~ returned, with flush OF gratitud
y -rm glad to know you felt that way
n The old man coughed and stroked n
= heard with his scrawny hand. "Ty
m been watchin' yore progress. Georg
o. ever since Hillyer tuck you up.
"a reckon was more interested In 1t Q
"a account o. my bad luck with my ow
ii. hoy. George Bob hain't with his roo
ol | In hell, nuf aeyer will be-"
George avoided the eye bearing dow
he on him when he answered:
ve "Of course I can't dictate to you, NJ
II | Hanks he said cautiously. but
ma think you are wrong about Bob.
he think be will turn out all right VINE
he's a little older. He's in with the =
ia ciety set here md 'half<of them ha.
nd well to do pareGSs, and the truth iss.
doesn't know how to begin. think
ii. wants to, but. 49, !,
~ Hes always after me to put up q
'sr money fer I'm to do business on
~ fsneered Hunks. Now, wouldn't =
~ q. daddratted IDIOT to put money In !
~ - hands when he hain't-rgot enoui
-, ~ energy to keep wood cut to run o
=, fires at homer. He's got to rust sno
- that he's get business capacity fore
~ resk 'im. He's the biggest trouble
- ever had. George, an when | see wn
- n man you've made o. yoresef on yo
- chances 1t makes me mad enough
-. kick i'm. Oh. he's jest rotten! hal