The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-05-26

to Pole Bakers humble domicile. Pole
was In the front yard making fire OF
sticks, twigs and chips.
"What's that fer?" the old man ques
toned as he dismounted and hitched
his horse to the worm fence.
"To drive off mosquitoes" said Pole
wiping his eyes, which were red from
the effects of the smoke. 'I'll never
pass another night like the last un ef
kin hep it. l lowed my hide was
thick, but they bored fer oil all over
me from dark till sun-up. never we
tried smoke, but Hank Watts says it's
ahead o. pennyr'yal."
"Shucksr' grunted the planter. "You
amt workin' it right. A few rags
burnin' in pan nigh yore bed may
drive 'em out, but a smoke out heer in
the yard IL jest drive 'em in"
"Whatp said Pole in high disgust.
"Do you expect me to sleep sech hot
weather as this is with fire nigh my
bed? The durn things may eat me
raw, but I'll be blamed eff / barbecue
myself to please EN-"
Mrs. Baker appeared in the cabin
door holding two of the youngest chill
dren by their hands. "He won't take
my advice, Mr.. Bishop" she said. II
Jest rub q little lamp oil on my face an
hands, an they don't fetch me-"
Pole grunted and looked with laugh
Ing eyes at the old man.
: "She axed me t'other night why I'd
quit kissin' 'er," he said. AN told
'er didn't keer any more fer kerosene
than the mosquitoes did"
Mrs. Baker laughed pleasantly as
she brought out chair for Bishop and
invited him to sit down. He complied,
!. twirling his riding whip in his hand.
From his position, almost on level
with the floor, he could see the interior
of one of the rooms. 1t was almost
bare Of furniture. Two opposite cor
ners were occupied by crude bedsteads;
in the center of the room was a cradle
made from soapbox on rockers sawed
from rough poplar boards. 1t had the
appearance of having been in use
through several generations. Near it
stood a spinning wheel and three
legged STOOL The sharp steel spindle
cleaned in the freight from the big
log and mud chimney
whats the news from town. Mr..
Bishop? Pole asked awkwardly, for it
struck him that Bishop had called to
talk with him about some business and
was reluctant to introduce it.
'Nothin' that interests any of us,
reckon, Pole" said the old man. EEK
cept that made that investment in
, Ehoal Cotton factory stock"
"That's good" said Pole. in the tone
of anybody but a man who had never
invested a dollar in anything. cts all
hunkey. an my opinion is that it II
never be wutl less"
81 did heer. too" added Bishop. that
1t was reported that Craig had set up
q little grocery store out in Texas. nigh
the Indian Territory. Some thinks that
Winship II turn up thar an jine i'm,
but body never knows what to be-
lieve these days"
"That shore is a fact" opined Pole.
"Sally, that corn breads Albumin. Eff
you'd use less lamp oil, you'd smell bet
ter"
Mrs. Baker darted to the fireplace.
rAked the live Goals from beneath the
cast iron oven and jerked off the lid In
q cloud of steam and smoke. She
turned over the pom, WIN tile ala or
case knife and then came back to the
door.
SEER the last month I've had my eye
on the Bascome farm" Bishop was
saying. There's a hundred acres
even, some good bottom land and up
land an In the neighborhood o. thirty
acres O. good wood. Then thar's five
room house, well made an tight, an a
barn, cowhouse an stable"
Lord! | know the place like
book" said Pole, IAN it's dandy in
vestment.s Mr.. Bishop. They say he
offered it fer fifteen hundred. It's
wuth two thousand. You won't drap
any money by buyin' that property,
Mr.. Bishop I'd hate to contract to
build jest the house an well an out,
houses fer a thousand
81. bought it." Bishop told him. He
let me have it fer good deal less u
fifteen hundred, cash down."
SWELL you made dandy trade,
Mr.. Bishop. All, that's what ready
money will do! When you got the cash.
things seem to come at bottom figures"
Old Bishop drew a folded paper from
his pocket and slapped it on his knee.
Eyes, l closed the deal this evenin',
an l was jest a-thinkin' that as you
hain't rented fer next yeer-I mean
Bishop was ordinarily direct Of speech,
but somehow his words became tan
gled and he delivered himself. awk-
wardly on this occasion. you see,
Alan thinks that you n Sally ort to
live in better house than jest this
heer log cabin, an
The wan face Of the tired woman
was aglow with expectation She
sank down on the doorstep and sat
stin and mute, her hands clasPing each
other in her lap. She had always dis
liked that cabin and its sordid sur
rouudings. and there was something in
Tiahop'e talk that made har think he