Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-11-22
"1,,aeed. understand he had to dis

w
miss his man Binnie some time ago."
AYE, but Rnnie II be comm back
an anither man WI him next week."
checking an eXultant chuckle with n
violent cough. "Yc see, ma'am, David
Houston has got the contrac' for the
new store at the pier held, an there's
twa-three ither nice jobs that'll come
hi; wey afore the years DOT. Aw, l
wudna disturb masel' ABBOTT the Hous-
tons il l was you, ma'am."
I'm very glad to learn the prospects
are so good, Mr.. ogilvy. had heard
that the new store Mt the pier was to
go to the newcomers when they had
finished With Mr.. Dobbie's houses In
fact. Mr.. ncbbie told me so himself"
"Ye ken Master Dobbie. ma'am?"
quietly asked Mr. Ogilvy.
81 happened to meet him one day
when l was having glance Mt his
new houses, very nice little flats they
arc, quite superior TO the present tene-
ments in Kinlochan. I'm sure the peo-
pie in the village will want to remove
as soon as possible. OF course l don't
know Mr.. Dobbic personally, but from
what he said should imagine he
would make a good landlord"
"Oh, I've nae doot he'll get his flats
filled in time, ma'um. heard the ither
Gay that ToIsie Tam was thinlSin' O.
takin' yin o them" Tousic Tam was
n disheveled but cheerful, half witted
fellow, who occasionally made his bed
in Kinlochan outhouses.
Miss Perk was about to reprimand
the grocer for unbecoming levity, but
before she could speak he continued:
In fac, l believe Tam met Master
Dobbie on the road an spiert the rent.
Tam maun haze his joke, puir chap,
but I understand Master Dobbie got
an awful rid face, for there was lot
O. folk listenin'."
"Of course" said Miss Perk, chang
ing the subject, ''the newcomers will
have quite a friendly feeling toward
| David Houston after his gallant act on
the evening of their arrival"
'Freeniy? Oh, ma'am, it's mair like
Dritherly! The twa Wilkes an David
| Houston are as thick as onythin', an
as for opposeetion atween them, ye
| MIGHT as weel LUX for fecht atween
a pair O. ma kippers an finnan had
die. think l mentioned the fac that
| the finnan haddies was mair nor usual
deleecious the day an that the meenis-
ter's Teddy Ma; it was the sausages
she referred to-"
80 you think that the Wilkes will
not interfere with David Houston's
business?"
II think they'll no. Furbye, ma'am,
the shop they've set up is jist tempo
rairy, SO to speak,"
You mean that they will leave Kin
lochan when they have finished their
work at Mr.. Dobbie's housesY
mo bein' soothsayer, as it were,
ma'am, wudna like to express masel
| in sic definite fashion," said Mr..
Ggilvy, fearing that possibly he was
already expressing himself too freely.
"But whatever they dae, it'll be fair.
Marmalade's no the only guild thing
that comes DOT O. Paisley. An SO ye
medina fash yerser ABBOTT David Hous-
ton an his guild wife, ma'am, if yell
alloo me the leeberty O. sayin' it."
Miss Perk smiled the least bit I'M
pleasantly. You seem to have an ex-
tensive knowledge of what passes in
the district, Mr.. Ogilvy," she re-
marked.
The grocer grinned modestly and
shook his head. cts little KEN" he
replied innocently, "for Pm no vera
guild at askin' questions"
II there was any suggestion in his
words Miss Perk did not observe 1t, for
she Immediately resumed her quest for
information.
81 suppose David Houston has made
some arrangement with the Wilkes"
she said, eying Mr.. Ogilvy searchingly.
arrangement. ma'am"
ayes; some arrangement by which
they are not to interfere with his bust
ness. They could hardly refuse to
agree after
But she had touched the elderly
mans loyalty-touchcd it to the quick.
He Redeemed. but met her gaze stead
lily.
"Ma'am," he said. with hint Of con-
tempt i'll his tone, David Houston
wuIna tax advantage O. anither man
il the ither man owed him diZZen
lifcs instead O yin. David Houston's
no that kind. He's no like the laddie
that catched his wee sister stealin' the
jam an tcll't her he wudna haze her
Doachin' on his preserves. Ma! There's
nae mali. arrangement atwcen David
Houston an the Wilkes the day nor
there was afore they left Paisley"
How can you know% demanded
Miss Perk, rritatcd at the rebuff.
81 iist ken, ma'am," he answered
stolldly. "Of COURSE" he added, Il
Gamma prove it in the meantime ony-
wey, but yell see for yersel later OH
that Samuel Ogilvy can weigh charac-
tiers as weel as groceries. Aye! Here
the grocer pursed up his mouth and
struck an attitude with his arms fold
cd. Had Miss Perll known him better
she would have understood that it was
dangerous to attempt further fnquisi-
ton.
"Pcrhaps you will kindly inform
nc" she began.
"Excuse me, ma'Am, but I'm GOT O
information; naethin' left but provee.
sions O. the best quality" he returned
With Il tight grin.
The grin eXasperatcd the lady. "And
impertincnce," she supplemented in a
low voice.
"Peppermints" he inquired politely
"Wud We like the ornar' kind or the
DOODLE strong!'
81 said impertinence." cried she, los
ing her temper.
"An' l said ornar' kind or DOODLE
strong" he retorted, boiling inwardly
but retaining the tight grin. "Ye'rc
welcome to either, no that l think
ye'rc needin' Ony."
"You forget YOURSELF" exclaimed
Miss Perk, with awesome majesty
gathering up her skirts.
The grocer was not fear stricken, bu
q sensation of shame ut having los
control of his tongue came lInon him