The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-04-21

j
That's right" laughed Miller. Nov
do your work, and we won't forge
you. BY all means keep him away
from meddlesome people,"
i When Pole had left the Office anC
Miller had resumed his revolving chair
Mrs. Bishop addressed him, looking
straight into his eyes.
Il don't see" she said in a timid
hesitating way and yet with note OF
frmness dominating her tone-"I don't
see why we have to 90 through all this
i trickery to make the trade. Eff the
land is good security fer the money,
we needn't be afeerd OF what the man
viii find out Eff it amt good secur-
i ity. | don't want his money, as fer as
/ I'm concerned
Il was jest thinkin' that, too" chimed
in her husband throwing a troubled
glance all round. Il want money to
help me out O. my scrape. but don't
want to trick no man. Yankee or what
not, into totin' my loads AS Betsy
says, it seems to me if the lands wuth
| the money we needn't make such a
great TODD I'm afeerd | won't feel
exactly right about it."
The young men exchanged alarmed
glances.
You don't understand" said Miller
lamely. but he seemed to be unprepared
for views so heretical to financial deal
ings, and could not finish what he had
started to say.
why" said Alan testify, "the land
is worth all Wilson can make out of it
with the aid of his capital and the rail
road he proposes to lay here. Father,
you have spent several years looking
up the best timbered properties and
getting good titles to 1t, and to a big
lumber company body of timber like
you hold is no small thing. We don't
want to cheat him. but we do want to
keep him from trying to cheat us by
getting the upper hand. Rayburn
thinks if lie finds out we are hard up
he'll try to squeeze us to the lowest
notch"
We'll" sighed Mrs. Bishop, "1'm
shore | never had no idea we'd resort
to gittin' Pole Baker to tote anybody
around like hog after yeer o. corn.
lowed we was goin' to make open
and shut trade that we could be proud
of an stop folks mouths about Al
fred's foolish dealin's. But''-she look
ed at Abner. who stood In the door
way leading to the consultation room
"I'll do whatever Brother Alb thinks
is right | never knowed i'm to take
undue advantage of anybody"
They all looked at Abner, who was
smiling broadly.
We'll, | say git his money" he re-
piled, with a short. impulsive laugh
git his money. and then, eff you find
he's starvin', hand i'm back what you
like this sorter like l did on scramblin'
fer the upper holt in wartimes. re-
member ! shot straight at Teller that
was climbjn up the enemy's breast
works on his all tours. | said to my
self, IF this ball strikes you right, old
chap. fore you drap over the bank, /
yo're one less agin the Confederacy;
eff it don't. you kin pop away at me-
don't think give i'm anything but a
flesh wound in the back. beca'se he
jest sagged down a little an crawled |
on, an that's about the wust you could |
do fer Wilson. | believe he ort to hold |
the bag awhile. Alf's hung on to it till |
his fingers ache an he's weak at the
knees. never did feel like thar was
any harm in passin' counterfeit bill |
that some other chap passed on me-
Eff the government. with all its high
paid help, cayn't keep crooked shin
plasters from slidin' under our noses.
It ortn't to kick agin our lookin' out
fer ourselves"
"You needn't lose any sleep about
The Southern Land and Timber COM
Dany. Mrs. Bishop" said Miller. "They
will take care of themselves. In fact,
well have to keep our eyes peeled to
watch them even IL we get this loan.
Wilson didn't come up here for his
health"
ooh. mothers all right" said Alan,
and so is rather. but they must not
mp III Will ludl bOlt VI ldlh DelOIe
Wilson"
"Oh, no, you mustn't" said Miller.
In fact. | think you'd better let me
md Alan do the talking. You see. If
,ou sit perfectly quiet he'll think you
ire reluctant about giving such big
security for such small amount of
money, and he will trade faster"
"Oh. I'm perfectly willn' to kee,,
luiei," agreed the old man, VINO now
seemed better satisfied.
Pole Baker left the Office with long,
strides. There was an en-
rance to the Johnston House through
long corridor opening on the street,
md into this Pole slouched. The hotel
,ffice was empty save for the clerk,
Who stood behind the counter looking
yer the letters In the pigeonholed key
ack on the wall. There was big
which was rung by pull.
ng cord 1t was used for announc-
ng menls and calling the porter. A
zig china bowl on the counter was filled
:. - Ill a