The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-02-10

The negro did not have to be inform
ed that he was not wanted, and with
a sly laugh, half of apology. he bur
RED out into the warehouse.
"You could be big enough fool fer
any use an not be as big one us you
look" said old Hanks. with sneer.
.sLook v here, young man." demand
ed Kenner, "didn't you tell me tother
day that you was goin' to let up on
that racket
II remember tellin' you wasn't go
In to steal the girl out fer any more
buggy rides" said Bob. with a smile.
"There viii be no need Of that In the
future, / hope"
80 that's what you meantT" laughed
Kenner.
"Yes; that's what meant"
Bob drew one OF the high revolving
stools up near the stove and got up on
It, his heels resting on one Of the rungs.
His new broadcloth trousers glistened
In the light from the window.
II see I'll have to tell you all about
It from the first" he began in strange
ly confident tone. Il don't ask any
body any odds, an wouldn't bother to
explain to most folks, but III acknowl-
edge want You fellows down here TO
think well of me. for you are all bust
ness men and I'm a business man."
THAT you are" snarled Hanks.
.sThar's business men O. yore grade In
every pore house an asylum In Amer
lea"
Now, you keep quiet IL you want me
to tell about this thing" seid Bob. i
am a business man. know how to
make money. Everything I've put my
hand to since got start has turned
out fair profit If couldn't make
money faster than you, father, I'd take
| in my sign. You've always been afraid
of big deals. Go slow has been your
motto, an it's hunting you to your
grave. Now, this is the way the whole
blamed thing come up. I'm old enough
to marry, and that girl
"Old enough the deviiv' broke In
Hanks. "You look like you are with
that fuzz on yore lip"
II reckon a man ought to be his OWL
| Judge as to whether he is old enough
for a step O. that kind, !" Bob said, witt
sudden dignity. "It begun this way
! There was three sophomores at Mrs
j, Styles school and they all see~ed bent
on seeing which one could make me
like lem the most They was all pretty
enough an sharp enough, an | reckon
it was just human nature for me tt
carry on with 'em little. don't know
as / liked one better than another al
first. 1t was just the fun of seeing
'em wrangle." Bob laughed out impul
sively. "TLey pretended to be as thich
as molasses IN the winter, but they hat
ed one another like snakes. Then they
got to telling lies on each other.
knew they were lies because | caught
ND with 'em. Finally / saw that DORIS
May
do you mean Mrs, Hanks?' asked
Kenner, with mock solemnity.
eyes, my wife," replied Bob. "As
say, | finally saw she was Just I'M
girl I was looking for, and | made III
INV mind to get married and be dom
| with it. Thinking about her and try
ing to see her took up too much time
| told her my folks would object to i
but she advised me to go ahead. She
as Independent as hog on Ice, an sn
1 can afford to be-" Bob paused for
moment. twirling his fingers betweel
his knees, and then he went on: !
reckon I'll have to tell you all some
thing. don't know as I'd tell 1t now
but father is raisin' such row owe
my marryin' that it puts me in ba
light and hurts my business. Ny credl
won't be worth shucks If it gets GU
that my daddy has gone clean bac
on me-that is, untr they know aDou
my wife's connections. The truth II
Dora Mays got plenty of money"
Money! echoed Kenner and Hillye
In breath.
THAT'S what / said," answered 30
calmly.
"Then you married her fer that,
said Kenner sternly.
"No, didn't" replied Bob 9Th
! ruth Is, / liked her before / kneN
about it. She suits me tiptop, and
can't help it If she is well off. She
what would be called big rich in thi
! part Of the country. Her father lei
| her several blocks of business house
in Louisville The rent on one bate
alone is something over FIVE thousand
year and will all come to her whe
J she's Of age. Her guardian didn
think it would be best for 1t to get OF
down here before she was done schoo
an SO he got Mrs. styles not to mel
ton it an made Dora May promis
not to tell it. But, of course, whe
me an her got engaged, and
"You let gal in short frocks tie
: you a cock an bull story like that
, broke In Hanks, his sallow face worl
4 ing visibly, IAN you swallowed it. iii
the sucker you are"
II had no reason to doubt it, rotor
{ ed Bob, with flash. But l foun
out afterward that it was all true.
: know tobacco drummer from up TIL
| ..-ar IIa eats oil my trade in that lin