The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-02-03

distinctly. "All along 1 have tnoupb1
in offerin' up prayers for pardon. that
I'd beg the Almighty fer a sign wbeth.
er l was forgiven or not. Somehow /
believed he'd give it, but every time
was tempted to ask for it | would
back out l was afeared the sign
would be agin me. But after YOU
overcome yore temptation to drownd
yore late trouble in drink an shoulder
ed it like a man / thought I'd resk ii
an ask the Almighty to give me Jest
a hint that | was on the right road in
takin' you up as "a substitute fer
Lynn HGmbright But what sort of a
sign to ask fer was what bothered me.
Then it come to me like a flash o.
Ightnin' one morning when wheat was
so low an you said 50 positive that you
believed it I'D go higher. George,
TUX all the money I'd borrowed from
you an invested it-in yore name, mind
you-at the lowest notch an then
put in lots o. my own later when wheat
begun to climb. The proposition was
this: / was to go entirely by what
! you said in every respect, an eff 1t
! turned out well was to take it that
l was on the right track. God knows
I've been mighty nigh crazy through it
all, but never DARN to say a word to
you. I've been anxious to close out
several times, but l stuck to my plan
an was guided by yore judgment"
you say you invested my-my mon
ey in it?" asked George in astonish-
ment
Eyes, that was the idea, so you could
git the benefit if it riz. If it hadn't, Of
course I'd still owe you the money an
make it good"
but simply can't understand what
Heaven knows you've made pile o.
money out of the transaction"
IF we could sell now-yes; but, oh,
George, know that the market is on
a collapse; / feel it. know that ia
cobs' offer to take it on thirty days is
jest trap the Almighty's set fer me
fer DARN to ask fer the sign. Jacobs
is in pinch an wants our wheat on a
credit to tide i'm over, an we'll never
git out whole. l feel it! Oh, feel it
in my soul! God wants to git even
with mcv'
Buckley laid his hand on the old
mans shoulder and looked at him al
most tenderly. you are simply let
ting your Imagination run away with |
you" he said. You have brooded ov !"
this till you have lost the power of
calm reason. Mr.. Hillyer, I'm as sure |
Of the ability Of Jacobs & Co. to pay
as am that stand here"
"Oh, George, are you-are your
Eyes, and II they can't pay cash the
world is full of people who will. Why.
Mr.. Hillyer. you have no idea how alb
surd your fears seem to any one else.
Why, we'll simply wire the bankers to
get US cash buyer, and it will be
done"
The old man fell to trembling. 81
don't believe we'll git out WHOLE" he
groaned. But you kin try. Wire 'em.
George but leave me alone back here.
For Gods sake, wire 'em!"
Just as George reached the front a
messenger boy came with a telegram
for .Hillyer. George opened 1t, nervous
in spite Of himself. The color flashed
into his cheek, a light into his eye, as
he read the message. He took It back
to his room. Through the partly ope~
door he saw the merchant on his knees
at the bed and heard him praying.
God have mercy on mer he was
grooming. God, do, do have mercy
On mes
George hesitated an instant, and then
be went in and touched the old man
,n the shoulder. Good news, Mr.. Hill
yer" he said, his young voice full Of
emotion. The bank has just tele-
yraphed"-
whats that?"
Hillyer rose awkwardly, his hands on
the railing Of the bedstead. He was as
weak as sick child.
what did you say, my boyT he
asked, his face vacant.
George read the telegram to him:
Market somewhat firner. Jacobs & Co.
,aid cash. Have placed amount to your
,redit. Wire instructions I
hlllyerS eyes were W1de open. ne
ook the telegram and went with 1t TO G
he window and read it. THANK God. q
hank Godr' he cried TITS the sign, I
Seorge"-he pointed upward-"the sign!
IN on the right road to pardon-thfnk Z
: that, my boy-my eternal pardon. e
Tod wanted to help you. You got IN e
t the lowest notch O. the market an
ave made some money. At yore age p
d "a thought 1t fortune. It's good d
cst egg. an on the LIST O. next jan a
AIRY you must take an interest In the
usiness. oh, George, ! feel like {
ould fly. I'm Dustin open inside. v
rant TO cry. 1 want to shout an hol- s.
r." G.