Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-08

You han't got no patent right to the exclu-
sive business of this valley, have you? If
can sell -four for 80 cents a. barrel less n
you can and pay cents bushel more for
grain and then make money. L don't see
how I'm injuring these people here. l don
want to go into business; I came here to
farm, but I'm going to see fair play among
my neeighbors. | rather think I shall keep
right on-that is If you still continue pres
ent prices, and the people want to take ad-
vantage of my bargains. I'm not in this to
make money"
'.All right suhr' The words came out
with a metallic snap. Wen see what hap
pens. Well see But let me tell you one
thing; you'd better go sloWTyou d--better-
go-slow, or you'll get into trouble. You
remember that. If you don't want the big
gest heap of trouble you ever had In your
life you'll mind your own business and let
other people mind theirs. Remember that.
I've given you fair warning
"JTmmmmmr' He took several deliber-
alive puffs at his pipe, then calmly knocked
out the ashes. $50 l hear. But shall go
right on as have done. and l sort of reckon
there won't be any trouble. It's been long
time squire. since I wore anybodys collar
and chain on my neck, and I reckon I'm
too old now to learn. I fought In the war
against slavery, and I'll fight again fore III
see slaves around me. I don't you
cent, MIR Hartswick. I own my farm clear,
and you can't intiInidate or boss me. If
you pay fair prices for things I'll quit the
business and be glad to. Whatever l do III
u. L
shan't injury nobody that's honest. / reckon
that's all the speech I need to make just
now. BY Jimminy." turning mis- back on
the squire and changing his tone complete
ly, I'm glad to hear that dinner bell. 1
could eat burnt boot" The big farm bell
on the kitchen roof was changing merrily.
"All right, suh!' The squires jaws sprung
like rat-trap. I'VE understand each other
Now. you remember what told yen. Don't
you forget it, sub. You've tackled a hard
man to beat-a hard man. sub" He wheeled
and strobe stormily away toward his horse
and buggy.
Coin to stay to dinner, amt you,
squre?' called out Dan anxiously.
mo. l don't want no dinner" He sprang
into his buggy and a moment later was
driving furiously down the road.
The company filed into the long kitchen In
silence. They seemed awed and frightened
Only Farthing and his boys were seif-pos-
sessed and they speedily became the life
and soul of the dinner hour, joking and
chatting and telling stories till the others
joined in perforce.
The mood of the company, however, did
not delay the meal. The brown turkeys
disappeared In twinkling; the stewed
chicken ebbed low in the milk pan; and
the potatoes and vegetables We're shov-
eled into hungry mouths as fast as
iron knives could be made to work
with safety Great slices of bread were
spread thick with apple butter, and slowed
away like coal into stoke-hoIe. There
were five spreads on the table. headed by
the Pennsylvania salye," without which
no meal is complete. there was a gallon of
cold siaw and a peck of krout. Then came
the cider, great glasses of pure juice made
late in October and fit for king In
twenty minutes 1t was all over and the
women were alone with the wreck
There was but one theme for conversa-
ton on the homeward ride that evening AL
Farthing had defied the squire Men and
women discussed it in awed voices Not
one of all those at the butchering, thought
much of any other topic, save, perhaps,
young Jim Farthing, who had seen pair
OF black eyes
lTo be continued tnmnrrnwA