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

In the peasant mind. There was that in
his every tone and attitude which suggest
ed mastery-the stamp of the man who is
often called upon to decide, and who is
accustomed to be looked up to and obeyed
without murmur. He turned from the hogs
and threw a quick glance over the men III
the yard
Instantly his brow darkened
Say. Dan'-he turned sharply-"is that
Al Farthing? How d he get here?"
Il invited him There was O. dogged
tone in the answer.
"Humph! You did, did yeh? Getting
pop'ler, amt he?" No answer from Dan.
The group was preparing for dinner,
which is served ever at butchering at IL.
-Four of the boys had gone into the house
to help the women extemporize the seats
and tables from planks and boards. The
others had been watching furtivey the
progress Of the great man. Many of them
feared him beyond expression and they
had cause. Some We're in debt TO him be-
yond all hope; others were his tenants,
without power to release themselves even
# they would; still others were dependent
upon him for work. Few there We're who
could oppose him with impunity
He walked straight up to Allen Far
thlng, the jealousy and hate which had
been gathering for weeks written on every
feature As he grew older his power Of
self-control, never large grew feebler So
accustomed had he been all his life to un-
disputed supremacy that the slightest op-
position angered him unreasonably He
found his man sitting by the corner of the
oyershot and clearing the ashes from his
corn cob. The others looked on with rising
excitement. They knew the man; the fire
and tow which had been SO long preparing
had at last come together
Changed yeh business so I hear They
tell me you've set up in produce and gro
ceres. The sneer in the mans voice and
the curt OF his lip made the speech posi-
lively maddening.
You've been misinformed, SQUIRE" He
calmly knocked his pipe against the barn
70 Tree II from ashes. and proceeded with
delberation to find his plug of tobacco. His
coolness acted like a red rag on the chol-
eric old man.
Haln't ordered a carload o. fiour?' on
no. Hain't bought two carloads o. corn
ana one o wheat? Oh, no! Think I don't
see what's going on, heigh?"
You don't in this case. 1t seems It's
three of corn and two of wheat perhaps
three He pressed the tobacco into the
pipe poWl with his thumb, and began to
search his pockets for match
Who's selling yeh this grain, 1 want to
know? Who in this valleys selling It to
who's selling it?' He echoed the ques-
ton in mild surprise looking up curiously
through the first white puffs OF smoke
"Yessuh, who's selling 1t? There's some
here that can't afford to sell you their
wheat They'll find mighty quick that they
can't afford IT." He turned and cast a
glowering look over the men And fourI"
he continued with rising passion, his face
fairly purple. The mans GOODNESS was like
a whip-cut. You think you cut under
me In flour and make money? Flour!
Going TO add dry goods, and millinery. and
5-cent counter stuff?' The sneer In his
voice was changing to a hard, menacing
tone.
why. It's possible, squire; it's possible"
admitted the man meditatively Folks
here seem to be paying big prices and get
ting small returns for their produce. 1
may get a carload or farming tools next
month. / find the Drica lists
ing"
TO h with your INTEREST," Think
you're going to run me out of business, do
II don't intend to injure living soul,
Squire Hartswick. l haven't the slightest
intention of interfering with anybody
honest business, not in the slightest"
Honest! You call me dishonest to my
head, do yeh? You stand there and insult
me, do yeh? Heigh? You be mighty care
fai. young man" He swung his hand
angrily within foot of Farthing's nose.
II haven't called any man dishonest as
you know very well, squire, but II you
want to wear the coat / can't help 1t. You
are doubtless aware of your own failings."
He was as serene as IL the conversation had
been about the weather.
Look here, Al Farthing." Realizing
suddenly that he had gone too far, he made
a great effort to control himself .It has
taken me forty years to work up a business
In this valley. and nobody amt going to
take 1t away from me without the biggest
fight they ever had in their lives. You re-
member that. These people here owe
everything they've got in the world to
me-e-e. II I wanted to, could turn haff
OF 'em out OF house and home. I'm putting
the bread and butter into their mouths and
I'm the best friend they've got In this
world. They know that. Now what do you
know about people here7 What DO you
know about their needs. Not one
thing. You come here stranger and
think you've going TO run the whole
show here and make things all over.
mind your own business and won't trouble
yours