Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-02


 "What's the matter, MT. Saunders,
 are you hurt"' inquired the fussy post
 mistress.
 'Please go way, ma'am," said Red,
 waving his arm.
 I'm sure you're hurt-Im perfectly sure you're hurt" she persisted, hold ing her ground. Now, do tell us what can possibly be the matter with you"
 "Very we'll" returned the exas- perated cowpuncher, "I will. My pants, ma'am, have suffered in this turn up, and they're now in a con- dition to make my appearance in po- lite society difficult, if not impossible; now please go way, and somebody fetch me horse blanket"
 It is regrettable that the discom- fiture of the pOstmistress was received with undisguised hilarity. The blan ket was produced, and Red stalked off in Indian dignity, marred by a limp in his left leg, for he had come upon
 
 itself felt through all that foot of soft dust
 Bring that durn fool horse along" he called over his shoulder. Buckskin rose and followed his owner. There was no light in his eye now; he looked thoughtful. He, too, limped, and there was trickle of blood down his nose. Verify it had been hard fought field.
 As both men were anxious to see the lay of the land as soon as possible Red took his place in the wagon that day, after the damages were re paired, content to wait until his leg was less sore for horseback riding.
 There followed a busy two weeks for them Mr. Demilt had some money he wished to put into the enterprise, but his most valuable assistance was, of course, his thorough knowledge of. the resources of the country.
 They found an admirable site for the mill in an old stone barn which had stood the ravages of desolation almost unimpaired. Reds mining experience told him that the creek could easily be fiumed to the barn, and as that was the only objection of the others to this location they wrote the owner of the property for q price. They were astonished when they received the fig ures. It had come by inheritance to man to whom it was a white ele phant of the most exasperating sort, and he was glad to get rid of it for almost song. They were jubilant three at the news. It saved the cost of building mill, and, including that. the price was as low per acre as any land they could have obtained Red closed the bargain instantly.
 Lettis' part of the business was their product, and when he explained to his partners what he could reason ably hope to do in that line the affair lost its last tint of unreality and be- came a good proposition, for Lettis had an excellent business acquaint- ance who would be glad to deal with the straightforward young fellow.
 The night after the signing of the deeds Red said to Miss Hattie: "We ought to have q stockholders dinner tomorrow night, Hattie. If you could hire that scow built girl who wears her hair scrambled to come in and give you a lift, would you feel equal to it:"
 You always put it that I'm doing you a great favor in such things, Will, but you know perfectly well there's nothing I'd rather do," replied Miss Mattie. with a dimpling smile. How over it adds to the pleasure of it to have 1t put in that way, so I won't complain. I'll just have my supper first and then you men can talk over your business undisturbed."
 You will not-you'l eat with the rest of us!"
 Yes. but you stockholders The ! word had an import to Miss Hattie. a if not regal. at least kin ship 10 the king Under her demOcra- cy lay respect for the founded insti- tuition. impersonal. an integral part of i the law of the state-in fact. minor | sovereignty within an empire
 ''StOckhOlder yOurself,' retOrted Red ! Don't you call mo names"
 What do you mean, Will:" asked I Miss Mattie. with wide opened eyes.
 'I mean you're a stOclholder as good | ls anybody. You've got half my stock. ! Now. hold on, Just listen. This is a . Iuerr run. Hattie. from the regulation i point of view. this company of ours. ! know enough about filIln' and hack In to know that You ought to have . seen the pryin' and pokin' and nosin' around them Boston men did before they took holt of the Chanta Seechee and made it a stock company. One Teller was the abIcst durn fool ever rome acrosst. I used to let on I didn't savvy anything about t. Now. ex- plain to me- says I to him. You say ron have so many shares of them stock waving my hand to a bunch of -ritters in the distance. What part io you take: I mean. what's your share of each animal? and does the ast man get the hOofs and the tail!' oh. you don't understand says he I'll explain 1t to you So he starts h tO tell me that stock didn't neces- sarfly mean beef critters and a lot more things. whilst old man Ferguson.