Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-04-12
CONTINUED FROM PAGE TWO

Two hours later the boat was made fast
at Norfolk, but Jim only remained there long
enough to mail the letter Mrs. Curtis had
written to her husband If he had opened
the store doors, he might have sold few
dollars worth of goods, but he did not think
the profit would pay him for the loss OF time
He had even hauled down his flag, so that
people might not think he was trader, Dut
fancy that the fat boat belonged to that class
of crafts so numerous on the Mississippi XIV
er, known as Family boats"
Ii he had had any idea after leaving norfolk
that he had made mistake in not remain
ing longer, be- would have changed his mind
when he was hailed at Benefits Landing,
and learned that he could have sufficient trade
there to warrant his remaining at least two
days. If his prices were reasonable.
Jim was confident that he could trade with
any fair-minded person. and soon everything
was hustle and activity in the store Of the
River Queen.
The fiat boat remained at this mooring place
two days, and Jim had no reason to complain
of the business he had done. Two large lots
of goods had been exchanged for produce,
while several small lots had been sold for cash
at satisfactory profit, and, at the usual early
hour the morning after, the young trader, was
on his way once more, keeping sharp look
out for other customers.
When they were about halfway between
Moons Landing and Walnut Bend, on point
from which no building was in sight Jim was
surprised by being vigorously hailed by two
men who appeared to be watching for some
onem-perhaps a trading boat
What do you want! asked jun, not car
ing to 20 to the trouble of making landing
unless he had been hailed for business pur-
poses
We've got some goods we want to sell"
was the reply.
The Young trader threw Gut the hawsers,
xuopdarino me WI xyhara the goods might
be, for he saw no signs that house was
anywhere near, not even path through the
woods.
The instant it was apparent to those on the
shore that the River Queen was about to
make landing, one of the men disappeared
among the trees, while the other man remain
ed to help make her fast.
When this was done, he scrambled on board,
took a long look around as if to see who was
on the boat, and then asked;
"Who's the trader"
81 am" replied Jim.
well, I've got right smart lot Of q !; sugar Ear
that / want to sell. Will you take 1t II IL
make the price down low"
"Sugarl" said Jim, in surprise. How does
it happen that you've got sugar here" ;.
well, It does seem kind OF strange, don
it?" replied the man, with laugh, as he
seated himself on the counter, quite as if he
thought the bargaining would require consd-
cradle time "You see my brother and
fancied we could raise sugar on these bottoms
isany, and we tried it. Our cane grows first
rate and we've got twelve or fifteen hundred
pounds of good sugar. We're hard up, and
have got to have some money right away; so
we toted it down near the river, and have
been waiting here two days for steamer or
trading boat" :,
Jim had never heard that sugar cane could
he raised in Arkansas but would not have
thought it strange if he had not seen a look
of incredulity on the face of Jethro who had
come into the store, in time to hear the ex-
PLANTATION given by the stranger.
s9Where is your plantation Jim asked
"About five miles back. My brother has
gone into the woods to get some of the sugar
to show you"