Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-12
By OPIE READ.


of telling me, he was silent, walking up
and down the room with his hands un-
der his coat behind him.
Did you say he had gone to the tel
egraph office?"
Yes; said he had to communicate
with his partner Think he must have
been somewhat startled at my knowl-
edge of mica; but if he should spring
the subject on me a week from now he
would be still more startled-at my ig-
norance In this instance l have been
what is termed a case lawyer
And still 1 waited and still he con-
tinued to walk up and down the room,
his hands behind him.
Communicate with his partner. Did
he make an offer?"
We'll, he hunted around in that
neighborhood, but his gun hung fire.
The truth is l set the price myself.
There is no doubt as to the value Of
the mine-finest in the world, l should
think"
What did you tell him he could have
it for?"
We'll, l suppose we could get more
for it, but I told him that he might
have it for six hundred thousand dol
lars. I-why, what's wrong with that
offer? Isn't it enough?"
Enough! Il is more than l dared
to dream!" cried.
hol Az don't
know anything about mica. 1t didn't
startle him; simply remarked that he
would telegraph to his partner. He'll
take it. He'll give you q check and I'll
send it over to Knoxville, Tenn
want this little bank to handle that
amount. What are you going to do
with the money!"
I'm going to buy the old Morton
place for ALI, give the old man as much
as l can compel him to take, and I'm
going to build home on high bluff
overlooking the st. 10 river in Michi-
gan. And 1 don't know yet what else
l may do. It is so overwhelming that
my mind is in tangle. But am go
ing to give you"
Il don't charge you anything for my
services" he broke in humorously
winking his old eyes. You are to be
my law partner, you know"
"Ah, that was reserved for time to
bring about, in the event that I should
ever becme a lawyer, but that possipil-
ity is now removed. I'm not going to
study law. The law is very forcible
and very logical, but it is too dry for
me- don't believe that l am practical
enough for a lawyer. 1 would rather
read poetry and luminous prose than
to study rules of civil conduct. l am
going to bejewel my house with books
and then l am going to live. l heard
you say that the poet was the only man
who really lives. but he is not-those
who worship with him live with him.
Yes, I am going to buy old books-1
don't like new ones-and in my library
1 will rule over the kingdoms of the
earth. But l am going to give you ten
thousand dollars"
You wouldn't make a very good
lawyer, Bill l suspected it, and now
you prove it. My dear fellow, l have
no children, and am getting old, there
fore have no use for money. Wait
minute. l believe there is five thou
sand dollar mortgage on my house.
Well, you may lend me ten thousand,
but I don't believe I'll ever pay it
back. l can't afford to violate the rule.
When a man lends me money it's gone.
And that's right, for if thought had
to pay it back might dodge you. Yes,
sir. AS l was driving back to town l
came within one Of permitting myself
to look upon this happening as a
strange affair, but it is not; it's perfect
ly natural. Yes. sir. And as soon as
the news spreads around nearly every
man in the community will turn out to
hunt for mica, and not speck of 1t
will be found. A reminder of the imi-
tators that clamor when the clear voice
of a genius has been heard. If keep
on fooling with this subject will re-
gard it as strange, after all. Just think
of the ten thousand things that led to
the discovery Of that mine. Suppose we
could trace any occurrence back to its
source. Take my sitting here, for in
stance. Caused, we will say, by dead
cat. My father, very young fellow at
the time, found a dead cat lying on his
fathers door-steps, and he threw it
over into a neighbors yard. The neigh
Dor saw him, came over and demanded
that he be whipped. He was whipped,
according to the good, old religious
custom, and he ran away from home,
went to many places. came into this
state as a clock peddler, fell in love,
married. and here l am, sitting here
all caused by a dead cat. My mother
was the daughter Of very proud old
fellow. She ran away with my father
and never again was she received at
home. l may have dreamed it, but it
seems that l remember my mother
holding me in her arms, pointing to an
old brick house and telling me that my
grandfather lived there. Yes, sir, If we
permit our mlnuS 10 Qrl1t tnal way,
everything is strange. Here comes our
man."
Cling stepped in, mopping his race
with a handkerchief. I'll take It," he
said, and 1t seemed to me that the
room began to turn round. Let us fix
it up at once" he added. II have en-
gagged a man to drive me to the station
and l want to take the next train"
Evening came. The day had been
filled with tremors and whirls, so dazed
was l. dreamily listening to details,
now startled. now seeming to be far
away-shaking hands, signing papers;
and now it was all settled, and l, on 4
horse, rode toward home to seek night
of rest in the country. The moon was
full I heard the sharp clack of hoofs.
and. looking back, l saw man riding
as if it were his aim to Overtake me.
I logged along slowly and Etheredge
came up.
How are you, Mr.. Halves? l have
! heard of your wonderful luck and l