Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-06-15

r as ~ f.-A al Z.
( let you know, Jacob thu have ar
rived 60 Town. Please keep lttle
track Of rue tor the next two weeks.
viii your
Tile aunt reached home smiling and
chuchlng She laid hand OH Ncttie's
head and said soothiugly
u talked up to old Strong today 1t
was right that should. But | haven't
spoiled anything. Give me two weeks
and III have him here begging you to
marry bis son You tell the young
man to remain quiet and DO nothing
rash Hllda Bascomb is managing thi,
affair. which will be one of finance
from now on. and If she makes fail
ure it will be for the first time. Nov
I've 1T to so back downtown and see
lawyer, and then III have some rid
ing around The country to do. Oh but
won't | make old Strong jump before
am through with hint"
In planning for the cannery Mr.
Strong had called upon most of the
farmers and had informed them pom
pously that thereafter he would buy
their tomatoes at the market price.
He had made no definite agreement
with them, however, for he had de-
termined to pay mighty low price
when the time came
Miss Hilda Bascomb saw lawyers
and had contracts drawn up. With
boy to drive her, she covered most OF
the county the week after the inter.
view with the magnate. Contracts
were signed right and left. and some
thing was added for secrecy among
the signers.
Meanwhile the tomato cannery was
hurried along, and the fixtures ar
rived to be put in place. In her walks
about the town the spinster met Mr..
Strong several times face to face.
Every time he scowled and she chuc-
Killed.. There was anxiety at the Scrib-
ners' TO learn what was afoot, but the
only explanation they could get was:
Il am simply doing a little financier-
ing to help Cupid and the tomato
market along When it's time to ex-
plodc the torpedo you'll all hear the
racket"
She bad been In Strongsville. almost
Il month when the racket was heard.
The cannery was ready for business.
and the farmers had been notified to
begin delivery on a certain date The
date came but there Were no toma-
toes.
a messenger was dispatched with a
horse and buggy. He had been back
about half an hour when Miss Bas-
comb entered Mr.. Strongs office for
the second time and pumped herself
down in the same chair
Mr.. Strong was at the telephone. He
was using vigorous language and
dancing around
well, and how's the tomato mar.
ket?" asked the caller as he gared at
her and rung off.
cit is you-you who have done this
thing" he exclaimed, ito revenge your
self! You! You!
Eyes. have cornered every tomato
in the county 1t wasn't for revenge.
but to give Cupid a chance. How much
will you take for your factory, cash
down? 1t hasn't any pedigree to SPEAK
of, but / think Mr.. Scribner, the car
penter, can give it one"
81 won't sell to you! Your tomatoes
can rot on your hands!"
"Oh, no. they won't, Jacob" chuckled
Miss Hilda. IL can sell them at very
nice profit. But your factory can stand
idle while l build one of my own! Bet
ter talk business. Jacob Strong. That
son of yours is nice young man, and
l think heap Of my niece. It's love
match, and it would be a pity to see
1t broken off. Isn't there some way
that can turn these tomato contracts !
over to you and let your factory begin
work? There's money in the canning
business, and l don't want to kill an
industry"
Mr. Strong fought for an hour and
then gave In and shook hands. BY the |
time the contracts were assigned to
him he was smiling By the time the
woman in the rusty old bonnet was
ready to go he was ready to remark !
blandly:
Just so, Miss Bascomb; just so. Mr..
and Mrs. Scribner are most worthy |
people, and If Horace is in love with |
their daughter l have no objections to
a marriage. lie is old enough to judge |
for himself, and it is not for me to in
terfere. Good day, ma'am, good day, |
and thank you ever so much for call
ing"
Imposed Lives.