The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-02-25

eagerly.
Il don't want any help" She arose
impulsfvely and vaulted from the bug
gy like a boy, alighting with grace anG
spring as If she always got out that
way. Then a ripple of laughter at the
discounted SWANS, and a giriish firt
she disappeared into the house.
TOO slow!" burst out the old squire
with a great, gurgling laugh. you
fellersll have to wake UP If you wan,
have somebody take this boss and
stand by him. He's full of ginger this
morning. How're yeh getting along?'
COCO. Here. sam, o and Jakey
take the squire's boss. Come out and
sec EN-. squire: they're neat nes I tell
and went with Dan.
well. That's a good job. How're they
dressing up. Dan? Good?"
Prime. squire. Never had a better
lot Of hogs up by the heels, never. Jest
you look 'em over. squire, wunst."
The old man examined them with
critical eye, and found nothing to crit
CHE. Dan expanded volubly on the
merits and history OF each in turn. and
swallowed greedily the %patronizing
words which the great man detgned to
let fall. The squire was indeed a man
OF commanding presence, a ma to in
NAAA SNSAA AStlA III llS pSdoC
mind. There was that in his every
tone and attitude which suggested
mystery-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
glance over h men in the yard.
Instantly his brow darkened.
Say, Dan"-he turned sharply-"is
here?" -
II invited kim" There was a logged
"Hu.nph! You did. did, ych? Get
ting poD'ler. amt he" No answer
from Dan.
The group was preparing snr dinner.
which is served ever at a butcher'-g
at IL. -Four of the boys md gone into
the house to help the M extern
porize the seats and tables from planks
watching furtivei. the progress of the
great a Many OF them feared him
beyond expression, and they had cause.
Some We're In debt to him beyond all
hope: others were his tenants without
power to release themselves even II
upon him for work. Few there were
who could oppose him with IMMUNITY.
He walked straight up to Allen Far
thing, h 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
al his life to u%ndisputed supremacy
that the slightest o--osition angered
him unreasonably. He found his man
sitting by the corner of the overshot
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 vo"'ve set VI in produce
n groceries" The sneer in the mans
voice and the curl Of his lip made the
speech positively m~addenfng.
You've been misinformed, SQUIRE"
He calmly knocked his pipe against
the barn to free It from ashes. and pro-
ceeded with deliberation to find his
plug Of tobacco. His GOODNESS acted
Il a red rag on the chcleric old man.
"Hain't ordered q carload o. flour?
Oh, no Hain't bought two carloads o.
corn and one o. wheat? oh, no! Think
1 don't see what's going on. heigh?"
You cont in this case, 1t seems. It's
three OF corn and two Of wheat, per-
haps three" He pressed the tobacco
into the pipe bowl with his thumb, and
began to search his pockets for a
match.
who's selling yeh this grain, 1 want
1t to yeh2"
Who's selling it?" Hc echoed the
curtouly through the first white puffs
of smoke.
"Yessuh. who's selling it. There's
some here that can't afford to sell you
their wheat. They'll hnd mighty quick
that they can't afford it." He turned
cast a slowering look over the
rising passion, his face fairly purple.
The mans GOODNESS was like a whip
cut. You think you can cut under me
IN flour and make money? Flour! Co
ing to add dry goods and millinery and
5-ce%nt-counter stuff?" The sheer in
his voice was changing to a hard, mem
acing tone.
Why, it's possible. squire: it's posi-
ble." admitted the man meditatively.
Folks here seem to be paying big
prices and getting small returns for
their produce. I may get a carload of
farming tools next month. I find the
price lists very Interesting
ITO hell with your interest! Think
you're going to run me out of business,
do yeh?'
II don't intend to injure a living soul.
Squire Hartswick. I haven't the
slightest intention of Interfering with
slightest"
Honest. You call me dishonest to
my head, do yeh? You stand there and
insult me. do yeh? Heigh? You be
mighty careful. young man," He
swung his hand angrily within a foot
Of Fathing's nose.
II haven't called any man dishonest.
as you know very well. squire. but II
you wan to wear the coat I can't help
1t. You are doubtless ware Of your
W failings.'' He was as serene as IL
the conversation had been about the
weather.
Look here. Al Farthing." Realizing
suddenly a he had gone to far. he
made a great effort to control himself.
1T has taken me 40 years to work up a
business In this valley, and nobody
amt going to take it away from me
without the biggest fight they ever had
In their lives. You remember that.
These people here owe everything
they've rot in the world to me-e-e. II
l wanted to. I could turn half 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 thai. Now
what do you know about people here?
What do o know about their needs?
Not one thing, You come here a stran-
ger and think you're going to
run the whole show here and
make things all over. You
can't do 1t. All I want of you Is to