Lower coast gazette., 1913-09-13
experience. No agent will catch

to experience. No agent will catch
you again." -,
Uncle George vowed that he would
resist paying to the bitter end, and
that he would make a bonfire out OF
the gates. But after he had returned
home. and Aunt Lucy had talked Win
HI him. he drove to Easton Center n
Maid the note. When he came PACK,
he looked as if he had been at the tu'
neral of his last friend.
It was not so much the loss OF the
money, although no ordinary man,
least of all a farmer who works hard
for what he gets, likes to lose $500;
Int the hardest blow was to Uncle
Georges pride. He had been sWindled
and he had always believed himself
Mi h%ard.headed. and capable of dealing
iii with any man on even terms.
None of us said anything more to
him about the unfortunate deal, but
he moped about the place, and hardly
exchanged a word with any one. AS
for passing the open shed where the
gates were stored, think ne would
have walked a mile to avoid it.
Leonard came home when was
graduated. and afterward returned
to Deckerville to spend a week with
iii him. The second day after my ARRIVAL
there, almost ran into Rogers on
iii State Street, He did not recognize
me, but l knew him at once. lie was
talking earnestly to a tall man with
a gray beard.
I ran up the stairs to Fraley's office.
"Rogers is right below here noW,'
said to Leonard, working up a vic
tim" My brother dropped his pen
and seized his hat; and soon we were
standing at the bottom OF the stair
way. peering out into the street.
"That's ]. G. Scoville, one Of the best
farmers around here" said Leonard
Ellis place is three miles north OF the
town. I've been out there several
times; l know his daughter. Come
across the street: we don't want them
to see us watching"
We got behind an awning, apparent.
w absorbed in our WI business, and
at last heard the agent say ITS q
great proposition, Mr.. Scoville. Think
it over. I'll be out right after dinner
tomorrow" Then the two separated
"H-m!" said Leonard. "What do You
say Ed. to our being out too?"
The next morning, while Leonard
was hurrying through his work at the
office. engaged a horse and buggy
for the afternoon.
We started at one o'clock. ON tn
way we rehearsed our plans. Whel
we neared our destination, Leonar'
said, II want to see Nettle Scovllle 10
ten minutes; she can be a great hell
You hide the rig back of the old saw
mill and wait for me there"
AS | was hitching the horse, ! say
Rogers drive by, with a long, iigh
wagon, containing one or W gates
Presently Leonard appeared smiling
and we slipped round the orchard an
made our way to the Scoville bari
From there we watched Mr.. ScOvll
and the agent put up the gate. Ate
thew had tested it several times, the
went to the house.
Don't you worry" he said. NETT
will keep happening right round whel
they are, and there won't be any bus
ness done. Men like Rogers dor
want witnesses in earshot when thu
do their fine work.
It was nearly five o'clock when tt
III two men came out on the porch al
strolled to the barn; Rogers was tai
ing earnestly. They went into t
horse-stable, and we slipped aero
and entered by the rear door. Roge
had his blanks spread out on top
,ngor the oat.bex, and was repeating the
neHa gument that had beguiled Uni
am n George.
They were so much interested
their talk. that, by keeping behind
Was row of harnesses, we got within
'ut 70 yard of them without their seeing
hearing us. Mr.. Scoville declal
sald that he did not wish to try a new br
arM' ness, but at last he took the pen Il
INK Is Rogers proffered, and signed one q
it will uin. M .aant haa thoroughly axnlai,
=. w. .ne the contents of it.
Weo. Then Rogers produced the sec(
u paper and the farmer attached his
Eonsiy nature. AS he lifted the pen al
~ ie- dotting the ri" Leonard stepped
wy ward and said:
"Do you see what you've signed,
= 10" Scoville??"
would .oa"uarad h;mso1f almost instan
a lot ~ ,oanad toward Leonard. I eau
ay the a ~ = M hrothar smiled and Il
.an ed him squarely in the eye. We "
eien both good-sized fellows, not SO ne
- as Rogers, by fifty pounds, but m
years younger, and in much be
- r;m IT. o,,icLlv decided that a I