The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-07-21

here. the town has run ter pigs anu
nobody can sell a pesky one. W.
offered mine fer q dollar apiece ana
no takers. was Just making up my
mind ter 70 kill the whole lot wnen
you came along" ,
, "Well. Mr.. Holden. pigs - what
want"
wal, by crimus! pigs IL what you
shall have. You're the flrst anger
ever saw tn pants, but If you take
them pigs off my hands I'll swear you
air one frum here tew Canada nne'
After looking the pigs over, Burt
said: NOW. Mr.. Holden, this Is my
proposition. If you will crate twent!
pigs and land them at the nearest
freight station I'll pay you two dollars
apiece, cash down. for them. Wnat
do you say?"
Say? Why. thunderation! take en-
and take EN- quick, fore l wake up
and find it's a nightmare"
The next day Burt was back home
What luck?" anxiously questioned MS
father.
Bought twenty nice pigs Of old Ho+
den"
Pigs" exploded the elder Sloan.
What the devil -, didn't send you
up there to buy pigs. but to sell sepa
rators."
do you happen to know, Dad"
went on Burt calmly. what pigs are
worth here?"
NO." snapped the old gentleman.
"but II they are worth as much az
fools, you have a corner on the mar
ket."
Burt grinned and departed. waiting
back, Better luck next time, dad; IN
the meanwhile pork IL going up with
FOOLS"
BY little judicious canvassing Burt
learned that pigs were very scarce In
the outlying districts, and he had no
difficulty In disposing Of his twenty
pigs before they arrived at $3.50
apiece.
The next week saw Burt back In q.
on the road to Holden's with brand
new Harples separator in the wagon.
Holden met him at the door, his
mouth wide open in establishment. but
eying the separator suspiciously.
want some more pigs?" he grtnned
sheepishly.
YES" promptly replied Burt;
didn't you say those sows were to
have another litter apiece this fallf"
"Yas, I expect they be-"
well, then. want to set this sepa-
rator In for you to use until the pigs
come along II you like 1t, why you
can pay me with the pigs. II you
don't, I'll take 1t back and buy the
pigs just the same, for $3.50 EACH"
Holden revolved the proposition
over In his mind obviously for several
minutes, but as he could see no way
that he could be the loser he finally
said, Il dunno. never run one of Their
blamed things, and don't believe
they're worth tinker's dam"
Then Burt drove in the convincing
wedge. "I'll tell you what I'll do, Mr..
Holden. I'm a little out of health
owing to rush of business, and I'll
stay here for a week or two and help
you get the run of the machine, and
pay you five dollars per week for my
board"
/ Gosh all hemlock! Yew don't mean
1t, dew yew?" stated the astonished
farmer
Sure do. Is 1t a bargain"
Il dunno; guess I'll 60 ask Mandy"
Mandy's answer must have been
sudden and convincing, for Holden
came hurrying back and said. Unload
her"
The horse stabbed. they went inside
I for supper, and there Burt Sloan met
lovely. modest. capable Bessie Holden
"A gem In rough setting. At the
end Of two weeks Holden was singing
the praises Of the Harples separator
all over town. and Burt, to himself.
was singing the praises Of shy. demure
Bessie Holden
Then Burt got busy: as fast 40 they
! could ship separators from the fac.
tory he snapped them for pigs. then
sold the pigs at an advance. Later
he brought Bessie home with him and
presented her to his father.
Have | made good?" he quiszically
inquired
Yes, my lad, in more ways than
one" he replied, as his eyes rested on
the sweet, blushing face before him.
Up in northern Vermont to this day
Burt Sloan. the Harples premier agent.
Is known as the pig man.
copyright 1873, by the Mcclure News.
paper Syndicate)