The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-02

with a torrent OF curses. Col. Kite
with red spot in each cheek, sud-
denly reached for his hip pocket. But
Delacroix disarmed him, and the quar-
rel was smothered just as Bonebrake
reappeared.
Skinny's wrath proved premature.
for upon reaching the street Bone
brake asked: Has this place ever
been inundated?"
1T got wet around the edges once.
way back in 49," answered Skinny.
"But there'll never be another flood
like that one, the way the rivers been
dredged and Strengthened"
I'll take a chance on 1t, anyhow"
said the young Spectator. you
gentlemen go on to the gin house and
draw up a bill of sale. I've got a
little business on hand, but I'll get
back as soon as can"
you agree to cents?" asked
skinny
well, leave the price blank" an
swered Bonebrake pleasantly. Under
the circumstances. it seems to me that
you might shade that a little. But
we'll talk 1t over"
Delacroix executed a neat dance step
on entering the office. but no JOY iliu-
minated McAnerty's face as his pen
scratched laboriously over the blank
bill Of sale he had fshed from Sho-
pierebs desk.
Gentlemen. this is too easy" he OBJ
served dejectedly. running his fingers
through his bristly iron gray pompa-
dour There's a niger in the fence
somers. He's goin' to balk at the
price. I believe"
Better sell 1t a cent or two off than
not at all. This cotton is sure
goner."
''Of course it's a goner. ordinarily
speakin'," retorted Skinny. irritably.
"Only fool would buy it now at any
price. Yet that kids no fool. and he's
goin' to buy. He's got something up
his sleeve. I tell you"
well you don't care as long as
he buys" returned the Major.
AT cent or two off?" snorted Nc
Afferty with red face. Its blasted
easy for you figgerheads that have
got nothin' at stake to pirate about a
cent or two of Two cents on this
batch Of cotton means $1,000
handsome piece Of change"
II don't think II necessarily follows
that he has something up his sleeve"
ventured the Colonel. II think his
buying may be charged to optimism
and rashness of youth"
'Pif,ie. That youth amt rash. He
could hornswoggle a whole regiment
of grayheads like you. Colonel; with
two companies like the Major here
throwed in for good measure. Yes.
sir! He's handin' us a stacked deck.
and I'd lay down $4,000 in gold to
know the run Of it,"
Meanwhile Bonebrake was killing
time against the arrival Of the Valley
Belle. Such citizens as had time to
talk agreed that Main street would
be under water in a few hours. The
gin house. they cheerfully informed
him. stood on lower ground and would
be under ten or twelve feet before
morning.
After an hour he took his stand on
a corner which gave him an unob-
structed view to the west. in which
direction he glued his eyes. Then
growing a little nervous he walked
down the street. and presently passed
young woman sitting on a veranda.
with a pair Of field glasses in her
hand.
pretty flush, but aren't you one
Of the gentlemen who bought Mr.. Sho-
pere's cotton?"
Yes. miss" he answered, d fling
his hat.
We'll, sch. theh's a steamboat over
yondeh in the woods, and | thought
mebbe you could get her To come over
heah and save that cotton"
His heart missed beat. but he took
the proffered glasses. Sure enough
the white upperworks of steamboat
showed plainly through the screen OF
trees. and while he looked a black
cloud of smoke escaped from one OF
her chimneys, like a soap bubble fl, m
a pipe. The two clouds which fol-
lowed al intervals of about twenty
seconds were visible 10 his naked eye.
1t was Capt. Calvert's signal
II was just going to telephone to
the ginnery when | saw you coming"
said the girl.
Again his heart, usually 50 steady.
cut a dido.
Mighty kind of you. miss. but III
save you that trouble. I'll sc. in com.
munication with that boat at once.
Meanwhile | must make confidence.
My partner, Mr. McAnerty has a very
bad heart. Any sudden emotion. the
doctors say. m ght carry him off. He's
at high tension now and I'm going
To keep this steamboat a :. Cret until
I'm sure ! can get her. May rely on
you to do the same?"
"Ce'tainly, sch" she answered
warmly.
With another Chestertie'dan bow
Woody turned back toward the gin
merry. The board sidewalk was now
as resilient as if laid on bed springs;
his knees had "A tendency To hit his
chin and he could almost smell the
mint which sable butler twisted
between his fingers in preparing a
julep on the Greek portico of TIlll-
crest.
"All filled in except the price, eh,"
he observed as he scanned the bill of
sale in the presence of the three s.
lent, watChful men, His fingers trem-
bled slightly ana his throat was dry
as he added as casually as he could:
Gentlemen, ! find that this cotton
is in more danger than | supposed.
Under the circumstances | can Offer
you only three cents a pound"
Had an aerolitc from heaven ex-
plodcd in the room the ensuing silence
would not have been more profound
Then McAfferty leaped to his feet.