The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-10-28


department"
asbs aim ,o;nsy ''Ain't nothin
ter do with sell
in trees?" LATE suggested
Nope"
''Nor books?"
"Nope"
'Nor lightnin' rods?
"Nope"
"Then put up yer horse an step
round to the house"
Tanning is my name-William K.
Tanning"
LATE was not impressed.
well, l s'pose canyassers must have
names, same as other people" he said.
Mr.. Tanning grew slightly purple.
Il amt a canvaser. and l don't want
to sell you anything. You understand?
I'm here to talk business" He hurried
along before Lafe could get in word.
THE United States typographical de-
partment is making map of this coun-
try, and you may or may not know it,
but right on the creek that runs
through your pasture lot, next to the
white oak tree.''-here Mr.. Tanning
consulted a paper-"and thence TWEEN
ty-four degrees forty minutes east ten
chains and thirteen Inks
Excuse me, Mr. Tanning" Lafe in
terrupted. Il amt no land Surveyor
Mr.. Tanning waved an airy gesture
with his large white hand.
That's all right" he went on;
there amt no necessity for me to con-
tinue. The point is this-right next to
that white oak tree is the center of
population Of New York, Vermont.
Pennsylvania and Connecticut"
Pretty lonesome there In winter, all
the same" LATE suggested. He shut
fed his feet uneasily. I'D be glad to
visit with you some more. but l got
heap o chores an no help to speak Of"
That's all right" Mr.. Tanning as
sured him again; my times worth
money and so is yours. l won't mince
words about it. but the United States
government has decided to put up a
monument in your pasture lot similar
to the one | show you here
Mr.. Tanning produced some photo
graphs of small cairns. or monuments,
erected by the United States geodetic
survey in the course of its work and
made a running comment on each pic
ture
Now. here's one of the monuments
built on Mount Pisgah. the highest
point in the northern tier counties he
said. Handsome piece of work. don't
you think?''
Some might say So" LATE replied,
but don't know as l want any such
contraption in my pasture lot
Immediately Mr. Tanning dug down
into his trousers pocket and produced
a roll of bills, from which he peeled
ten crisp five dollar notes.
Uncle Sam amt no niggard when |
it comes TO paying for what he wants"
he declared. land here's $50 for the |
privilege of building q small stone !
in your pasture lot. Take
emf He thrust the bills into Lafe's 4
hand and seized his hat Now, that's /
he said and strobe out of the 1
house.
See here" Lafe commenced, Il don't
know as ought to-
You mean" Mr.. Tanning broke in
without pausing in his progress toward
he barn. you don't feel like taking
he money without giving receipt.
Well. that's all right; your words good
enough for me-"
"'Tain't that" Lafe corrected, but
well, all right, if you insist" said
Mr. Tanning, pausing. Have it your
,wn way
He searched in his breast pocket and
pulled out sheet of paper. Then he
handed a fountain pen to Lafe.
Sign here" he said.
Folding the paper so that only the
pot he indicated was visible. he held
t against his horses flank while Lafe
ppended a very shaky signature.
Without waiting to blot 1t. Mr.. Fan
ling took the document and started to
cave.
The buggy had proceeded a couple of
hundred yards when LATE woke up.
lie Immediately commenced running
nd shouting at his lungs capacity.
yhereat Mr.. Tanning gave his trotter Il
vicious cut with the whip and start
d off at 2:40 gait
In the meantime Jimmie moved ,
at the bend of the farm lane
ear the pasture lot. He had straight
ned up for a moment to take the kinks
ut of his back. when the clatter of
be trotter's hoofs and Lafe's discord-
Mt roaring broke on his ear.
"a runaway" he cried, and sprang
Ito the middle Of the lane.