The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-05

yore best trim am everybody else is quiet.
 ..So while I never talked it even to friends I have always thought I'd like to own newspaper. I reckon I'd have had one before this, but I was afeard couldn't run the whole shebang by myself However, all yore talk, How ard. about goin' off kept simmerin' in nay mind till got newspaper so much in my head that I had to take action. Now, you may think me fool, but Eve gone an bought paper-at least, I've made payment on one, an the deal is as good as closed. Now, what do you think? This is the way the mat ter stands. I'll make a born idiot O myself ef I can't git a young man O brains to run the thing fer me. Eve bought what's left of the Clarion, an ef you'll cut out this trip O yOre'n to the wild and Woeily west and lay hold here with me you will do me a big faVor.n The young couple stared incredulous- ly. Are you in earnest?'' Howard ask ed, and Mary leaned forward, a blaze of understanding kindling in her eyes and face.
 +'Yes; I'm in earnest, and you've got
 
 this thing fairly hum. You may have full swing. I'H trust it all to yore Judgment We'll agree on the terms. All I'd expect would be a moderate rate of interest for the money .lvest- ed, and you may have the rest.''
 Mary's eyes were full of tears. She started to speak, but choked up. How ard was deeply moved. tsI'm not worthy of it, Uncle Alb. Of all things, it is what I'd like best, but ought not to let you'-
 Cut all that out,'' Abner said firmly. f<You will not only give the Clarion new life, but between us we can build this town up. The place is in prime condition to git boom on herself. She lies fine here at the meein' point O two railroads, an the new one that's talked of may be induced to head this way. A month from now Hillhouse won't know the New Clarion from a side O sole leather. The ready print paper must go to the scrap heap; every line in our paper must be printed at home so we can control our advertising space. Now you two talk it over while run down to the washroom an git the dust out 0, my whiskers.''
 @tOh, isn't he good?'' Mary all but sob bed when she and Howard were alone. Howard, your mother will be the hap piest woman in the world when she hears the news-'
 "It is great opportunity the young man answered, ttand I'm going to do my best to prove myself worthy of Un- cle Abs confidence
 A step was heard lin the corridor out side and Cora Langham and her moth, CT came in. Howard rose to greet them, while Mary stared steadily out through the open door.
 Immediately after dinner Abner went to the bank and thence down to the office of the Clarion. He found Hill house in the main room seated at his desk A thing which had an orninous look to Abner was the ten dollar bill still lying on the table where he had left it. Abner bent over it without touching it, a resentful expression on
 Whats this-C Confederate money?" he half laughed. Nt.At first sight tuck it fer the greenback laid thar to elinch our trade. Eff it is genuine I'd put it in my hip pocket or weight it down with some'n' OF other
 q don't want your money. Ab.''
 tfYou say you don't?, Well, that's good trait in you, H1llhouse. Most folks in these days O graft will take any money they kin lay hands on, but as you own this bill you needn't have any scruples In fact, I've just come in to hand you lot more Here is fourteen handred and ninety, as crisp as dry leaves round a campfEe''
 FI know Pm actin like baby" HiIl- house all but whimpered- q know my own mind, Alb; but Eve lived with wdshy Washy woman kso long that I'm slave to her Whims. I want to sell out want to go in with Joe because it is the best chance I ever had. but my Hife'-
 Your wifes' Abner said contemptu- ousIy.
 H1lhouse said desperately: HsAfter you Left went home to tell Ter, but just couldn't do it I found Ter amongst her flowers in the front yard You know she's great hand to cultivate fine roses. When got to the gate she called my attention to a big yellow bush and said it would draw a prize in any show in the country. | let her talk a few minutes, then all at once she up and asked me if had seen the fellows that was trying to get up the money to buy the Clarion. told her hadn't and asked her why she want ed to know.
 " 'Because,' said she, they are pret- ty pair of fools if they think I'd sell ont my paper and move away from such beautiful flower garden as this. They tell me that roses like these sim ply won't take root as far south as Augusta and that the houses of the city set so close together that each resident hasn't an inch of space to plant even hill of beans.'''  CHAPTER V.