The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1916-03-23

ter to give it to the next highest man
III go right back in there and tell the
professor about the suit for Oscar Hen
derson."
I'm glad we did that" said Joe as
Mr.. Somerville came out
II am. too, but l am going to give
you a suit anyway myself"
Joe's father cleared his throat awk.
wardly.
''Mr. Somerville, IL want TO give
Joe them clo'es myself. I've been a
powerful poor daddy to a mighty fine
son, an l amt never done nothin' much
for him. He's made a little man out Of
himself in spite of me, an I've got a
little money this year for the first time
by sorter follerin' after his lead, an
l want to show that l got some intrus'
In him, anyway"
"Well, now. that's all right, and I'm
glad to resign in your favor, Tom"
81 believe Id rather have daddy give
'em to me, Mr.. Somerville. We are get
tin to be mighty good partners now,
ourselves" smiled Joe.
"You bet we are" delightedly said
Tom Weston. I've got the best boy III
seven states-an' I'm just tndin' it
out"
when do you reckon well hear from
the state prizes and those fertilizer
priest" asked Joe.
"Oh, not until some time late in
December. They've got to go over the
returns from eighty counties and figure
it all up, and l saw in a newspaper the
other day that there were over 1000
boys competing in this state"
Il don't suppose l stand any chance
on that" said Joe.
Pretty long Odds" remarked his
father.
There's no telling; it's possible, but
not likely. | would not get my hopes up
on that, Joe, if l were you. This is do
ing well enough for one year" Mr..
Somerville was trying to prepare him
for the possible disappointment.
II certainly did want that Washing
ton trip and to see things up there and
talk to the boss man in this agricul.
tural business"
"Well, son, maybe next year, with
what you've learned this year an hay
In your ground already in good fix, you
can beat 'em to it."
1--WE are carrying on like I'd lost"
laughed Joe. THE thing isn't decided
that have lost yet
"'Nothin' like bein' prepared as the
al hat hn1. tn,
clothes ready fifty years in case some
Teller would ask her." replied Tom
Weston.
"What'll you take for that poor old
place we are living on, Mr.. Somer-
ville?" asked Joe, after a few mo-
ments' silence, when the three had re-
turned to the store.
"Let's see. There's eighty-six acres
all together
wouldn't you sell half Of itY'
mo, couldn't do that, Tom. You
know how it lies. 1t could not well be
divided Then the part back from the
road did not sell you could not be
disposed of at al"
"Well, what'll you take?"
Mr. SOmerville's eyes twinkled.
"Since you and Joe have made such
crops on it this year, it's worth heap
more
''Now, that's what 1 call a dog mean
trick! laughed Joe.
"But, as l was going on to say, I'll
not tack on that extra So an acre"
"Whats the best you'll do on about
four years time?'
"Ill sell the eighty-siX acres and
throw in the house and barn for $50
an acre"
zone thousand seven hundred and
twenty dollars! That's a heap Of
money to a Teller that amt got none
hardly"
THAT'S very reasonable, Tom"
eyes, l amt disputin' that, but you
see 1 only made $780, My account
with you is $40. amt itY
Eyes"
"Then I'm goin' to pay you back
that $50 bonus you gave me on Joe's
time
mo, Tom. don't want
Eyes, sir; am. That's an investment
for myself-sef respec' AS for that
hundred you paid me for Joe, why, q
trades trade, an you made money
on it."
more than doubled my money"
"Well, that leaves me with $3.50
Then owe you $50 rent, that leaves
$3.50 | want to keep 500 cash to run
on, SOS | won't go in debt, and to buy
me a start of good hogs and some
chickens with, an that only leaves me
5000 could pay cash on the place"
That's a pretty small payment, |
Tom
Look here, Mr.. somcville," said |
Joe, who had been an Interested lis |
tener, II think I'll just change my |
plans some. Seems to me paying rents !
a waste of money. and the first thing |
folks ought to do is to get some solid |
ground of their own under their feet"
"No doubt about that, Joe but bust |
ness is business"
81 know that. and I'm going to talk |
business. Daddy, if you'll fix that place |
up so mother and Annie will have a |
home as long as they live in case any |
thing happens to us and then give me |
half of what's made on it after it's