Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-01-25

| y
1 the modern practice Of watering stock.
| The earnings, after all, are not increas-
ed by stock juggling"
Sledge turned ponderously from his
inspection of the dingy little areaway
as Bendix left the room.
"Your girls peach" he delicately
limited.
"Molly?" smiled Marley's nose. "she
is a beauty, isn't she? The boys are
crazy about her. 1t looks like a col
lege convention out at my house all
the time.'
II want to get acquainted with her.
ordered Sledge, much as If he had been
sending the happy word to some rising
new politician.
A shade Of annoyance passed over
Marley's brow.
THAT is matter which is entirely
up to Molly" he stated. with trace
of stiffness.
| "All right. Put it up to Molly" said
Sledge and looked out OF the window
again.
Marley hesitated and half arose. He
knew that his call was over, and yet
be had something else on his mind.
"By the way, sledge," he observed,
| trying to speak as if the matter had
| Just occurred to him, that note Of
mine at the First Nationalist falls due
next week. / am afraid shall have
to have an extension"
| >Sledge nodded imperceptibly.
TELL Davis said it was all right"
he directed.
Bendix returned, and with him was
| Bert Glider, reGolent Of the odor Of
barber shop and with his curly black
nustache waxed and brilliantined I'M
til it was filed with almost painful re-
Elections. He greeted Mr.. Marley with
much more effusiveness than that gen
tleman did him.
Hello, Marley he said, grasping the
street car magnate's hand with ire
mendous man to man heartiness. "You
are just the one I want to see. I've
been trying to get Molly on the phone.
and they tell me she'll be in at your
office some time this afternoon. Will
you carry her the happy news that
Dicky Reynolds is in town and that
invited him to her taffy pulling tomor-
row night? Tell her to invite Jessie
Peters" 4
Sledge turned slow questioning eyes
on Marley.
"You going to be home tonight?" he
inquired. .s
"Well, yes, I rather think So" fal
tered Marley.
Pm coming out to see you" decided
Sledge.
"Ill be glad to have you," admitted
Marley. II suppose I may see Davis
| tomorrow?
Sledge nodded assent, looking stonily
| out meanwhile at the hand hole in the
high board gate at the end of the area
way.
well, Glider, tell us about it," invit-
ed Bendix as Marley went out.
II want you to tell me-" laughed
Glider, in happy Inconsistencies that
he was deadly offense to Sledge, who
called him ''pretty;" lis the Ridgewood
! avenue extension sure go?"
| d
quired Bendix.
| Il have little speculation in mind
which depends on it, confessed Glider.
| Subdivision at the end Of the line
I suppose" guessed Bendix.
"Well, yes" acknowledged Glider.
Foxy of you to think Of it, ap-
| plauded Bendix. 'Your only fault is
that you don't guess those things first.
Who do you suppose would acquire a
deed to that land before the extension
| was publicly announced"
II know the answer" returned Gill
| der, crestfallen. but still handsome;
you fellows"
| Certainly not" denied Bendix. But
some friend of the family-yes, may
be. How much will you give for the
| land?' :,
I'm not at liberty to state" replied
Glider uncomfortably. ''The owner
made me price ON it this morning.
| but it was confidential"
'"The owner didn't know he was
tagged" retorted Bendix dryly. "You
may have the land, think, for TWEEN
ty thousand, Glider, but you'll have to
| speak quick"
Twenty thousand" gasped Glider.
why. old Person offered it to me for
eight" a..
That's what we intend to pay him."
"Giye me day or two to think it
over" begged Glider.
"All right: you're on" agreed Ben
dix, and hurried out Of the room.
Bert was about to follow him when
Sledge called
"Glider," was his peremptory sum
mons, what kind Of flowers does Mol
| ly Marley like" -
Bert Glider almost stuck the ash end
| Of his cigar in his mouth, then sud-
denly upbraided himself for fool as
he mentally, complirnented Sledge on
deserving his reputation Of being the
most astute politician. in the state.
Red roses" he promptly returned
| and, twirled the right hand curl Of his
mustache. He stopped that process
abruptly and felt of the curl with deep
concern One Of the hairs was disar-
ranged, and he fixed ii. with the aid of
| a vest pocket mirror,
Thanks said Sledge and resumed
his interested inspection of the hand