St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1921-12-17


lead, Stannie, my son II you have,
here's what follers: Charley Butler
toms here to do the .dickerin' for that
same old high-bindin' Cinnabar outfit
that did your gran'paw up. They sold
for half million r so and now they're
willin' to buy back for thirty or forty
or fifty thousand. By Jezebel! just
knew that slick-tongued rooster was
tryin' to work some skin gamer
''Yet he is going to marry your
daughter" I put In grimly.
AT this the old man turned gloomy
serious in the batting of an eye, draw
ing his mouth down at the corner and
sucking hard at the pipe which had
long since burned out.
THAT'S been a-pinchin' me like
tight boot, Stannie," he admitted. IF
you'd asst me afore he come, I'd a.
told you she hadn't morsel o. use
for that con! dummed blowhard But
just you fodk ut the way things are
stackin' up howl He's snoopin' round
her mighty near all the whole time
and she hain't never once give me the
wink to send him a-kitin', like I'm
itchin' tot"
He told me to look. had been look
ing until my eyes ached. The indi-
cations were all one way, tons Of
them; with only one little impulsive
kiss to put in the other pan of the
scale. didn't tell Daddy about the
kiss; but I did tell him that Jeanne
had told me not to sell the Cinnabar
| "So?" he commented, livening up 4
little. 'eThat brings on more talk.
Reckon you can make out to hang onto
the old cows tail for spell longer?"
I took tiriie to consider my answer.
1--WE been; wondering If, all things
given their due footing, 1t were worth
while to hang on; Daddy. As matters
stand now, Fullerton Is stuck unless
I sell out to him. It should take my
foot in my hand and walk out, he'd
be left up in the air. But, on the 9TH
er hand, there's Jeanie II she's go
ing to marry Fullerton, why, that's a
horse of another color. I'm not enough
Of dog-ln-the-manger to bite her nose
off to spite Bullerton's face"
"Um," was the grunted response.
Then, with side swipe that wasn't
looking for: Charley Bullerton's been
hintin' round that you're tied up with
a girl back East. Is that so?-or Is 1t
on'y another one O. his frilly lies2''
I laughed.
II wish knew, Daddy; I'd sure tell
you II would anybody. We were
really engaged-the 'back-Eas girl and
L; but don't sthinkswe are now, and
I don't think she thinks so. Anyway
she called it all OF when we found out
or thought we found out-that my
grandfather hadn't left me anything
in his will. She's like Jeanie says she
is, you know: she's got to marry
money"
Jus So" he said, with a rather
grim CLINT In the mild blue eyes. "Al
the same, If you had the old Cinnabal
in slap-up workin' order, reckon you't
have to go back yonder and marry
her, wouldn't YET"
''rd be In honor bound to offer to
anyway"
'"That don't sound much like you wa.
carin' whole lot for her." he OBJ
jected gravely.
despaired in advance OF making
him understand the lack OF sentiment
In the case, or the viewpoint from
which any such condition could be con
sidered as human possibility. HI
was much too simple-hearted. So
got rid Of the Lisette obstacle, or 60
around it. as best / could.
"She has been free for several weeks
now; in all probability she is wearin
some other fellows ring by this time
4 But about the Cinnabar: assumin
that my string of guesses is hitche
up to the true state of affairs. wha
/ world you advise me to 10? Sl1a1
] hang on-with MI prospect that
nj GETTING anywhere on a,
own hook? Or shall sell out to Blu
lerton and thus let your daughter /
4 for wife's share Of a possible fol
tuner"
tf.Gosh-all-hemlock l" he sputteret
when you line it up that-away,
reckon ain't the man to tell you wha
to do !" Then, as upon a second an
belated thought: "Jeanie says for 70
not to sell; II she said that to- me, r
hang on till the cows come home.
would soi''
] got up and knocked the ashes fro1
my pipe.
and that, Daddy, is precisely wha
I'm going to do" said; and the say
Ing Of it ended the conference In til
abandoned tunnel Of the Little Jear
la
Continued next Week1