ABNER
DANIEL
By . . .
WILL N.
HAR.BEN
CesyigM. 1902. ty
Airca. mos,
b Bk rrm. All
BVigiMS Lwm4
r
CH.M'l Kit I.
IriK young nun stood In tb
ttrid road giving direction to
robust negro who u plow
iug the e ro. wblcb lu paral
M run ntn.ti.bn1 ou to the main road
a quarter of a mile distant.
It was beaniif ul day. The sun was
sbiuitig brightly, but tbe atmosphere
bad dropped a diu Tell over tba near-
by mountain. Even tb two storied
farmhouse, with Its veranda and white
columns, to wblcb tbe Held road led up
a gradual slope, showed only It out
linos. However, AUn Bishop, aa b
steadied bla guxe upon tbe bouae, saw
tbo figure of an elderly wouun come
out of tbe gate and with a quick step
hurry dowa to blm. It waa hi mother.
She waa tall and angular and bad high
cheek bone aud amull blue eyes. fclbe
bad rather tbln gray balr. wblcb was
wound Into a kuot beblud ber bend,
and over It sbe wore ouly small red
breakfast shawl, which she held In
place by oae of ber tons; bands. .
"Alan," sbe said, panting from ber
brisk walk, "I waut you to come to tbe
house right off. Mr. Trabue bas come
to see yore pa again, an' I can't do
thing with 'lin." '
"Well, what des be want with blmr
asked the young man. His glance was
on the plowman and bis borse. Tbey
had turned the far end of tbe corn row
and were coming back, only tbe nod
dlug head of the auluial being visible
beyond a little rise. ..;- .
"tie's coiue to draw up tbe papers
fer another latd trade yore pa's ni ak
in". He's tbe lawyer tit tbe Tompkins
"LUlen to notntn'," tAundered Dithop.
estate. Tore pa tried to buy tbe land
a yeer ago, but It wasn't In shape to
dispose of. On, Alan, don't you see
he's Roln' to ruin us with bis fool no
tions? Folks all about are a-laughln'
at him fer buyln' ao much useless
mountain land. I'm powerful afeerd
bla mind la wrong."
"Well, mother, what could I dor
Alan Bishop asked Impatiently. "You
know he won't listen to me."
"I reckon you can't atop Mm," sighed
tbe woman, "but I wish you'd come on
to tbe house. I knowed be was up to
sonie'n'. Ever day fer tbe last week
he's been rldln' up tbe valley an'.rollln'
nn' tumbllu' at nigbt an' cbawln' ten
. times as much tobacco as he ort Oh,
he's golu' to ruin ua! Brother Abnar
. aays he Is buyln' beca'ae he thinks It's
golu' to advance In value, but sech
property hain't advanced a apeck sense
I kin remember an' Is bein' sold ever
yeer fer tax money .
"Sn It's very foolish of blin," said
tbe young man aa the two turned to
. ward the house. "Father keeps talking
about the due timber on sucb property,
but it Is entirely too far from rail
road ever to be worth anything. I ask
ed Ray burn Miller about It, and he
told me to do all I could to stop father
from Investing, and yon know he's as
sharp a speculator aa ever lived; but
It'e bis money."
There was a paling fence arouud the
bouse, and the Incloaure was alive with
chk kens, turkeys, geese, ducks and pea
fowls. In tbe sunshine on tbe veranda
two pointers lay aleeplng, but at tbe
sound of the opening gate tbey rose,
tretcbed themselves lastly and gaped.
"They are In the parlor," said Mrs.
Bishop, as she whisked off her brock
. fast nbawl. "llo right In: I'll come In
uiluute. I want to see bow Linda la
ma kin' out with the cburuln'. Lai X
feel like It's a waste o' time to do
tick o' work with him In thar actin'
like a Child. Ef we both go In together.
It'll look like we've concocked aoiue
tliln', buT we must stop 'lm ef we kin."
Alan went luto the parlor on tbe left
of the wide, unoarprted ball. The room
bad white plastered walls, but the ceii-
ttiK was of boards planed by baud and
jMilnted-sky blue. In oue corner stood
very old piano with pointed, octag
onal legs nnd a stool with haircloth
covering. Tbe fireplace was wide and
high and bad screen made of a dec
orate.! window shade tightly pasted on
a wowlcn frame. Old man Bishop sal
bear n window and through bia atecJ
framed nose glasses waa carefully read
III); a long document written on Icgnl
cop paper. He paid no attention to tb
entrance or Ills sou, but the lawyer.
short, fat mail of sixty-five with thick
IvVii k hair that fell below bis coat col
lar, rose, and extended bia band.
"I Iowa A In or he aaked pleasantly
"I saw you down lu the Held as I coin
ahuig, but I couldn't catch your eye
Ttu see, I'm out after some o' yout
dad's cash. He's buying hlsse'f rich
My Lord, If It ever does turn his waj
it wxmn In mnch nootiev to act yoj
an' your sister up for lue! io.ks tell
me he owns mighty near every stick
of timber land In tbe t'ohutta valley,
au' what he bas be got at tbe bottom
figure. , . ; .
"If it ever turns his way," said
Alan. "But do you see any prospect
of Its ever doing so, Mr. Trabue V
Tbe lawyer shrugged bis shoulders.
"I never bet on another man's trick,
my boy, and I never throw euld water
on the plana of a speculator. I used
to when I was about your age, but I
saw so many of 'em get rich by paying
no attention to me that I 'quit right
off. A moo ought to be allowed to use
bis own Judgmeut."
Old Blsluip was evidently not bear
ing a word of this conversation, being
wholly absorbed -In studying the de
tails of tbe deed before blm. "I reckon
It's all right." be anally said.' "Ton
say tbe Toiapklus children are all of
age?" - . . .
"Yes. EtHe waa the youngest," an
swered Trabue, "and she stepped over
the tine lust Tuesday. There's her
signature la black and white. The
deed's all right. I don't draw up any
other sort." .
Alan went to bis father and leaned
over blm. "Father," be said softly
and yet with firmness, "I wish you'd
not act hastily In this deal. You ought
to consider mother'a wishes, and she Is
nearly distracted over It."
Blsbop . was angry. . His niassiv
rlean shaven face was red. "I'd like
to know what I'd consult her for," be
said. lti a matter o' this kind a worn
an's about as responsible as a suckln'
baby." ' ' .
Trabue laughed heartily. "Well. 1
reckon It's a good - thing your wife
didn't bear that or she'd show you
whether she was responsible or not
couldn't have got the unit word of
that off my tougue before my wife
would 'a knocked me clean through
that wall" ,
Alfred Bishop seemed not to cxro for
levity during business hours, for he
greeted this remark ouly with a frown,
He scanned tbe paper again and snld,
Well, ef tbnr's any flaw In this I
reckon you'll make It right."
Oil, yes, I'll make any mistake of
mine good." returned Trabue.- . "The
paper's all right."
"You see," said Alan to the lawyer,
mother and I think father bas al
ready more of this sort of property
than be can carry, and"
I wish you and yore mother 'd let
my business alone," broke In Bishop,
Bring up again. ' "Trabue beer know
I've beeu worryln' 'lm fer the last two
months to get the property In salable
shape. Do you reckon after be gets it
that away I want to listen to yore two
tongues a-waggln' In open- opposition
to itr -
Trabuo rubbed bin hands together.
It really don't make a bit of differ
ence to me, Alan, oue way or the
other," be aald pacifically. "I'm only
acting aa attorney for the Tompkins
estate and get my fee Whether there's
transfer or not That's where I stand
In the matter."
"But It's not ,whar I stand in It Mr.
Trabue," aald firm voice In tbe door
way. It was Mrs. Bishop, ber blue
eyes flashing, ber face pale and rigid
I think I've got a right-end a bis
one to have say so in this kind of a
trado. A woman 'at's stayed by
man a siue rer thirty odd yecr an'
raked an' scraped to be'p save a little
handful o property fer ber two chil
dren bas got right to raise a rumpus
Wben her husband goes crooked like
Alfred haa an' starts In to bankruit
'em all Jest fer a blind notion o' hls'n.
"Oh, thar jou are!" said Bishop, lift
ing his eyes from tbe paper and glar
ing at her over hla glasses. "I knowed
I'd have to have a knockdown on'
drag out light with you 'fore I signed
my name, ao sail in an' git It over.
Tra hue's got to ride back to town.'
"But whar In tbe name o common
sense Is the money to come fromr tbe
-woman burled at her husband as she
rested one of her bony bunds on the
edge of the table and glared nt him.
"As I understand It, t bar's about 6,000
acres In this piece alone, an' yo're
a-payln' a dollar a acre. Vhnrs it
a -com I u' from. I'd like to know T Whar's
It to come from?" -
Bishop sniffed and ran a steady hand
over his short, gray bnlr. "You see
bow little sbe knows o' my business.
be said to the lawyer. "Ilecr she's
ralslu' the devil an' Turn Walker about
the trade, lin' she don't so much as
kuow whar the money's to come from."
"How waa I to know?" retorted the
woman, "when you've been telllu' me
fer the last - six months that tbar
wasn't enoiiKh In the bauh to give the
bouse a coat o' fresh paint an' piitdb
tbe barn roof."
"You knowed 1 hnd I.VOnO wulb o
Sock In tbe MmhI Klver cotton m.lls.
dn't your aked Bishop defiantly
and yet with 'the manner of man
throwing mls-ille which he hoped
would lull lightly.
"Yes, I knowed that, but" The
woman's eyes were two small urea
burning hu.tgrily for Information be
yond their reach. : .
"Well, It happens that Klioal stock la
Jest the same on the market as ready
Btnney. tip a little today an' dowu to
morrow, but never varyiu' tuore'n a
fraction of a cent on the dollar, au'
tlie Tompkins heirs say they'd jest as
lleve have It, au' as I'm Itibln' to re
lieve them of the'r land It didn't tnk
us long to come together."
If he bad struck the woman squarely
In tbe fare, she could hot have -shows
more surprise. Hbe became white to
tbe lips aud with low cry turned to
her son. ,."Oh, Alan, don't don't lot
'lui do It. ' It's all we have left tlut
we can depend on It win ruin ns!" -
"Why, father, surely." protested
Alan as be put hla arm around tils
mother, "surely yon can't mean to let
re your mill Investment which Is pay
ing IS per cent to put the money lute
lands that may never advance In value
and alwaya be a dead weight on your
bands! Tblnk of the lose of Interest
and tbe taxes to be ke, '
you must listen to" -"IJxten
to nothlu'," thundered Blub
on, half rising from his chair. "No
body axed you two to put In. - tt'a my
busiueiMi an' I'm a-goln' to attend to
It. I believe I'm dolu' the right thing.
an that settles It."
"The right thing." moaned tbe old
wouuin ns sbe sank Into a rhafr and
covered her face with ber hands. "Mr.
Trnlme." she went on flercfly, when
that factory stock lenves ou bands we
won't have a single thing to our names
tuut will bring In a ceut of Income.
You kin see bow bad It la on a woman
W ho has worked as Imrd to do fer ber
children as I have. Mr. Bishop always
said Adele, who is vlsltlu' ber uucle's
family In Atlanta, should 'have that
stock fur a weddiu' gift ef she ever
married, au' Ala a was to have tbe low
er half of this form. Now. what would
we have to give the girl uotbtn' but
thousands o' acres ef bills, mountains
an' gulches full o bear, wildcats au'
catamounts bind that It ud break any
young couple to bold on to, much less
put to any use. Oh, I feel perfectly
sick over Itr
Thore was a heavy, dragging step In
tbe ball, aud long, luuk man of six
ty or sixty live years of sge paused In
tho doorway. He had no beard except
a tuft of gray hair on bis chin, and his
teeth, being few aud far between, gave
to bis cheeks a hollow appearance. He
was A liner Daniel. Mrs. Bishop's bach
elor brother, who lived In tbe family.
"Hello!" be exclaimed, shifting big
qnld of tobacco from one check to the
other. Tlottia' agin the whites? Ef
you are, I'll decamp, as the feller said
wben tbe bull yeerllu' butted 'lm In tbe
small o' the back. How are you, Mr.
Trabue? Have they ruu you out o"
town fer some o' yore legal rascality?"
I reckon your sister thinks It's ras
cality that's brought me out today."
laughed the lawyer. "We are on a lit
tle land deal"
"Oh, well. Ill move on." said Abner
Daniel. "I Jest wanted to tell Alan
that Itlcg's bogs got Into bis young
corn In tbo bottom Jest now an' rooted
up about as many acres as role Bak
er's plowed all day. Ef they'd a -rooted
In straight rows ntil not gone too nhrh
tbe stalks, they mought 'a' done tbe
crup more good than barm. bit the'r
nim or Intention, one or t'other, was
bad. ' Folks ie that away. Mighty few
of 'cm root when tbey root at all fer
pnyhody but the'rse'ves. Well. I'll gl
along to my room."
"Ixm't go. Brother Ab," pleaded bis
sister "I want you-to be'p me stund
up fer my right. Alfred la about to
swap our cotton mill stock fer some
more wild mountain bind." '
In spite of bis pntiirul tendency to
turn everything Into a Jest even t '
STiotis things of llfp-the sallow fa
of the tall iniin lengthened.' He stnr 1
Into the faces around blm for a ne
nient; then a slow twinkle dawned
his eye.
' fI've never been knowed to take sides
in any connubial tussle yet," be said
Trabue In dry tone. "Alf may ik.
know what he's about right now, but
be a Solomon hlsse'f compared to
feller that will uudertake to set He
dispute betwixt a man an' his wife
more especially the wife. Ceewblllktns
I never shall forget tbe time old Ja.
Hiirdeway come heer to attend a wee
an' Alf thar nn' BetHy split over buyln
a batruck fer tbe bulb Betsy bad seed
oue over at Mason's at tho canipgrouti
nil determined she'd have one. Muytie
yon noticed that fancy rolitrnptimi In
the hall as you come In. Well, Alf seed
nigger iinloadlu' It from a wagon at
the door one morn In', nn' wben Betsy,
In feer an' treiuMIn', told Mm what It
was fer bo mighty nigh had a fit 1
said his folks never had been abov
hangin' the'r cor.ts an' hats on good.
stout nails an' pegs, an as fer them
umbrella pans to ketch the drip, be
said they was fancy spltboxcs, an1
wanted to know ef she expected a body
to do the'r chawlu an smokln' In that
windy hall.- Ike snld It Jest should not
stand tbar with nil them prongs an'
arms to attack unwary folks In the
dark, an be toted It out to tbe buggy
sued, that got Betsy s dander up. aa'
she put It back agin-the wall an' said
It 'ud stay tbar ef, she bad to stand
behind it an' hold it In place. 'Alf
wasn't done yet. He Mowed ef they
was to have sech a purty trick aa that
ou. tbe hill It bad to stay In the best
room In the house, so be put It heer in
tlie parlor by the pluno. But Bets
took It back two or three tlmen, an' be
larnt that he was a-doln' a eight
work fer nothlu' an' finally quit totiii
It about
he, tou, went out.
flUlf EU II.
LAN found bis uncle on th!
back prcb washing his face
and bauds In a basin on tbe
water shelf. The youiii: twin
bwiied agalust one of the wooden iw.s
which supported the low roof oi tbe
porch and waited for blm to conclude
the puiting, sputtering oivratiou. whlWi
be finally did by tut-eloping his Uad
hi a hue; towel banging from a ivikmI
eu roller on the wratherboardiiu.
"Well." he laughed, "yore uncle Ab
dldu't U-tter mutters la thar overly
much, Lut what could a feller do?
Yore pa's as bullheaded as a yotmt
steer, au' he's already played siiiuhIi
anyway. Yore ma's wastln' breatb;
tut a woman seems to bare plenty oX
It to spare., A woman's tongue's like
windmill It takes breath to i.tep It
a-golu', an' a dead clam 'ud kill her
business."
"It's no laughing matter, L'ncle Ab."
said Alan despondcutly, "Soinethinu
must have goue wrong with father'
Judgment. " He never has acted th''
way before." . .. .
Tbe old man dropped the towel ami
thrust bis long, almost Joint bus firmer
luto bla vest pocket for a hern comb
which folded up like a Juckknlfo.
was Jettt a wonderln'," as be begun f
rake bis sliuggy balr straight down to
his eyes "I was Jest B-woiideriii' ef
be could 'a' bent bin r'.ull lu n litt'
that time bin mule th'owe l Mm ag'ln
tlie sweet gum.. Tbey say thut ofte
changes a body powerful. Folks '
"But that ain't what 1 started In to
tell. As I was t-Huyln', old Jane
Hardeway thought she'd sorter put a
word In the dixpute to y fer ber
iMwrd an keep, iiu' sbe told Betsy that
it was all ow In' to the way tbe Bishops
was raised that Alf couldn't stand to
lisive things nice about Mm. Hbe said
nil the Bishops she'd ever knowed had
natural stoop that they got by UvuV
iu cabins with low roofs, ttbe wasn't
spreadln' Vr butter as thick ns she
thought she was ur maybe It was the
sort she was sprcadiu' fer Betsy
mused up like the woods afire in
high wind. It didn't take old Jane
long to dixklvcT thut tluir was several
breeds o" Bishop out .o' Jail, an' she
speut most o" the rest o' her visit brug-
fc'ln' on wine she'd read about. Hbr
said the mime rounded like the start
of 'era had been religious and sub-
stanch. -, t
"Brotlier Abner," whined Mrs. .Bish
op. "I wlKbt you'd bush all thut foul-
lshness an' help me 'n tbe children out
this awful fix. Alfred always would
listen to you." .
"Well." ami the old man smiled and
winked at the lawyer, "I'll give rou
both Mil the advice I kin. Now, the
Khonl Itlver stock is a good thing right
now, but ef the mill waa to ketch on
fire an' burn down thard be a kws.
Then as fer Haulier land. It ain't easy
to sell, but It mought take a start !-
fore another flood. I say It mought
an .then agin It monghtn'L The mill
mought burn, an then agin it
moiightn't. Now, ef yon una kin be
helped by this advice you are welrojiie
to it free o charge. Not rhangin' the
subject, did yon mis know Mrs. Bleh
anlHon's heffer' got a calf? I reckon
she won't borrow so much milk after
ber gits fco.Nl" .
imbue smiled broadly as the gaunt
man withdrew, but bis amusement
was sliort lived, for Sirs. Bishop began
to cry, unl she soon rose In despair
end l.-ft the room. Alan stood for a
moment looking at the unmoved face
of hi.i father, who bad found some-i
thine in the last clause of tbe docu-j
IVt wo louyMiio nalUr, Uncle 'Ab."
think he's off bis cszlp tn the land
question, an' now that he's traded hi
best nest egg fer another swipe o' thr
earth's surface I reckon they'll talk
harder. But yore pa iu't no fool. No
plumb Idiot could. V managed yore
lua as well as he has. You see, know
what he's accomplished, fer I've been
with Mm ever since tliey was ynkoc
together. When they was married, sbe
was as wild as a buck nn' certainly-
made our daddy walk a chalk Hue, but
Alfred 1ms tucred 'er down beautiful
Phe didn't want this thing done on-
bit, an yet It Is settled by this time'
tlie old man looked through the hall to
the front gate "yes, Trabuu's unhitch
lu'. He'a got them stock certificates In
his pocket, nn' yore pa baa the lcrd
in bts note case. When this gits out,
mosshacks from beer clean to (Jllnicr
'II be trapsln' In to dispose o' land at so
much a front foot
' "But what under high heaven will
Bf do with It ally
"Hold on to It," grinned Abner; "thai
U, ef be kin rake an' scrapo enough to
gether to pay tlie taxes. Why. last yeer
bis taxes mighty nigh floored Mm, an'
tbe expenses ou this county he'a Jest
annexed will push Mm like rips, rer
now, you know, he'U have to do with
out the income on his factory stock.
But be thinks he's got tbe right sow
by the yeer. Before long be may yell
out to ns to come be'p Mm torn er
loose, but he's waltxln' with cr now."
At this Juncture Mrs. Bhdiop came
tit of tbe dining room wiping ber eyes
on ber apron. ,
Mother." said Alan tenderly, "try
not to worry over this any more than
you enn help." ,
Your pa's gettin' old an' childish,"
WhiiuiK-red Mrs. Bishop. "He's been!
somebody say timber land up In the
mountains will some day advance, an'
he forgets"thut he's too old to get the
benefit of It. He's goln' to bankrupt
UK.".. .!.--.
Ef I do," the man accused tlutn
dered from the hall as he strode out
"It'll lie my money that's lost money
that I made by hard work."
Ho stood before them, glnrlng over
his eyeglasses at his wife. "I've had
enough of yore tongue, my bidy. Ef
Id not hnd so much to think about In
tbar Jest now, I'd 'a' shut you up soon
er. Dry up now not another word,
I'm dolu' the best I kin accordln' to
tny lights to provide fer my children.
an' I won't lie Interfered With."
No one spoke for a moment. How
ever. Mrs. Iltshop finally retorted, as
ber brother knew she would In ber
own time.
I don't call buyln' thousands o'
acres o' unsalable land providln fer
anything except the porebouse," she
fumed.
"That's beca'ae you don't happen to
know as much about the business as 1
do," said C1hIki, with a sntl.-nert
chuckle, which to the observing Dan
iel sounded very much like exultation.
' ben you all know what I know.
you'll l e In iirbin' on t'other sides o"
yore iiirtcthh. reckon I'll Jest have
to let you all know about this or I
Won't have a speck o' peace from now
on. I didn't tell ynii at fut beca'se
Dolmdy kin keep a secret as well as tbe
man It Indonga to, an' I was afoered It
ud leak ut an' damage my IntrrextM,
but Ibis last r,mi acres Jest about
sweeps all the best tlmlier In tlie
whole Coluitta section, an' I monght as
Well let up. I rrckon you all know
that t'f I say ef my land was niicb a
mil rood it u.l be low at Ave times
what 1 mid fer It don't yon? Welt.
then, tlie bsig an' abort of It Is that
I bapp:i to be on the Inside an' know
that a railroad is goln to be ruu from
Lick Junction Jo Darley. It'll
le started inside of tlie next yeer au'
'it ruu smack dub through my proper
ty. Thar now! Vou know uiore'n you
thought you dlil. don't you?"
The little group stared Into his glow
ing face lucrt-tliiicuely.
"A railroad la to lie built fatherr
exclaimed Alan.
"Tim fa what I said."
Mrs. Bishop's eyes flushed with sud
den hi-e, and then, ss If remembering
her husband's Umltathius, ber fuce fell.
"Alfred."' she asked skeptically,
"bow docs it happen that you know
about tbe railroud before, other folks
doesr ,
"How do I? Thai's It now how do
I?" ami the old man laughed freely.
"I've hud my fun out o' this thing,
listenlu' to what every crunk snld
about me beln' cracked ah' so on, but I
was Jest a-lyin' low waltin' fer my
time." .
"Well, I'll be switcbedr ejaculated
Abner Daniel, bulf seriously, half sar
castically. f'Ueew hlliklns! A railroad!
I've always said one would pay like
rips uu' open up a dern good, God
fersukuu country. I'm glad you are
a goln' to start one, Alfred." I
Alan's face was filled with an ex-
pn i-s.ou of blended doubt and pity for
hla futhor's credulity. "Father," be
said gently, "are you sure you got your
Information straight?"
"1 got it from headipunrters." Tbe
old uiuu raised himself on his toes and
knocked bis heels together, a habit be
bad not Indulged In for uiuuy a year.
"It was told to me confidentially by a
man who knows all a Unit the whole
thing, a mini who is lu the employ '
the company Hint's goln' to build it"
"Huh!" The exclamation was Ab
ner Daniel's. "Do you meun that At
lanta biwyer, Perkins?"
Bishop sm red, bis mouth lost some
of its pleased firmness, uud be ceased
tbe niotlou of bis feet.
"What made you tueiitiou bis nauie?"
be nNkcd curiously.
"Oh, I -duiinu. Somehow I Jest
thought o' blm. lie looka to me like
he mought be bulldUi' a railroad ur
two." ... ., . V
"Well, that's the man I menu," -said
Bishop, more uneasily. . '
. Hoiiirhow tlie others were all looking
It Aimer Daniel, who grunted sudden
ly and almost angrllv.
"I wouldn't trust that skunk no fur
br n I could Ming a bull by the tali."-
"oii fsty you wouldn't?" Bishop
tried to siu.l but the effort was A fa
chil failure.
"I wouldn't truttTiii nulh-r. Brother
Ab." Mined In Mia Bishop. "As soon
sis I laid eyes on 'Ini I knowed he
wouldn't dm. He's Usj nniiiy mouthed
nn" fawuln'. Butter wouldn't melt In
bis mouth., llo bragged on ever'thlng
wo had w lille be was beer. Now, Al
fred, w hat we miift git at Is, what wa
bis object In telllu' you that tub'."
s'Objoct!" . thundered her hunbiinil,
losing bis temper In the face of the aw
ful possibility that ber Words hinted
at' "Are you nil a pack nn' puttslu o'
fools? If yon must dive an' probe,
then I'll tell yon be owns n slice o'
timber land above Hoi b y creek. J'lulii'
some o mine, ait so he let me into tho
secret out o' jmnre good will. Oh, yon
811 rayn't nkii-r me. I ain't one o' tho
skoerln' kind." - 1
But, notwItliHtnudln,' this outburst.
It wns plain that doubt bad actually
taken 'root In 'the ordinarily cautious
mind of the crude speculator.
Aimer Daniel laughed nut harshly all
at onco nnd then -was silent. "Wbat'a
tlie matter?" asked bis sister In do
spiilr. .,.'. - .
"I wns Jest a-wonderlu'," replied her
brother.
- "1 on titer' said Bishop angrily. "It
seems to nie you tlou't do much else."
"Folks 'nt . wonders a lot ain't so apt
to lielleve ever'thlng tl'.ey beer," re
torted Abner. "I was Just a-wonderin'
why that little, spindle shanked Peter
Moseiy lias lieeti buldlu' his head so
high the last week or so. I'll bet
could wake a duru good guess now."
"What under the sun's Peter Moseiy
got to do with my business?" burst
from Bishop's Impatient Hps. .. -
"lies got a sorter roundabout con
nection with It, I reckon," smiled Ab
ner grimly, "I happen to know that Abe
louipklim sold Mm -',000 acres o' timber
hind on Huckleberry ridge Jpst atter
yore Atlanta mnu speut the day lookln'
round In theso parts." 1
Bishop wns no fool, and be grasped
Abner's meaning even lieforo It was
quite clear to the others. . .
Looky beer," be said sUarply. "what
do you take me fer?"
"I 'ain't tuck you fer nothln'," said
Abner, with a grin. "Leastwise, I
'ain't tuck you fer $5,000 wuth o' eot-
poii3lruu1i"flne"tfue west vy ah L1ck
skillet to Darley, with stop over privi
leges at Buxxard Boost an' fifteen min
utes fer bash at I vg Trot Springs,
Then, somehow or other, by book or
crook mostly crook Abe Tompkins
wasn t dodgiu anybody about that
time. Peter Moseiy could 'a run agin
Mm with his eyes shut on a dark uight
"I was at Neil Fllmore's store when
tbe two met au' ef a trade was ever
made quicker betwixt two folks It was
done by telegraph an' the paper was
signed by lightnin'. Abe said he had
tbe bind an' wouldn't part with it at
any prico ct he bfldn't been bad iu need
o n.onev, for be believed it waa chuck
full o' iron ore, soups tone, black marble
au water jiower, to say nothln' o' tlm
ler; but h. d lieen troubled so much
about cash, he said, that he'd made up
his mind to let 'er slide an' the devil
take the contents. I never seed two
parties to a deal better satisfied. Tbey
both left the store with a strut. Moso-
ly's strut was the biggest fer be wasn't
afeerd o' nothln'. Tompkins looked like
he was afeerd Moseiy 'ud call Mm back
aa' want to rue." ,
"You mean to say" But old Bishop
seemed unable to put bis growing fear
into wards.
"Oh, I don't know nothln' rer cer
tain," said Abner Daniel sympa
thetically, "but ef I waa you I'd go
down to Atlanta an' see Perkins. "on
kin tell by the wsy be acts whether
that's anything in his railroad story or
not But by gum, you ort to know
whar you stand. You've loaded yore
se'f from bind to fore quarters, an' ef
you dou't plant yore feet on souie'n
you'll go down."
Bishop clutched this proposition as a
drowning man would straw. "Well,
I will go see Mm," be said.-"I'll go Jest
to satisfy you. Aa fer as I'm concerned
1 know be wasn't telliu' me no lie, but
i reckon you all never Ml rest till you
are satisneu."
He descended the steps and crossed
the yard to the barn. Tbey saw bun
lean over the rail fence fer luomeut
as if in troubled thought.
"Poor father," said Alan to hla uncle
as his mother retired slowly into tbe
house. "Ho seems troubled, and It may
mean our ruln-absolute ruin."
"It ain't no tritHn' matter," adnii,ttt4
Daniel. "Tbar's no telllu how m
iuouxuuu acres ne may nave bQugb
He's keepli ' somethln' tu hlsse'f. I re
member Jest wben thut durn skunk of
lawyer put that flea In bia yeer. Th?7
waa at Hanson's mill an talked con
DdenUal together mighty nigh all mora
In'. But let's not cress a bridge tell we
git to It Let's talk about sonie'n eloS,
I bala t never hsrt a chance to tell tou.
tut r ecd thargai fn: tow"U yesterday
air talked; to cr, -
"pld you. Undo Abr Tbe face of
the young man brightened.
was eager and expectant.
INTERESTING
FACT2ms-
When -co Ie are coutcniplating a trip
whellicr on business or pleasure,
they naturally want the li t service
ubtriimblu ns far as si-.l, cemfort
and fab ty is concerned. Employ
ecs ol tbo Wisconsin Central Lines
' are paid to serve tbe public and our
trains opcrnUd so as to make rlone
ei niHciion nitli Kvciing lines at
all Junction points.
Cullman rlaiti Sleeping and Chair Car
oa inrougn trains.
Dining Car service unexcelled.
served a la Carte.
Iu order to obtain this first class
ask the ticket agent to
ticket over
Men!.
ervice
you a
THE WISCONSIN CENTRAL' LINES.
Direct connections at Chirairo asvt Mil
wankeeforall Eastern point
Kor full Information eall ou your :rvst
ticket agsnt. or w iu
J as C. I'omd, orJia. A.(1.ot,
s. g., tienersl Agent,
Milwaukee. Wis.
1!4H SUrk
roitruMi MAKklS.
I.'erl td to Bate,
Wheal-Walla Walla,' Toe; kluesknu,
82e; valley, Htk;.
Flour beat roV, W 00 u, 8ft per
barrel ; gralmm, f : 35 ft $3 7,
Oats Xo.l white, $ 1 tl7. l 10 gray
l 0J tier cental. .
lisrley Koeil, $'J0 H-r ton ; brewing 2I
roIUil, $21, 21 60 per ton.
Millstuffa Hmn, '.':t on ; iiii.Mlinui
rl'7 ; shorts. (., ; liop, IS.
Hay TimiHliy, old .0; new 114 (Ti 1,1;
cloyer, nominal; grain, $12; cheat, noiii-
iiiai.'
Batter Fancy creamery, 20(,?,22c r
Ja.i-y, nominal ; tore, lli-ii 17 ruounu.
F.ggs Oregou ranch, l!ti 2Uc.
Cheese Full cream twins, Itxillici
Young American, l."c jwr piuind ; factory
prir Idtllc leys.
Poultry Chickens, mixed, lldrlllc per
lb, benss llj ) 12c, broilers Satloxeii;
fryers, 14 ( 15c, ducks, 4m4 5o er dox;
goese 6(S0, turkeys, livo lti(.12c per
pound. .
Hogs tirons." heavv t.'. RiL-as 7X-
ilrewoil, 7!jjC per pound.
Veal rimsll. Kc ncf lionn.l : lurue. Kiih
His ton0',c ier nmnd.
Iteel liross In, steers. I3.T5W4 25!
Yes. I'd bitched" In the wacon rnrd Hons ITfirlfki ir wound.
an run Into Haxen'a drugstore to git I llvyl7(ilsc;Kstern Oregon,
00 x o- nxio grease nu' was couilu' out ', """ .mjio Mr pounu.
with the durn stuff under my arm
wben I run ujion 'ef n-settlu' lu a bug-1
gy wauur w git cierk 10 retcn 'erl
out a glass o' Body water. , She recog
nized me, nn' fir no other earthly rea
son than that I'l l Uncle she spoke I
to me aa plensb. ' it 1 .., ; ot chips,!
Whnt was I to do?. .t,,ir was tit I
such a plight In my life,. X boeu un-l
londlu' sldo meat at Bartow's ware
house an' was klvered from head to I
font with salt and grease. I didn't
have on no coat, an' the seat o' my
(innta waa non est I dou't tblnk thar
wna any est about 'em, to tell the
truth. Buf I knowed it wouldn't lie the
part of 0 gont tenia n to let 'er set thar
ttrctcbln' 'er neck out o' socket to call
a clerk when I waa handy, to I wheel
ed about bopln' an' prayln' of sbe Old
look at me she'd take n fnncy to tbe I
back o' my bead', an' went In the store
on' told 'em to git a hustle on the'r
ae'ves. When I come out, sbe hauled
mo up to ax some questions about
wben camp mcetlu' was golu' to set lu
this yeer an' when Adclo was comin'
home. 1 let my box o" axle grease I
drnp, an' It rolled like a wagon wheel
off duty an' me after It, bendin'
bend 1 11' of all positions beer an' yan
In the most ridiculous way. I tell you.
I'd never play croquet ur leapfrog In I
them pants. AU the . way homo I
thought bow I'd disgraced you."
Oh, you are all right Uncle Ab. I
laughed Alan. "She's told me several
times that she likes yon very much.
fihe says you are - genuine genuine I
through and through, and she's right"
"I'd ruther have her say It than any
other gal I know," said Abner. ' "She's
Potatoes Oregon 75(sHOc nersaik.
Onions Kilverskinsl lo(a l '.'5rs:k.
P&dishuh
s
St w.
:mMi..n
Dm
Bt
la.
IhmImi
witch
Mid
Non-Magnetic
Hicksl Bitvw Cass
' Fully Guaranteed
Farsabs
ALL JEWELERS
' rnaatratea Banklet
oa raquMt, stowag
COLORED
FANCY
DIALS
Till Nei England
Watch Co.
Watarssry.Csss.
Otfkss
fttw Vwk, Calcast,
asaPcasdM.
I higUi ti rn.ni thH athbtia fljlil
purty as red shoes, an ef I'm any Ml: meet t I'orltanJ during iho MC
Judge she's genuwlno toa I've got an- Fall Otrnivsl, 8pteml-r 14 to SO
other ldeo about 'er, but I ain't a-glvln' I Ineltwivf, snj lovers of siblelicevenu
ic away jesx now. . ' . .iti h.u-... i, .
"You moan thnt sh . I ... ...
"No," and the old man smiled mis- "'k M.r-s ct.nlest for .ri.-s.
cblevously. "I didn't mean nothln' o
the sort I wonder how on earth you
could 'n' got sech a notion In yore
bead. I'm golu' to see bow that black
son nip has left my cotton bind.' I'll
bet he hain't scratched It any deeper
'u a old hen would 'a' done lookln fer
worms."
chapter rn.
HE next morning at breakfast
Alfred Bishop announced his
Intention of going to Atlanta
to talk to I'erklus and Inci
dentally to call on bla brother William,
who waa a successful wholesale mer
chant In that city.
The Death Tensity.
A little thin iruoti.iiM ro-mtt lit
death. Thus iner.? scratch, iiisignl-
flcjRtcutior puny boll puiil
the death js nalty. It l wi-e Id have
OuccleuU AroicH Kulve ever baiuly.
It's ll:e lct Silve on earth ami will
prevent fatality, w hen Durns, H-inw,
UlCH, anil I'ile threaten. O.ily 2"j
I all Driid stores.
Tn th mi aan l ilnllars U Hie sum
I believe I would," said Mrs, Bish. being expindeil by the Multnomah
boys to mutt lorilHnri' IiIk Fall
Carnival suex-em.
"l'u tiM-an fa sri"
ton mill Mock. To make a long storv
short, the All.iiiin J,k leg lawyer is
kui 10 ne loinpklns family some
nay. Id N-t s new hat to a ginger
cakp that 1'iTkins never ownoil m
srHMinful o' liin.l up beer an' that be"a
"t hepln" tlie Tompkins folks on tlie
sly to unload some o' the'r land, so
they kin move west, wlmr they've al
ways wanted to go. peter Mosfly Is a
man on the watch nut fer rail Soft
snaps, nu w hen I'erklns w hlsierei tbe
big seeret In his yeer, like he did to
yon. be startiil out ou a still hunt fer
tlmlH-rcd land on. the line of the nro-
op. "Maybe William will tell you what
to do."
"I'd see rcrklns fust" advised Abner
Daniel. "Ef 1 felt shore Perkins bad
bunkoed toe. I'd steer cleer o' William.
I'd bate to beer 'lm let out on that sub
ject. He's medo his pile by keepln'
sharp lookout
"I hain't bad no reason to think I
have been lied to," snld Bishop dogged
ly as be poured his coffee Into bis
saucer and sliook It about to cool. "A
body could hear bis dentbknell rung ev
ery minute ef he'd Jest listen to old
women an' "
"Old bachelors," Interpolated Abner.
I reckon they are alike. The longer
Malelde Prevented.
The startling tmiioum-oiitcnt that it
pre voi tivo of filicide bail lieeti iIm-
cmertol will in lent, t many. A run
don sysieer.or det-pinilenry Invari
able 1 reeeil.i ruiciilo ami w'iiioiliinf
has Im-mii l.mml Hint will prevent Hist
nitidilkiti which mnkes suicide likely.
At the flrit thought of self ilistlriictiou
litke K'evtri.r lti:ter. It llng m
man lives without a woman tbe uxwe tonic ami nervinw will sln-ngth-be
gits like oue. I reckon that'a leca'se en lh nerves ami luiihl tin ih .vs.
tout. 114 also tCr'ttt Sioniiii'li, Liver
ami Kidney regulator. Only firtc.
3utlifciion KuarilitMHl by a lrug-
the man 'at Uvea with one don't see
nothln' wuth eopyln In 'er an' vlce-t-versy."
. .
Mrs. Blsbop bad never been an ap
preciative listener to ber brother's phi-1 K l"t
Ksotiiy. Bbe Ignored what he had Just
aald and Its accompanying smile, which
was alwaya Abner's subtle apology for
such observations.
"Are you golu' to tell Adele about the
railroad V she asked.
To U Continued,
Every day will ho a special ,! at
Portland's l.lg Vl Carnival .Heplelii-
ber 14 lo 26 Inrlnsfve, and it is anfe
tossy that It will be largely attended
from lb la section.