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‘ 913“ W to what every crank said Mmebem’mckedafimmhnu “How do I? Tut'sitnowâ€"howdé Irtndtheoldman laughed freely. “A railroad is to be built, father?" “chimed Alan. “that’s what I said.” ‘ In Bishop’s eyes flashed with and- aeahope, andthen, asirremembering ta husband’s limitations, her face tell. “Alfred,” she asked akeptieally, “how does it happen that you know about the railroad before other talks no little group stared into his glow- “ lace incredulously. but this last 5,000 acres jest about weeps all the best timber in the whole Cohutta section, an’ I monght as well let up. I reckon you all know that efâ€"â€"-I say efâ€"my land was nigh a railroad it ud be low at five times that I paid fer it, don’t you? W23, then, the long an’ short of it is that I happen to be on the inside an’ knot? thata railroadisgoin’ tobernn from" Blue Lick Junction to Darley. It’ll be started inside of the next yeer an’ 'I run smack dab through. my proper- ty. Thar now! You know more’n you thought you did, don’t you?" “That’s beca se you don’t happen to know as much about the business as I do," said Bishop, with a satisfied chuckle, which to the observing Dan- iel sounded very much like exnltation. “When you all know what I know, you’ll be laughin’ on t’other sides 0’ m months. I reckon I’ll jest have ”Rayon all know aboutthisorl 'm’t have a speck 0’ peace from now a. I didn’t tell you at fast beea'se nobody kin keep, a secret as well as the am it belongs to..az_nf I was steered it an leak out an”u?£mage my interests, “I don't call buyin’ thousands 0’ acres 0’ nnsalable land providin’ fer anything except the pore-house,” she No one spoke for a moment. How- ever, Mrs. Bishop finally retorted, an ha- brother knew she would in he: He stood before them, glaring over his eyeglasses at his wife. “I’ve had enough of yore tongue, my lady. Ef I’d not had so much to think about in thar jest now, I’d ’a’ shut you up soon- er. Dry up nowâ€"not another word. I'm doin' the best I kin accordin’ to my lights to provide fer my children, An' I won’t be interfered with.” At this juncture Mrs. Bishop came put of the dining room wiping her eyes in her apron. “Mother," said Alan tenderly, “try not to worn over this any more than you can help.” F “E! I do,” the man accused thun- dered from the ball as he strode out, “it'll be my money that’s lostâ€"money that I made by hard work.” “Your pa's gettin’ old an’ childish,” whimpered Mrs. Bishop. “He's heerd somebody say timber land up in the mountains will some day advance, an’ he forgets that he's too old to get the benefit of it. He’s goin’ to bankrupt "Hold on to it,” grinned Abner; “that is. ef he kin rake an’ scrape enough to- gether to pay the taxes. Why, last yeer h‘m taxes mighty nigh floored ’im, an’ the expenses on this county he's jest annexed will push ’im like rips, fer now, you know, he’ll have to do with: out the income on his factory stock. But he thinks he's got the right sow by the year. Before long he may yell out to us to come he’p ’im turn ’er loose, but he's waltzin’ with ’er now." “But what under high heaven will I. do with it all?" m he’s on his eazip on the land Question, an’ now that he’s traded his best nest egg fer another swipe o’ the earth’s surface I reckon they’ll talk harder. But yore pa ain’t no fool. No plumb idiot could ’a’ managed yore m as well as he has. You see, I know that he’s accomplished, fer I’ve been .wfih 'im ever since they was yoked “gather. When they was married, she was as wild as a buck an’ certainly made our daddy walk a chalk line, but Alfred has tapered ’er down beautiful. She didn’t want this thing done one hit. an’ yet it is settled by this time”â€" the old man looked through the hall to the front gate-“yes, Trabue’s unhitch- 121'. He’s got them stock certificates in his pocket, an’ yore pa has the deeds in his note case. When this gits out, mossbacks from heer clean to Gilmer 'I be trapsin’ in to dispose 0’ land at so much a front foot.” ABNER DANIEL “16’: no laughing matter. Uncle Ab.” PAGE FOUR (Continued from Page 3?. spoonful o’ landrup beer a!" that he’s Jest he’ pin’ the Tompkins folks on the sly to unload some o’ W! land, so they my move west, wbar they've al- ways wanted to go. Peter Monet: is a man on the watch out fer rail soft snaps, 13' when Perkins whispered the bigseetetinhlayeer. likehedldto you, hestartedouton. ltillhnntfer timbered union the linen! «the pro- posed trm'k line due m vy-ah Lick- skfllet to Daley, with ”m‘mvi- leges 8t 31:de ' min- riess {a hash. a he that lining-a. ton mm stock. To make a long stay short, the Atlanta jack leg lawyer is akin to the Tompkins family some way. I'd bet a new hath a glnger “He’s got a sorter roundabout con- nection with it. I reckon,” smiled Ab- ner grimly. “I happen to know that Abe Tompkins sold ’im 2,000 acres 0’ timber [and on Huckleberry ridge jest atter yore Atlanta man spent the day lookln’ round in these parts.” Bishop was no fool, and be grasped Abner’s meaning even before it was quite clear to the others. “Looky heer,” he said sharply, “what do you take me fer?” “I 'ain’t tuck you fer nothin’," said Abner, with a grin. “Leastwise, I ’ain’t tuck you fer $5,000 wuth o’ cot- “Folks ’at wonders a lot ain’t so apt to believe ever’thing they beer,” re- torted Abner. “I was just a-wonderin' why that little, spindle shanked Peter Mosely has been boldin’ his head so high the last week or so. I’ll bet I could make a darn good guess now.” “What under the sun’s Peter Mosely got to do with my business?” burst from Bishop’s impatient lips. “You are?” said Bishop angrily. “It seems to me you don’t do much else." Abner Daniel laughed out harshly all at once and then was silent. “What’s the matter?” asked his sister in de- span'. “I was jest a- -wonderin', ” replied her brothei'. But, notwithstanding this outburst. it was plain that doubt had actually taken root in the ordinarily cautiou- mind of.‘ the crude speculator. “Object!” thundered her husband, losing his temper in the face of the aw- ful possibility that her words hinted at. “Are you all a pack an’ passle 0' tools? If you must dive an’ probe, then I’ll tell you he owns a slice 0’ timber land above Holley creek, j’inln’ some 0’ mine, an’ so he let me into the secret out o’ puore good will. on, you all eayn’t skeer me. I ain’t one o’ the skeerin’ kind.” “I wouldn’t trust ’im nuther, Brother Ab,” chimed in Mrs. Bishop. “As soon as I laid eyes on ’im 1 knowed he wouldn’t do. He’s too mealy mouthed an’ fawnin’. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He bragged on ever’thing we had while he was Leer. Now, Al- fred, what we must git at is, what' was his object in tellin’ you that tale.” “I wouldn’t trust that skunk no fur- der ’n I could fling a bull by the tail.” “You say you wouldn’t?” Bishop trled to smile, but the eflort was 3 ts- cial failure. “Oh, I dunno. Somehow I jest thought 0’ him. He looks to me like he mought be buildln’ a railroad or two.” ‘ “Well, that’s the man I mean,” said Bishop. more uneasily. Somehow the others were all looking at Abner Daniel, who grunted sudden- ly and almost angrily. hadnotlndnlgedintormanyayear. “It was told to me confidentially by a man who knows all about the whole thing, a man who is in the employ o’ the company that's goin’ to build it." “Hub!” The exclamation was Ab- ner Daniel’s. “Do you mean that At- lanta lawyer. Perkins 7” Bishop scared. his mouth lost some 01th pleased’flrmneas. and he ceased the motion of his feet. 7 “What made you mention mam?” he asked curiously. Alan’s face ,was filled with an ex- pression of blended doubt and pity for his father’s credulity. “Father.” he said gently. “are you sure you got your Information straight?‘ “I got it from headquarters.” The old nun raised himself on his toes and knocked his heels together. a habit he ripsan’openupademgooa. termken country. I’m 818d 3'00 a-goln’ to start one, W" “Well, I’ll be switched!” ejaculated Abner Daniel, half seriously, half m- castically. “Geewhilikins! A railroad! I’ve always said one Would pay like W88 “You mean to say”- 'a-lyin.‘ ‘lothfi!’ 1a" my organs" so that itwin mbw'sz sag-vs?” Mahtoavoid W18" The first ”woman-m Earthy-upon.” _ , WQMTthuaaon: Why don't you remove that weight at the pit of the Stomach? “I’d rather have her say it than any other gal I know,” said Abner. “She's party as red shoes, an’ ef l’m any judge she’s gennwine too» I’ve got an- other idee about 'er, but I ain’t, a-glvln’ it away jest now.” “You mean that she"â€" “No,” and the old man smiled mis- ehievously. “I 'didn't mean nothin’ o' the sort. I wonder how on earth you could ’8’ got lech' a notion in yore head. I’m goin’ to see how that black acamn has left .0117...th land. I’ll “Oh, you are all right, chle Ab.” laughed Alan. “She’s told me several times that she likes you very much. She says you are genuine-genuine through and through, and she’s right.” “Yes. I’d hitched in the wagon yard an’ run into Hazen’s drugstore to git a box 0' axle grease an’ was comin' out with the darn stun under my arm , when I run upon ’er a-settin’ in a bug- gy waitin’ to git a clerk to fetch 'er out a glass 0’ sody water. She recog- j nized me, an’ fer no other earthly rea- son than that I’m yore uncle she spoke to me as pieasin’ as a basket 0’ chipa What was I to do? I never was in such a plight in my life. I'd been un- loadin’ side meat at Bartow's ware- house an’ was kivered from head to foot with salt and grease. I didn’t have on no coat. an' the seat 0’ my pants was non estâ€"I don't think that was any est about ’em, to tell the truth. But I knowed it wouldn't be the part of a gentleman to let ’er set thar stretchin’ ’er neck out 0' socket to call; a clerk when I was handy. so I wheel- 1 ed about, hopin’ an’ prayln’ ef she did 1 look at me she’d take a fancy to the back 0’ my head’, an’ ‘went in the store an’ told ’em to git a hustle on the’r- se’ves. When I come out. she hauled me up'to ax some quations about when camp meetin' was goin' to set in this yeer an’ when Adele was comin’ home. I let my box 0' axle grease drap, an” it rolled like a wagon wheel 0!! duty an' me after it. bendin'â€" bendin’ of all positions-beer an’ yan in the most ridiculous way. I tell you, I'd never play croquet ur leapfrog in them pants. All the way home I thought how I'd disgraced you." “No Equal. 1t Oct-“W17 5-1.. duct-any and Burdock Blood Bitters “It ain’t no triflin’ matter.” admitted Daniel. “Thar’s no tellin' how many thousand acres he may have bought. He’s keepin’~ somethin’ to hisse’f. I re- member jest when that durn skunk of a lawyer put that flea in his yeer. They was at Hanson’s mill an’ talked con- fidential together mighty nigh all mom- in’. But let’s not cross a bridge tell we git to it. Let’s talk about some’n else I haln’tgnnvng had a chance tn tall won but I seed that gal in town yesterday an’ talked to ’er.” “Did you, Uncle Ab?” The face of the young man brightened. His tone was eager and expectant. “Poor father," said Alan to his uncle as his mother retired slowly into the house. “He seems troubled, and it may mean our ruinâ€"absolute ruin.” He descended the steps and crossed the yard to the barn. They saw him. lean over the rail fence for a moment as If in troubled thought. Bishop clutched this proposition as a drowning man would a straw. “Well, I will go see ’im,” he said. “I’ll go jest to Satisfy you. As fer as I’m concerned I know he wasn’t tellin’ me no lie, but I reckon you all never '11 rest till you are satisfied." “Oh, I don’t know nothin' fer cer- tain,” said Abner Daniel sympaâ€" thetically, “but er I was you I’d go down to Atlanta an’ see Perkins. You kin tell by the way he acts whether thar’s anything in his railroad story or not. But. by grim, you ort to know whar you stand. You've loaded yore- se’r from bind to tore quarters, an‘ et you don’t plant yore feet on some’n you’ll go down." “You mean to say"â€" But old Bishop seemed unable to put his growing fear Into words. her; but he’d been troubled so much about cash. he said. that he’d made no ms‘mlhd to lef‘er slide an' the devil take the contents. I never need two parties to a deal better ‘satisfled. They both left the store with a strut. Mose- ly’s strut was the biggest. ter he wasn’t afeerd o’ nothin’. Tompkins looked like he was afeerd Hosely 'ud call ’11:) back an’ want to rue.” tb'e land un’ wouldn’t part with it at nny price e1 he hadn’t been bad in need 0' moneyJ fer he believed it was chuck full 0’ iron ore. soapstone, black marble an’ water power, to say nothin’ o’ tim- “I- was at Neil F‘llmore’s store when the two met, 111’ cf a trade was ever made quicker betwixt two folks it was done by telegraph an’ the paper was signed by lightnig’: AAbe saideeihad Thai; mi'oflarex.‘ w noox‘oé crookâ€"mostly crookâ€"Abe Tompkins wasn’t ”dgdgi‘q’ anybody about that ,,,‘# -A--" Iâ€"I __ -Jâ€" TothoWocrmeuc, “Oh, you did? That’s good." Per- kins’ eyes fluttered once or twice be- tore his gaze steadied itself on the face of the man before him. “Well. as I told you, Mr. Bishop, that sort of a thing is a good investment. i reckon it’s ahead: climbing up a little, ain't it?" “Not much yet.” It struck Bishop that he had given the lawyer a aplen- did opportunity to speak of the chiei’ cause for an advance in value, and his heart felt heavier as he] finished. “But I took quite a slice the alast time- 5,000 acres. at the old figure. you know â€"a dollar a acre.” _ “I 'lowed I’d see William ’tore I went back," said Bishop rather irrele- vantly. Then, seeing that Perkins was staring at him rather fixedly, he said- it was a verbal plunge: “I bought some more timber land yesterday!" Bishop sank wearlly into the chair. He had tin-d himself out thinking over what he would say to the man before him and with the awful contemplation of what the man might say to him. “Theyaredoin’asweilascanbaex- pected." he made answer. But he didn’t approve of even that platitude. for he was plain and outspoken and hadn't come all that distance for a mere exchange of courtesies. Still, he lacked the faculty to approach easily the subject which had grown so heavy within the last twenty-four hours and of which henow almost stood in terror. “Well. that's good,” returned Per- ; kins. He was a swarthy man of fifty- ? five or sixty. rather tall and slender. with a bald head that sloped back sharply from heavy. jutting brows. un- der which a pair of keen black eyes shone and shifted. “Come (low to see your daughter." he said; “good thing for her that you have a brother in town. By the way, he’s a fine type of a man. He’s making headway too His trade is stretching out in all (nice tiong; funny how diflerent you two “Oh. it's you. Mr. Bishop." he said suavely as he rose from his desk in the dingy. disordered little room. with its single window. He pushed a chair forward. “Sit down; didn’t know you were in town; at your brother's. l reck- on. How are the crops up the road? Too much rain last month. l'm afraid." It was 6 o’clock when he reached At- lanta and made his way through the jostling crowd in the big passenger depot out into the streets. He had his choice of going at once to the residence of his brother. on Peachtree street. the most fashionable avenue of the city. or looking up Perkins in his office. He decided to unburden his mind by at once calling on the lawyer. whose ot- tice was in a tail building quite near at hand. It was the hour at which Perkins usually left for home, but the old plant- er found him In. ’at lives with one 0011" m * {he'man ’er an' vice-a- nothin’ wuth copyin’ in versy." Mrs. Bishop had never been an ap- preciative listener to her brother’s phi- losophy. She ignored what he had Just said and its accompanying smile, which was always Abner's subtle apology for such observations. “Are you goin’ to tell Adele about the railroad?” she asked. “I reckon I won't tell 'er to git up a’ excursion over it ’fore the crossties is laid.” retorted Bishop sharply. and Ab- ner Dania’ laughed, that sort of re- sponse being in his own vein. “I was goin’ to say," pursued the softly treading wife, “that I wouldn’t mention it to 'er efâ€"efâ€"Mr. Perkins ain’t to be relied on, beca’se she wot» ties enough already about our pore way 0' livin’ compared to her uncle‘s folks. Ef she knowed how I spent last night, she’d want to come back. But I ain’t a-goin’ to let Brother Ab skeer me yet. It is jest too awful to think about. What on earth would we do? What .would we, I say?” That afternoon Bishop was driven to Darley by a negro boy who was to bring the buggy back home. He first repaired to a barber shop, where he was shaved, had his hair cut and his shoes blacked; then he went to the sta- tion half an hour before time and im patiently walked up and down the platform till the train arrived. I AA .women an - " interpolated Abner. “Old bachelors, “I reckon they are alike. The longer a man lives without a woman the more he glts like one. I reckon that’s beca'se the man ’21: lives with one don't see _-A.Ll..’ mflfh mnvin’ m 9e: m. Vim. “I'd see Perkins mt,” advised Abner Daniel. “Er I felt shore Perkins had bunkoed me. I'd steer clear 0’ William. I’d hate to beer ’im let out on that sub- 4M+ He's made his pile by keepln’ a bet mum? mam n In: ’11 a old hen W00” "' W m Perkins stood up. He took his silk hat from the top of hi: desk and put it on. “Oh. yes, old man." he sneer-ed; “I’m n terribly dishonest fellow, but l’ve got company in this world. Now, really. the only thing that has wor- rled me has been your tin-Christian act In buying all that land from the Tomp- kins heirs at such 3 low figure when “You think you do?" “Yes; it was beca'se you knowed no road was goin' to be built. You told Peta Mooely the some tale you did me, an’ Abe Tompkins unloaded on 'im. That’- a woy you hue o’ doin' bust- “I think I know why you didn't tell 'un." .17“ what he hurled at the law- Bishop was now as white as death. His worst auspicious were confirmedâ€" he was a ruined man; there was no further doubt about that. Suddenly he felt unable to bridle the contemptuous fury that raged within him. ‘Take my advice, old man." he snarled as he threw down his pen and stared doggedly into Bishop's face. “Stick to your farming and don't waste your time asking a protessional lawyer questions which have no bearing on your business whatever. Now. really, do I have to explain to you my per- sonal reasons for not favoring the Tompkins people with aâ€"I may sayâ€" sny piece of information?” “You are a acoundrcl. Perkins.” he said. out, some way of other: i be'iiete we original Tompkins that settled there from Virginia was my wife's grand- father. I never was much or a hand to go into such matters.” “When I heerd that. Perkins, it was natural ler me to wonder why you, you seeâ€"why you didn’t tell them about the railroad.” The mllow features or the lawyer seemed to sullen. He drew himself up coldly and a wicked expression flashed in his eyes. Cdifomia. Mexico or the Rocky: Mountains. Remain at home with friends; and home contact around you and use‘ Pul-Mo, which is the achiev‘etnent of the century in medial .cieoce. Pal-mo is an absolute’ cure for Consumption, Throat mflrond wm' advance Its value so PUL- . .TEE WATCHIAN-W ARDER within the l. 11!. “Sunshine" in the only turn . M lot-sir pipes to first {icon ”“5 M third floor pipes. M 0°" cake and wood equal! 8‘“ 5! “1 enterp"slng dealers. I'm for {no Illustrated booklet. T5. Retainers {hat divide 1 m 80 constructed, and the pipes “to tho different register: so 3‘ Willa!!!) 0! heat desired cm “W! rooms or flats of a This. In short. is the story cf CW} “‘3‘“ “‘7' with a “Sunshine” Furnace. Writ!!!" comfortably on the W'd Baking baby comfortably on Rodin; comfortab! on the ground nto. ”cover. McClain/'5 passed by the gm up the street. (C unlim But with a groan that was nan- prayer he went on down the stepswi out into the lighted streets. Atth! first corner he saw a car which would take him to his brother’s and h? hastened to catch it. William Bishop's house was a W cm brick structure, standing on ”all clipped lawn which held a Gothicsum' met house and two or three W statues. It was in the best Pom” the avenue. Reaching it, the play“! left the car and approached the I!" cite which opened on to the gran“! steps leading up the terrace It“ n0W quite dark. Obeying a sudda irresoluteli impulse, the old man "I“. “m on the first landing er an animal 1: bay. He heard the steady step of Pet kins on the floor above. and torn mo ment his fingers tingled with the thought of waiting there in the dark' ness and choking the life out ofthc subtle scoundrcl who had taken adm- tage of his credulity. “You are not as well versed law as you are in fertilizers. m op." sneered the lawyer, “I“ make a case against me you’di publidv betray a matter I told In confidence. and then w you gain? I doubt if the (our: force me to explain a private like this where the interests of: cuts are concermd, and if u“ did I could simply show the [Q have regarding the possible co flon of a railroad in your sect; you remember rightly, I did 11 the thing was an absolute cex On top of all this you'd be obi prove collusion between me a Tompkins heirs our :1 sale In their attorney, Mr. Trabue. T one thing certain, Mr. Bishop, :1: II that you have forfeited you to any further confidence in thj ter. If the road is built. you out about it with the rest of yo ple. You think you acted wisel; tacking me this way, but yet simply cut 01! your nose to spi: face. Now, I have a long car I tore me. and it's growing lute.” “No; It's free." Bishop turnedtothe door. There was a droop upon his whole body. He dragged his teens he moved out Into the unlighted cur;- dor, where he pausul irresolutely. So great was his agwy that he almost obeyed an impulse to go back and fan It the feet of Perkins and implore his aid to rescue him and his family from impending ruin. The lawyer was mov- ing about the room. closing his desk tad drawing down the window shade “It’s no um" siglml Bishop as be made his way downstairs. “l'm ruined! Alan an’ Adele huin't a cent to their names. an’ that devil"â€" Bishop paused nn tho first landing like an animal“ “Well. I hope you won't makeany charge to; it." Bishop stood up. He was quivering u with palsy. His voice shook and rang like that of :1 madman. “You are a scouudrcl, Perkins” he saidâ€"“a dirty blacksnake in the grass: 1 want to tell you that!” Pal-M may procure e, If your dmggist has no: stock, a saw jay address plc bottle will "r Md and use Pul- tint ' â€"Nalure will do Is 8110 is inexpensiv druggists at $1.00 per .3. “West “new 13'26 box a. Sample home,- lie," Ofpls g°t Ill- be deli»: “Oh. you kin laugfi like." cried BiShOp, u you fer this." greatly. 11'“? Bishop, I were a good Methodist,» u WW ing up the terrace- 1”” dalk.0b£}'i113 a “a“ inwlw ivide the of a ham nlv in!!!“ unu men VIM "i hubt it the Court W1 plain a Private the interests M m. A" um that was half! I down the steps ”1‘ red streets. A! W v a car which “'0‘!” z brother's. and h :0qu floor. the sccq floor m mm mat- blfilt you'll find Rd “0°" “ha 'f m ride be- 10m 11 minty. “W H ll‘ have E1 .33" g "é u-‘v [kiln Carpet 11:. reg. 25‘ M Fitled CupctS. reg Ides} Black and Blue I W’ Black, Blue and Q pits Chilirca' Sims 6 to 10, ‘85:? Russzan T sins u to 2, ‘ Lindsay's re re a host M youths" No. 29. Um .I. OAK'G