6
&a'.
%Pff
ABNER
ANIE
jMH"fr*^^^^
CHAPTER XXVI-Continued.
"Well. I found out he was usin' Wil
son's money an' secretly buyin' fer
him, an' what's more, he seems to
have unlimited authority an' a big bank
account to draw from."
There was a startled pause. I was
broken by Miller, whose eyes were
gleaming excitedly.
"It's blame good news," he said, eying
Alan.
"Do you think so?" said Alan, who
was still under his cloud of displeasure
With his friend.
"Yes. I simply means that Wilson
intends to build that road. He's been
quiet and pretending indifference for
two x-easonsfirst to bring us to closer
terms, and next to secure more land.
Then they all went to find Bishop to
tell him the news.
CHAPTER XXVII.
was a cold, dry day about
the middle of January. They
were killing hogs at the farm.
Seven or eight negroes, men
and women, had gathered from all
about in the neighborhood to assi st in
the work and get the parts of the meat
usually given away in payment for
such services.
Abner Daniel and old man Bishop
were superintending these preparations
when Alan came from the house to say
that Rayburn Miller had just ridden
out to see them on business. I think
it's the railroad," Alan informed his
father, who always displayed signs of
almost childish excitement when-the
subject came up. They found Miller in
the parlor being entertained by Adele,
Who immediately left the room on their
arrival. They all sat down before the
cheerf ul fire. Miller showed certain
signs of embarrassment at first, but
gradually threw them off and got down
to the matter in hand quite with his
office manner.
"I've got a proposition to make to
you, Mr Bishop," he opened up with
a slight flush on his face. "I've been
making some inquiries about Wilson,
and I am more and more convinced
that he intends to freeze us outor
you, ratherby holding off till you are
obliged to sell your property for a much
lower figure than you now ask him for
it."
"You think so?" grunted Bishop, pull
ing a long face.
"Yes. But what I now want to do is
to show him indirectly that we are in
dependent of him."
"Huh!" ejaculated Bishop, even more
dejectedly. "Huh! I say!"
Alan was looking at Miller eagerly,
as if trying to divine the point he was
about to make. I must confess," he
smiled, "that 1 can't well see how we
can show independence right UOAV."
"Well, I think I see a way," said Mil
ler, the flush stealing over his face
again. "Yo see, there is no doubt that
Wilson is on his high horse simply be
cause he thinks he could call on you
for that $23,000 and put you to some
trouble raising it withoutwithout, I
say, throwing your land on the market.
I can't blaira him," Miller went on,
smiling, "fo it's only what any busi
ness man would do who is out for
profit, but we must not knuckle to
hitn."
"Huh, huh!" Bishop grunted in deep
er despondency.
"How do you propose to get around
the knuckling process?" asked Alan,
who had caught the depression influ
encing his parent.
"I'd simply take up that note," said
the lawyer. "Yo know under the con
tract we are privileged to pay it to
moirow if wish. I would simply
paralyze him He's so confident that
you can't take it up that he has not
even written to ask if you want to re
new it or not. Yes. he's confident that
he'll rake in that securityso confident
that he has been, as jou know, secretly
buying land near yours."
"But." exclaimed Alan, "Ray, you
know wefather has invested that
money, and the truth is that he and
mother have already had so much wor
over the business that they would
rather let the land go at what was
raised on it than toto run any more
risks."
Bishop groaned out his approval of
this elucidation of his condition and
sat silently nodding his head. The very
(thought of further risks stunned and
chilled him
Miller's embarrassment now descend
on him in full force.
I was not thinking of having your
father disturb his investments," he
said. "The truth is, I have met with a
little financial disappointment in a cer
tain direction. For the last three
months 1 have beon raking and scrap
ing among the dry bones of lrfy invest
ments to get up exactly $23,000 to se
cure a leading intere st in a cotton mill
at Daz-ley of w'liich I was to be presi
dent. I managed to get the money to
gether, and only yesterday I learned
that the northern capital that was to
guarantee the thing was only in the
corner of a fellow's eye up in Boston
a man that had not a dollar on earth.
IVell, there you are! I've $25,000 and
to place to put i I thought if you had
just as soon owe me the money as Wil
son that you'd really be doing me a
favor to let me take up the note. Yo
Bee, it would actually floor him.
^m^Ait/"^ JJ&M
*t' *t't* t' $ t t t$*? tt t t t*t. t t t .f. t.
By...
WILL N.
HAKBEN
Author of
"KVesterfelt"
Copyright. 1902. by
HARPER. QL BROS.. I
Who Publish the Work iT
In Book Form. All
Rights Reserved 3*
means business, and this would show
him that we are not asking any favors
of him I fact, I have an idea it would
scare him out of his skin. He'd think
we had another opportunity of selling.
I'm dying to do this, and I hope j'ou'll
let me work it. Really I think you
ought to consent. I' never drive you
to the wall andwellhe might."
All eyes were on the speaker. Bishop
had the dazed expression of a bewil
dered man trying to believe in sudden
good luck. Abner Daniel lowered his
head and shook with low subdued
laughter.
"You are a jim dandy, young man,"
he said to Miller. "That's all there is
about it. Yo take the rag off the
bush. Oh my Lord! They say in
Alf's meeting house that it's a sin to
play poker with no stakes, but Alf's
in a game with half the earth put up
agin another feller's wad as big as a
bale o' hay. Play down, Alf. Play
down. You've got a full hand an'
plenty to draw from."
"We couldn't let you do this, Ray,"
expostulated Ala n.
"But I assure you it is merely a mat
ter of business with me," declared the
lawyer. "Yo know I'm interested
myself, and I believe we shall come
out all right. I'm simply itching to do
it."
Bishop's fa ce was ablaze. The as
surance that a wise young business
man would consider a purchase of his
of sufficient value to put a large
amount of money on pleased him ban
ished his fears, thrilled him
"If you feel that way," he said, smil
ing at the corners of his mouth, "g
ahead. I don't know but what you
are plumb right. I will show Wilson
that we ain't beholden to him an' will
set 'i to work ef anything will."
So it was finally settled, and no one
seemed so we ll pleased with the ar
rangement as Miller himself. Adele
entered the room with the air of one
half fearful of intruding, and her
three relatives quietly withdrew, leav
ing her to entertain the guest.
I wonder what's the matter with
your brother," Miller remarked as his
eyes followed Alan from the room.
"Oh, brother?" laughed Adele. "No
one tries to keep up with his whims
and, fancies."
"But, really," said Iille in a serious
tone, "he has mystified me lately. I
wonder if he has had bad news from
Dolly. I've tried to get into a confi
dential chat with him several times of
late, but he seems to get around it.
Really, it seems to me at times that he
treats me rather coldly."
"Oh, if you waste time noticing A
you'll become a beggar." And Adele
gave another amused laugh. "Take
my advice and let him alone."
I almost believe you know what
ails him," said Miller, eying her
closely.
I know what he thinks ails him,"
the girl responded.
"And won't you tell me whatwhat
he thinks ails him?"
"No, I- couldn't do that," answered
our young lady, with a knowing smile.
"Ah," she said seriously, "if you could
only do it!"
"If you are ev er any wiser on the sub
ject, you will have to get your wisdom
from him."
She turned to the piano and began to
arrange some scattered pieces of music,
and he remained on the hearth, his
back to the fire, his brow wrinkled in
pleased perplexity.
"I'll have to get my wisdom from
him," repeated Miller, pronouncing
each word with separate distinctness,
as if one of them might prove the key
to the mystery.
"Yes, I should think two wise men
could settle a little thing like that. I
not, you may call in the thirdyou
know there were three of you accord
ing to the Bible
"Oh, so there were," smiled Miller
"but it's hard to tell when we three
shall meet again. The last time I saw
the other two they were having their
sandals half soled for a tramp across
the desert. I came this way to build a
railroad, and I 'relieve I'm going to do
it. That's links r,.,' ancient and modern
times together with a coupli ng pin
isn't it?"
She came from the piano and stood
by him looking down in to the fire.
"Ah," she said seriously, "if you could
pnly do it!
"Would you like it very much?"
"Very, very much. I means the
world to usto Alan, to father and
mother andyes, to me. I hunger for
Independence."
"Then it shall be done," he said fer
vently.
"You mean that the Bishops are
ready to" Wilson began again on an
other breath"to pay us the $25,000?"
"And the interest for six months,"
quietly added Miller, reaching for a
match on the desk. I reckon you've
got the note here. I don't want to miss
my train."
Wilson was a good business man,
but his Puritanical training in New
England had not fitted him for wily
diplomacy.
"Of course they can take up their
Dote today if they wish," he said, with
alarmed frankness. I was not count
ing on it, though." rose to his feet.
Miller's watchful eye detected a cer
tain trembling of his lower lip.
thrust his hands in to his pockets nerv
ously, and in a tone of open irritation
he said to the young man at the type
writer: "Brown, I wish you'd let up on
that infernal clicking. Sometimes I
can stand it, and then again I can't.
You can do those letters in the next
room."
When the young man had gone out
carrying his machine, Wilson turned to
Miller. "As I understand it, you per
sonally have no interest in the Bishop
property?"
"Oh, not a dollar!," smiled the lawyer.
"I'm only acting for them."
THE PRINCETON UNION: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1903.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
S the elevator in the big build
ing was taking Rayburn Mil
ler up to the offices of the
Southern Land and Timber
company many reflections passed hur
riedly through his mind.
"You are going to get the usual cold
shoulder from Wilson," he mused, "but
he'll put it up against something about
as warm as he's touched in many a
day. I you don't make him squirm, it
will be only because you don't want
to."
Wilson was busy at his desk looking
over bills of lading, receipts and other
papers and now and then giving in
structions to a typewriter in the corner
of the room.
"Ah, how are you Miller?" he said
indifferently, giving the caller his hand
without rising. "Down to see the city
again, ch?"
Rayburn leaned on the top of the
desk and knocked the ashes from his
cigar with the tip of his little finger.
"Partly that and partly business," he
returned carelessly.
"Two birds, eh?"
"That's about it. I concluded you
were not coming up our way soon, and
so I decided to drop in on you.
"Yesgla you did. Wilson glanced
at the papers on his desk and frowned.
"Wish I had more time at my disposal.
I'd run up to the club with you and
show you my Kentucky thoroughbreds,
but I really am rushed, today particu
larly."
"Oh, I haven't a bit of time to spare
myself! I take the afternoon train
home. The truth is I came to see you
for my clients, the Bishops."
"Ah, I see. Wilson's fa ce clouded
over by some mechanical arrangement
known only to himself. "Well, I can't
real ly report any progress in that mat-
ter," he said. "Al the company think
Bishop's figures are away out of rea
son, and the truth is right now we are
over head and ears in operations in
other quarters, andwell, you see how
it is?"
"Yes, I think I do." Miller smoked a
moment. "In fact, I told my clients
last month that the matter was not ab
sorbing your attention, and so they
gave up counting on you.
Wilson so far forgot his pose that he
looked up in a startled sort of way and
began to study Miller's smoke wrapped
profile.
"You say they are notha ve not been
counting on my company toto buy
their land?"
"Why, no," said Miller in accents
we ll resembling those of slow and gen
uine surprise. "Why, you have not
shown the slightest interest in the mat
ter since the day you made the loan,
and naturally they ceased to think you
wanted the land. The only reason I
called was that the note is payable to
day, and"
"Oh, yes by Jove! That was care
less of me. The interest is due I
knew it would be all righ t, and I had
no idea you would bother to run down
for that. Why, my boy, we could have
drawn for it, you know."
Miller smiled inwardly as he looked
calmly and fixedly through his smoke
into the unsuspecting visage upturned
to him
"But the note itself is payable to-
day," he said, closely on the alert for a
facial collapse, "and, whi le you or I
might take up a paper for $23,000
through a bauk, old fashioned people
like Mr and Mrs Bishop would feel
safer to have it done by an agent.
That's why I came."
Miller in silent satisfacti on saw the
face of his antagonist fall to pieces
like an artificial flower suddenly shat
tered.
"Pay the note?" gasped Wilson
"Why"-
Miller puffed at his cigar and gazed
at his victim as if slightly surprised
over the assumption that his clients
had not all along intended to avail
themselves of that condition in their
contract.
"Then"Wilson drove his hands in
to his pockets again"perhaps you
wouldn't mind telling ine if the Bishops
are on trade with oUier partie s. Are
they?"
Miller smiled and shook his head.
"As their lawyer, Mr Wilson, I simply
Couldn't answer that question
The blow Avas we ll directed, and it
struck a vulnerable spot.
"I beg j'our pardon," Wilson stam
mere d. I did not mean to suggest
that you would betray confidence."
reflected a moment, and then he said
in a flurried tone, "They have not actu
ally sold out, have they?"
Miller was silent for a moment, then
he answered: I don't see any reason
why I may not answer that question.
I don't think my clients would object
to my saying that they have not yet
accepted any offer."
A look of relief suffused itself over
Wilson's broad face.
"Then they are still open to accept
their offer to me?"
Miller laughed as if highly amused at
the complication of the matter.
"They are bound, you remember, on
ly so long as you hold their note."
"Then I tell you Avhat to do," pro
posed Wilson. "Go back and tell them
not to bother about payment for a few
days, anyway, and that we will soon
tell them positively whether we will
pay their price or not That's fair,
isn 't it?"
"It might seem so to a man person
ally interested in the deal," admitted
Miller as the introduction to another
of his blows from the shoulder, "but
as lawyer for my clients I can only
obey orders, like the boy who stood on
the burning deck."
Wilson's face fell. The remote click
ing of the typewriter seemed to grate
upon his high wrought nerves, and he
went and slammed the partly r':utl
door, muttering something like I .ith
O that slight journey, howe\ei. he
caught an idea.
"Suppose you wire them my propo
sition and wait here for a reply," he
suggested.
Miller frowned. "That would do no
good," he said. "I'm sorry I can't ex
plain fully, but the truth is this: I hap
pen to know that they wish for rea
sons of their own to take up the note
you hold and that nothing else will suit
them."
A this juncture Wilson lost his grip
on all self possession and degenerated
into the sullen anger of sharp and un
expected disappointment.
I don't feel that we are being fairly
treated," he said. "We most naturally
assumed that your clients wanted to
to extend our option on the property
for at least another six months. W
assumed that from the fact that we
had no notification from them that
they would be ready to pay the note
today. That's where we feel injured,
Mr. Miller."
Rayburn threw his cigar into a cus
pidor. His attitude of being a nonin
terested agent was simply a stroke of
genius. Behind this plea he crouched,
showing him&elf only to fire shots that
played havoc with whatever they
struck.
I believe my clients did feel, I may
say, honor bound to you to sell for the
price they offered, butnow I may be
mistakenbut I'm sure they were un
der the impression, as I was, too, that
you only wanted the property provided
you could build a railroad from Darley
to it, and"
"Well, that's true," broke in Wilson.
"That's quite true."
"And," finished Miller, still behind
his inevitable fortification, "they tell
me that you have certainly shown in
difference to the project ever since the
note was given. I fact, they asked
me pointedly if I thought you meant
business, and I was forced conscien
tiously to tell them that I thought you
seemed to have other fish to fry.
Wilson glared at the lawyer as if he
wanted to ki ck him for a stupid idiot
who could not do two things at once
work for the interests of his clients and
not wreck his plans also. I had been
a long time since he had found himself
in such a hot frying pan.
"So you think the thing is off?" he
said desperately, probably recalling
several purchases of land he had made
in the section he had expected to de
velop. "You think it's off?"
I hardly know what to say," said
Miller. "The old gentleman, Mr Bish
op, is a slow going old timer, but his
son is rather up to date, full of energy
and ambition. I think he's made up
his mind to sell that property."
Wilson went to his desk, hover ed
over it like a dark human cloud and
then reluctantly turned to the big iron
safe against the wall, obviously to get
the note. His disappointment was too
great for concealment. With his fat
pink hand on the silver plated combina
tion bolt he turned to Miller again.
"Would you mind sitting down till I
telephone one or two of the directors?"
"Not at all, said Miller, "if you'll get
me a cigar and the Constitution. The
Atlanta baseball team played Mobile
yesterday, and I was wondering"
I don't keep track of such things,"
said Wilson, coming back to his desk
with an impatient frown to ring his
call bell for the office boy.
"Oh, yes I believe football is your
national sport," said Miller, with a dry
smile. "Well, it's only a difference be
tween arms and legswhole bones and
casualties."
Wilson ordered the cigar and paper
when the boy appeared, and leaving
the lawyer suddenly, he went into the
room containing the telephone, closing
the door after him
In a few minutes he reappeared,
standing before Miller, who was chew
ing a cold cigar and attentively read
ing. looked up at Wilson abstract
edly.
"Bully for Atlanta!" he said. "The
boys made ten runs before the Mobiles
had scored"
"Oh, come down to business," said
the New Englarider, with a ready made
PROFESSIONAL CARDS.
Q.
ROSS CALEY, M. D.,
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON.
Office and Residence over Jack's Drugsto re
Tel.Rural, 36.
Princeton, Minn.
JLVERO L. MCMILLAN,
LAWYER.
Office in Odd Fellows' Building.
Princeton, Minn.
J.
A. ROSS,
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
Office in Carew Block,
Main Street. Princeton.
BUSINESS CARDS.
M. KALIHER,
BARBER SHOP & BATH ROOMS.
A fine line of Tobacco and Cigars.
Main Street, Princeton.
A SMITH,
Dealer in
FRESH AND SALT MEATS,
Lard, Poultry, Fish and Game in Season.
Telephone 51.
Princeton, Minn.
O A. ROSS,
FUNERAL DIRECTOR.
Will take lull charge of dead bodies when
desired. Coffins and caskets of the latest styles
always in stock. Also Springfield metalics.
Dealer In Monuments of all kinds.
E. A. Ross, Princeton, Minn. Telephone No. 30.
WICKLUND,
UNDERTAKER and EMBALMER
Coffins and Caskets always on hand.
A full line of granite and marble monuments.
Telephone call 52.
Office Main street, Princeton, Minn.
T. H.HOWARD & CO.
Real Estate Agents
Farm Lands for sale in Mille Lacs,
Sherburne, Isanti, Pine and Clay
counties, Also 500,000 acres of
good farm land for sale in North
Dakota.
W LOWEST PRICES and reasonable terms.
If you want to sell a farm list it with us, or
if you want to buy a farm come and see us.
Office over Sjoblom & Olson's,
Main Street, Princeton, Minn.
We are always busy, there
is a reason: Best goods, hon
est prices. Just a few of the
good things we have:
Pure Strawberry Jelly, per glass.. 15c
Ralston Hominy Grits, per pkge... 10c
Ralston Health Crisps, per pkge... 10c
Preserved Strawberries, perbot... 10c
Punento stuffed Olives, per bot 10c
Burnham's Hasty Jelicon, for des't 10c
Fine Jonathan and Pippin Apples
per peck 30c
Fancy Cranberries, 3 quarts 25c
FRESH MILK AND CREAM.
AT- wwmm^mHr
eCl1 Rural. E 23
Wheat, No. I Northern.
Wheat, No. 2 Northern
Corn Oats Rye Barley Potatoes 3 9
1
WALKERS
PROMPT DELIVERY
++4+
Dr. C. F. Walker's
Dental Parlors
now located
in the
Oddfellow's
new building,
where
Dr. Walker
will attend
to his
Princeton
appointments
from the
1st to 20t
of each
month.
In Cambridge
2ist to 38th
of eacb month,
office over
Gouldberg &
Anderson's
.store
V^v^-^lfp'i
Great Northern Railway.
ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS. PRINCETON
AND DULUTH.
GOING SOUTH. 30IN NORTH.
Leave.
Duluth 6
Brook Park.. 9
Mora 9
Ogilvie 10
Milaca 10:23
Pease (f) 10
L. Siding(f). 10
Brickton (f).10:54
Princeton10 Zimmerman. 11:15
Elk River.... 11:35
Anoka 12
Minneapolis.12
Ar. St. Paul. 1
Leave.
20 a.m.
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03 a.m. a.m.
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a.m. a.m.
00 a.m.
40 p.m.
:05 p.m.
St. Paul
Minneapolis Anoka
Elk River...
Zimmerman
Princeton... Brickton (f)
L. Siding (f)
Pease (f)...
Milaca Ogilvie Mora Brook Park. 6
Ar. Duluth.. 9
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39 p.m.
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51 p.m.
55 p.m.
05 p.m
20 p.m
41 p.m
54 p.m
15 p.m.
25 p.m.
(f) Stop on signal.
ST. CLOUD TRAINS.
GOING WEST.
Le. Milaca I0:23a.m
Bridgeman 10:30a.m.
Ar. St.Cloud 11:23a.m.
GOING BAST.
Le. St.Cloud I 4:20p.m.
Bridgeman 5:12 p.m.
Ar Milaca I 5:10p.m.
MILLE LACS COUNTY.
TOWN CLERKS.
Bogus BrookO. E. Gustafson Princeton
BorgholmJ. Herou Bock
GreenbushR. A. Ross Princeton
HaylandAlf red Johnson Milaca
Isle HarborOtto A. Haggberg Isle
MilacaOle Larson Milaca
MiloR. N. Atkinson Foreston
PrincetonOtto Henschel Princeton
RobbinsC. Archer Vineland
South HarborEnos Jones Cove
East SideGeo. W. Freer Opstead
OnamiaArthur Wiseman Onamia
PageAugust Anderson Page
VILLAGE RECORDERS.
J. M.Neumann Foreston
J. W. Goulding Princeton
C. H. Foss Milaca
NEIGHBORING TOWNS.
BaldwinH. B.Fisk Princeton
Blue HillThomas E. Brown Princeton
Spencer BrookG. C. Smith. .Spence.r Brook
WyanettJ. A. Krave Wyanett
LivoniaChas. E. Swanson Zimmerman
PHIITCETOIT
Grain and Produce Market.
I
5 73
.71 .50
.33
.46 .40
.30
PRICES OF THE
Princeton Roller Hills and Elevator,
Wheat, No. 1 Northern 73
Wheat, No. 2 Northern 71
Corn 50
Oats, new 32
RETAIL.
Vestal, per sack 32.45
Flour, (100 per cent)per sack 2.35
Banner, per sack 1.95
Rye flour J.95
Ground feed, per cwt 1.15
Coarse meal, per cwt 1.15
Middlings, per cwt 1.05
Shorts, per cwt 95
Bran, per cwt 85
All goods delivered free anywhere in Princeton.
FRATERNAL. -:-LOD6E
NO. 92, A. F. & A. M.
Regular communications, 2d and 4th
We&nesday of each month.
B. D. GRANT, W. M.
A. B. CHADBOURNE, Sec'y.
PRINCETON-:- LODGE.
NO. 93,
Regular meetings every Tuesday eve
ning at 8 o'clock.
C. W. VANWORMEB, C. C.
JOHN A. GRAHE K, K. R. & S.
O M.,
Tent No. 17.
Regular meetings every Thurs
day evening at 8 o'clock, in the
Maccabee hall.
W. G. FREDRICK S, Com.
N. M. NELSON. R. K.
Hebron Encampment.
No. 42,1.0.O.
Meetings, 2nd and 4th Mondays
at 8 o'clock M.
M. C. SAUSSER, C.
D. W. SPAUIiDING, S. W.
Jos CRAIG, Scribe.
PRINCETON -:-LODGE
rfg^t NO. 208,1. O O
Regular meetings every Friday evening at 7:30
clock. S. BRIGG S, N. G.
E. E. WHITNEY, R. Sec.
PRINCETON CAMP, W A.,
No. 4032.
Regular meetings 1st and 3rd Saturdays of
each month, at 8:00 p. M., in the hall at Brick
yards. Visiting members cordially invited.
NED KELLEY, V. C.
J. ZIMMERMAN. Clerk.
CM.|
ABO UT FACE!
on the shoe question. Don't pay
$5.00 for $3.50 footwear hereafter.
Purchase
SHOES
for yourself and the family here
and the balance will be in your
favor. We sell $5 shoes for $3.50.
There is really remarkable value in
our offerings. Our shoes fit have
style and great wearing qualities.
S. LONG.