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Show 82 THE MORMON LION " I hope to be before many months." " Months ? Shoo! I can find you half a dozen wives in as many days." "Would you not advise me to wait until I have bought a place? I wished to ask your counsel whether a farm or a city lot would be preferable." " So you are going to put your cash into land," he remarked, much pleased. " The Church has a lot for sale that'll just suit you. Buy it and start practising law. You'll make more at that than farmmg. You come well recommended. It ain't every convert that pays double property tithes. I'll see to it you have enough business to start you off on the right foot." " Tithes and obedience to counsel are httle enough to repay such kindness," I replied. "Might I not first be sent on a mission ? " " Mission?-- And Bill misdoubted your zeal! I judged you right, though. About a mission, I'll see to it after you've picked up a bit. Now, for gitting you a family--' I smiled and bent close to murmur in his ear : "You will understand. There is one I'd rather have for my first. But she is coy. I'm sure you'll commend me for keeping UJ? the siege until I've won." " That's the nght spuit, my boy! " he responded, and he gave me a hearty clap on the shoulder. " Go ahead if you like. Only--" He signed to the others to leave the room. When we were alone, he rolled his quid over his tongue, and went on as if there had been no pause: " Only you had better watch out for Brother Chilcott. Bill has a compelling way with the ewe lambs. Another thing, don't dawdle. You're a lot too old a' ready, both you and the girl. The Kingdom hasn't no use for bachelors and old maids. Every boy ought to be married at fifteen and every girl at twelve. We've made them ages legal in the Territo ." ~ ry Increase and multiply! " I managed to comment. THE MORMON LION " You bet! The Kingdom has got to grow fast." He spat into the cuspidor, leaned back, and asked in a casual tone: "By the way, you'll need to probate the Neville will. Have you drawn up a schedule of the estate ? " "Not yet. All the oxen died. The wagon was brought through, but most of the goods were left with the other freight at Devil's Gate." "So I heard tell. Any cash or credits? " "Yes," I readily answered. "Brother Sen by, the merchant, admits a loan or deposit of something over two thousand dollars." " Over two thousand ? " " I have not yet had time to checkup the account." He leaned forward to scrutinize my face with his crafty gaze. "Better check it up pretty careful, Dave. Seven thousand, with interest, figures up quite a bit over two thousand." " Seven thousand? " I muttered, completely taken aback. "That was the amount of the receipt sent by Senby to Doc Neville," he stated. "You know the verse, ' There is nothing hid that shall not be known.'" I nodded. I could not trust myself to speak. To my immense relief, he relaxed his scrutmy, as if satisfied that I had not intended to deceive him. " If Sen by don't acknowledge the full amount, let me know," he went on. "The Church has a property tithe of seven hundred dollars coming from Sister Lucy- or her husband- when that estate is settled. Better file the will at once. That's all for to-day. The Lord prosper you !- Call them back in." I hastened to obey, thankful that I had not lost my head while it was in the Lion's mouth. |