The Quitters (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1910 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVI EAGER TO OPEN HOSTILITIES The next morning, while Hogan was in the office, looking over the newspapers, an energetic, man with a heavy, dark mustache, entered from the dining-room. He was dressed in a suit of black material with a short sack coat, and wore a soft felt hat covering a thick growth of dark hair. As Hogan glanced up from his paper, the stranger remarked: "Glorious weather we are having down here for the last part of November." "More like September in our country," responded Hogan, cordially. "I suppose you came from up North, somewhere?" "Indiana," answered the stranger, handing Hogan a card that read, "Western Furniture Company, Shelbyville, Ind., Geo. W. Mitchell, Purchasing Agent." "We left six inches of snow in that state," he added; "but it gradually disappeared after we had crossed the Ohio river and entered the blue-grass region of Kentucky, and here there is no trace of winter, whatever. "Anything in particular going on up in Indiana?" inquired Hogan. Before answering, Mitchell seated himself in a chair near Hogan so as to face him, and drew a leather case from his pocket. "Have a cigar?" "Thanks," replied Hogan, accepting the invitation and disposing of his pipe. Mitchell lighted a cigar and passed the burning match to Hogan. Then with a few puffs of smoke, that informal fellowship which is usually created by similar semi-pantomine methods among men who meet each other for the first time and want to be sociable, was fully cemented, and Mitchell replied: "There is much excitement in Kentucky at the present time, instead of in Indiana, over the probable result of the forthcoming election; and the Republicans insist that they are going to seat Governor Taylor if they have to fight to do it." "Just so they don't tear up the rai...