The Press., 1893-10-19

It was two hours later when Pat started out again, and this time he went directly down to the fruitshop of Pietro Socola, where a most unexpected and festive scene greeted him.
 The little old man, surrounded by a dozen or more of his countrymen (and others were coming and going), was opening bottles of wine and drinking freely. As Pat entered Socola bowed delight edly. and filling a glass presented it to him.
 Everybody was laughing and drink ing, and the host, although it was yet scarce 10 o'clock in the morning, showed the effect of many glasses in his flushed face and hilarious spirits.
 Not understanding in the least, but unable to resist so social spirit, Pat, at the signal, raised the glass to his lips. It was only when some one pronounced tle name ''Pietro Socola Junio' that the sit uation flashed upon his comprehension.
 Unto the house of Socola 8 son had been born.
 The last time Pat had met the old man, year ago, on the night of his we'd ding, he had grasped his hand in con- graduation, and he did so again now.
 Accept me congratulations, Misther Socola," he exclaimed, and, with a twinkle in his eye. raising his glass again: 'Heers luck to the junior part ner in the future firm of Socola an Son May he niver cross is father an niver boss is mother an be shinin example to all is yunger brothers an sisters!'
 Hearty laughter greeted this toast, and the old man insisted on reflling the glasses all round, saying in Italian to the men as he did so: "He has come a great distance to wish me joy Keep his glass full
 Socola was not an habitual drinker, and his voice was already growing u1l- steady.
 While they stood here the one eyed man whom Pat had recognized in the shadow the night before joined thegroup He winced visibly, Pat thought, on per ceiving him in this crowd, and while he and Socola touched glasses Pat with drew, and joining some of the men whom he knew walked out upon the levee.
 When he returned, an hour later, he glanced into Socola's shop. The hither- to childless old man, translated by his tardy honors into a state of gleeful ire sponsibility, had by this time gotten right royalty drunk, and now some friends were trying to induce him to go home.
 Pat laughed to himself as he saw him stagger up to the carriage door. "Arrah, musha?' he exclaimed, ''sure an it's a holy thing to be father Faith an he waddles like puddle dthrake on a hatchin day! 1 hope the young duck'll be big enough to crowd nlurdher out av the ould dthrake's heart if ut's in ut"
 The truth was, Pat had gone down to Socola to propose that they confess themselves mutually aggrieved and pro- ceed to settle the matter at once by a square hand to hand fist fight.
 He had withheld the facts about the wedding until Socola had first lied about it. He was willing to fight for the truth. If Socola wanted to fight for the lie, let him come and "have it out" then and there, or if the old man preferred to have subordinate member Of the Mafia to represent him in the affair let him send any one of them to him
 It was only as a vague intangibility that Pat objected to deal with the Mafa.
 He was sure that as soon as Socola should see that all he demanded was a 'ffair showing" they could come to sat iSfactory understanding, so little did he comprehend the nature of the man with whom he had to deal or the character of the organization which threatened him.
 As Pat surmised. Socola had not yet even heard of his offense. The two men who went to make their reports were, like himself, treated to wine and saw their host carried home hors de combat.
 As Pat hesitated at Socola's door the one eyed man was coming out. and they met face to face.
 Pat tOuche1 biG b.,t Tho C,icilio,, 70