The farmers' union., 1893-12-28
CHAPTER ~.

knob In his hand, seemingly inclined
TO depart but held by some impulse al
most against his will. His form was as
straight a. an arrow. and despite his
age, his face was sharp and severe in
outline. The great tringed mittens
banging down below the cape of his
surtOut on either side fell free from the
square shoulders: his pose was as firm
and his manner as prompt and decisive
as that Of a man of thirty. Yet
knew he had seen double that number
of summers and winters. There was
something strangely irrecOncilable be-
tween the mans language and his ap-
pearance, between the reputation
which he bore and the spirit he dis
played. just as he opened the door,
Harmon called out:
what is the business you have on
hand. JOcl:"
Il can wait" said he looking around
with his hand still on the door-knob,
~if it's nOt convenient"
Il suppose may as well have it over,
answered the lawyer.
"Ef it won't be troublin' yc too much
I've had a writ served on me.
"YOu: y writ served on you:" ex-
claimed the lawyer, sprinsiins from his
chair Who ever heard OF such a
thing. Sued Joel Pike. Who's been
fool enough to do it: You've had a tug
with most every body in the neighbor-
hood. first and last, and some outside
OF it, but | never heard OF anybody
suing you before. You've always done
that part of the job yourself. What's
it fOr:"
The junior partner and the student
were all attention, too.
"'Sault an battery" was the answer.
"Criminal:'
~Damages, too"
Civil and criminal: we'll, that looks
like business. Who'vc you been fight
Ing? thought you'd quit that busi-
Ness since you licked Harrington twenty
years ago.
Il had to do that, Squire" said the
old man earnestly, closing the door and
turning back into the room.
oh, no doubt. | expect he made
some mighty provoking remarks to
you"
1T wasn't that, Squire-it wasn't
that. l wouldn't have minded anything
he could say Of me: but he spoke dis
respectfully of-of-a woman"
You don't take up the defense OF the
whole sex, do you:"
Il wouldn't ever hear anybody speak
Ill of-Of her"
His wife,"
The other did not answer.
yet she hated you worse than poi
SOM"
That just shows how good she was;
she had to take sides with one or 10th
er, you know
You speak as if you thought she
could not do anything wrong"
TWas never any secret what l
" Thought of Susan Gedney, Squire.
Whether She could have done wrong,
amt the matter in question; it S GER
tain she seldom did-cordin' to her
liSlts, that Is.
you've heard, suppose, that Har-
rington was in the plot to rob YOU
Never had no doubt of it,
THAT wa, the season he disappeared
about time, believe
cant say expect it was.
Went into the army, didn't he:"
asked Rugglcs, who had turned from
his desk and was listening interestedly
to the conversation.
YES" answered the Senior, went
Us Il substitute-gota thousand dollars
and sent it all home to his wife-'bout
the only decent thing | ever knew
about him. l always wondered at
that. BY the way, Joel, did you ever
know there was some talk about hav-
ing you up for his murder?"
"Shouldnt have been surprised, was
the cool response.
Well, there was. Somehow it got
out that there had been an attempt to
rob you ON your way home: that he
was in it: that you had shot him and
concealed the body somewhere. a
man came to me in dead earnest about
a s. g. I>,s<
ceived the letter from her husband
when she came into town to inquire
about the matter. I've a notion she'd
have sworn ont a warrant against you. "
"Alore'n likely" said the old man.
quietly.
"She was greatly elated over the let
ter | think she wa, positively glad to
know that he had manhood enough to
enlist l remember queer thing
about it. She came here and showed
them to me. The letter didn't contain
Il word about money sent, but said he
mad gone lis Il substitute and would
send her mouey-when he drew his
pay. The cheek was a cashiers draft
payable 20 Susan Gcdney harrington
with the Harrington in brackets. She
called it to my attention ana neither
of lis could imagine any reason for it.
1t was lucky for you that it came just
when it did. | don't know what the
ncighbors would have done if ii
hadn't"
Its jest ez we'll they didn't do any.
thing" grimly.
ii don't see why people have such a
spite against you. Joel:"
Il haven't ever spent much money
for trulnpetS.'
To sound Your own praise. en-?
believe you. Besides. you've insisted
In living like a hermit and refusing rt
do what society requires that every
one shall do. who desires ltSapproval.
Il had to live my own life and pre-
fe"red to do it in my own way,
That's 4 mistake. Joel: one must dc
aS Others do. not is he wishes. if he
wants 10 get along in this world"
Il haln't anything IL complain of: e.
the ueighbors let me alone. I'll le,