The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-02-19

tfnkiing coming small and mellow from
far away, and at the lonesomeness Of
that sound he heaved long, mournful
sigh. The next instant he broke into
laughter, for another bell rang over the
fields, the courthouse bell in the square
The first four strokes were given with
mechanical regularity, the pride Of the
custodian who operated the bell being
to produce the effect Of a clockwork
bell, such as he had once heard in the
courthouse at Rouen, but the fifth and
sixth strokes were hating achieve
ments, as, after o'clock he often lost
count in the strain of the effort for pre-
else imitation. There was pause after
the sixth; then q dubious and reluctant
stroke, seven; longer pause. followed
by a final ring with desperate decision
eight! HAIRLESS looked at his watch
1t was twenty minutes of 6.
AS he crossed the courthouse yard to
the Palace hotel on his way to supper
he stopped to exchange word with
the bell ringer, who, seated on the steps,
was hopping his brow with an air Of
hard earned satisfaction.
"Good evening, Schofields'," he said.
"You came in strong on the last stroke
tonight"
"What we need here" responded the
bell ringer, sis more public sperrited
men. I amt kiclzin' on you, Mr.. Hank
less-no, sir; but we want more men
like they got in Rouen. We want men
that III git Main street paved with
block or asphalt; men that III put in
factories; men that III act-not set
round like that old fool Martin and
laugh and pollywoggle along and make
fun of public sperrit, day in, day out.
I reckon 1 do my best for the city,
"Oh, nobody minds old Tom Martin"
observed Harkless. "It's only half the
time he means anything by what he
says"
"That's just what hate about him."
returned the bell ringer in a tone of
high complaint. "You can't never tell
which half it is. Look at him now"
The gentleman referred to was stand
ing over in front of the hotel talking
to a row of coatless loungers, who sat
with their chairs tilted back against
the props of the wooden awning that
projected over the sidewalk. Their
faces were turned toward the court
house, and even those lost in medita-
tive whiting had looked up to laugh.
Mr.. Martin, one Of his hands thrust in
q pocket Of his alpaca coat and the 9th
er softly caressing his wiry, gray chin
beard, his rusty silk hat tilted forward
till the brim almost rested on the
bridge Of his nose, was addressing
choly whine of which, though not the
words, penetrated to the courthouse
steps.
The bell ringer, whose name was
Henry Schofield, but who was known
as Schofields' Henry popularly abbre
Waited to SchofeldsD, was moved to in
dignation. Look at himw he cried.
''Look at him! INCREASINGLY goin on
about my bell! Well, let him talk.
Let him talk!'
AS Mr.. Martins eye fell upon the
editor, who, having bade the bell ring
er good night, was approaching the
hotel, he left his languid companions
and crossed the street to meet him.
81 was only oratin' on how proud the
city ought to be Of Schofelds'," he said
mournfully as they shook hands; 'but
he looks kind of put out with me-" He
hooked his arm in that of the young
man and detained him for a moment
as the supper gong sounded from with
in the hotel Call On the judge to-
night?" he asked.
"No. Why"
81 reckon you didn't see that lady
with Minnie last night
"No"
swell, guess you better go out there,
young man. She might not stay here
long"