Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-10-22
CHAPTER IT.
A SNAKE IN THE GRASS.

A SNAKE IN THE GRASS.
 June the first came in with the radi- ant sunshine blazing on bunting. The citizens thronged the broad thorough, fares to give a parting cheer to the second Badger regiment marching away to the war. The dusk and the dew came settling down as the tail lights of the last section of the troop train drew slowly along the sweeping curve to the south, and then the throngs that had shouted themselves hoarse were easily marsha1ed into an impromptu mass meeting. The governor and the mayor were to speak, and brief addresses, so said the handbills, might be expected from such brilliant orators as the Hon. George McKinnon and others equally well known. A roar of cheers about the temporary stage on Market Square greeted the executive of the state-a roar distinctly heard far on the portico of the modest home, where Paul Ladue looking pale and weak, sat with his slim hand clasped in that of his faith full friend, Fred Benton.
 The long suspected ennity of Me- Kinnon had burst at last into flame, and the younger man found himself suddenly involved in a whir1 of trouble. The elder Benton, after a conference with his junior partner, had been moved to say to Elinor that he for bade her receiving or being seen with Paul Ladue. To Ladue' he wrote a cutting letter, accusing him of having taken advantage of his intimacy In Fl <7<, stroy the peace of mind of his daugh- ter. Then stinging articles had found their way into an evening paper, plain ly pointing to Ladue as rebel sym < pathizer and one holding reasonable correspondence with the enemy. Then certain creditors had made com- bined onslaught on his failing, heart sore father. Ladue had gradually built up very fair business and had won the kindly regard of the community. All on sudden his store was summed, save by collectors, and one night, after 8 meeting at which McKinnon was the principal speaker, the front windows were smashed in by half dozen drunken patriots and Paul, seated at desk over the books of the firm, was struck in the temple and felled by a stone. The incident brought, about a temporary revulsion of feeling among right-thinking people and Fred Benton had found and soundly thrashed one of the gang of assailants. But little substantial comfort could come to the Ladues, for the old man had lost his nerve. He seemed broken and be- wildered It cut him to the heart to find that at this critical time in his career, the firm to present and press the claim Of his creditors was that of Benton, Gray & McKinnon. He had the shattered windows bearded up and re- fused at first to reopen his store. The men who had been his best friends and advisers, as luck would have it, had already gone to the front as officers of volunteers. He was crushed and sore- ly hurt and stung, and the well meant words of sympathy spoken by few neighbors failed to reassure him.
 It was then that Fred Benton had his first difference with his father.
 .oThe whole outrage, sir," said he, "is tho direct result of your partners efforts. hold George McKinnon re- sponsible for every misfortune that has befallen the Ladues in this town, and the only reason don't thrash him as I did that blackguard Irishman is that he is your partner
 It had startled and then angered the elder man, so loyal and devoted had his son ever been in the past. We'll he knew that, though some letters had passed in April between Paul Ladue and persons in Alabama, it was impos- sible to prove that he was planning to join the southern army, much less that he was furnishing information, or "aid and comfort to the enemy" Since the first of May the worst that could be said of him was that he had sent three letters to certain address in St. Louis, and that three missives had come to him bearing the St. Louis postmark. Every body knew that St Louis was in- fested with south ern sympathizers who had means of communication with friends beyond the line, and it was these letters McKinnon referred to when he dared to suggest that it was the postmaster's duty to open them and learn their contents. Not yet had the north reached the point of violating the sanctity of personal mail.
 .tSo far from its being McKinnon's fault" the elder Benton answered, as soon as he could control his voice. T