The San Francisco call., 1906-11-25

and az he did 80 it seemed TO bin, that
he heard close to his ear another voice.
wonnan's, troubled and ins'stens' Dus
clear and sweet. saying:
Remember! Across Main-street
bridge ct roon."
II was 30 distinct that he started
and looked round. Then he laughed.
'Tll be seeing circus parafes NEXT!
Els laughter fed, FOR, louder than the
ringing in his ears, unr1istakably came
which had no existence on land or sea
or in the waters under the earth.
Here he said to the fnongrel we
need . walk, ! think Let's you and
I move on before the can1eis turn
the corner.''
The music followed him 70 ths
street, where he turned westward to-
walked on. tanning himself with his
straw hat, is faded and was gone. But
the voice he had heard returned.
Remember! Across Main street
bridge at noonw II said again, close to
his ear.
This time he did not start. -AIi
right" he answered. wiping his fore
head: "if you'll let nae alone, TIL be
there"
At q dingy corner. near the river. q
shabby little man greeted him heartily
and petted the mongrel. I'm mighty
glad you didn't 90. after all. Joe" he
added, with Frightening face.
go where. Happy?"
Mr.. Fear looked grave. Don't you
rec'iect meetin' me iast night?'
Louden shook his head. no. Did
II"
The Others Jaw ssil and iifs brow
corrugated with self-reproach- Well,
IL that don't show what q thick-head
am! thought ye was all right er I'd
gone on with we. Nobody cd e. walked
straighter ner talked straighter. Said
We was goin' to leave Canaan fsr good
and didn't want nobody TO know 1t.
Said ye was goin to take the II o'clock
through train fer the West, and told
me / couldn't come 70 the deepo with
ye. Said yed had enough o. Canaan
and everything! / follered ye part way
10 the deepo, but ye turned and made
motion fer me to go back, and done
1t, because ye seemed TO be kind OF in
trouble, and I thought ye'd ruther be
by yerself. Well, sir. it's one on msF'
Not at ALL" said Joe. II was all
right
was yer returned the other. DO
remember, do yer?
Almost" Joe smiled, family.
Almost" echoed Happy, shaking his
head seriously. II tell ye. Joe, ef
was you" he began slowly, then
paused and shook his head again. He
seemed on the point OF delivering some
advice, but evidently perceiving the
snobbfshness of such a proceeding. or
else convinced by his own experience
OF the futility Of It, he swerved to
cheerfuiness:
II hear the boys IL all goin' to work
hard fer the primaries. Mike says ys
got some chances ye don't know about:
he swsars yen be the next Mayor OF
Canaan"
ss7vorsa,sef roff, 80 ,or-....
Happyi That's the kind OF thing
used to think when ! was boy. But
new-pshaw." Joe broke on with a
tired laugh. Tell them not to waste
their time! Are you going out to the
beach this afternoon?"
The little man lowered his eyes mood
fly. '1'll be near there" he said. scrap
ing his patched shoe up ana down the
curbstone. THAT felier's In town agin.'
What feilow7'
Nashville they call him: Eds the
name he give the hospital. Cory-him
that soaked the night you come back
TO Canaan. He's after Ciaudine to git
his evens with me- He's made q raise
somewhere, and plays the spender. And
her--weIl, I reckon she's tired waitin'
table at the National House; tired o.
me, too. I got a hint that they're goin'
out to the beach together this after
noon"
Joe passed his hand weariiy over his
aching forehead. II understand" he
said. "and you'd better try to. Cory.s
layi~g for you, OF course. You say he's
after your wife? He must have set
about 1t pretty openly II they're going
to the beach today, for there is always
crowd there on Sundays. IL Ii hard
for you to see why hes doing It? It's
because he wants to make you jealous.
What for? So that you'll tackle him
q - NJ rxrf, " tC -
The others eyes suddenly became
bloodshot, his nostrils expanding In
credibly. Ready. Is he? He better be
ready. -
That's enough!x Joe interrupted,
swiftly. We'll have no talk like that.
I'll settle this for you myself. You
send word to Claudine that want to
see her at my ONCE tomorrow morning,
and you--you stay away from the
Beach today. Give me your word"
Mr.. Fear's expression softened. "A1l
right, Joe." he said. I'll do whatever
we sure know who's our friend"
Keep out OF trouble, Happy" Joe
turned ia go and they shook hands
Good day, and---keep out OF troublsr'
When he had gone, Mr. Fears coun-
tenance again glooned oninously. and.
shaking his head. he runinatively en-
tered an adjacent bar through the alley
door.
The Main street bridge was an old
fashioned, wooden, covered one, dust
colored and very narrow. squareiy
framing the fair. open country beyond;
for the town had never crossed the
river. Joe found the cool shadow in
the bridge gracious to his hot brow.
and through the slender chinks OF the
worn flooring he caught bright
giimpses OF running water. When he
came out OF the otner end he felt
enough refreshed to light a cigar.
''well. mere I am" he said Across
Main street bridse--and IL must be
getting on toward noon!' He spoke
almost with tho aspect OF daring. and
Immediately stood still. listening. /" Re
member" he ventured to repeat, again
daring. 'Rememberl Across Main
street bridge at noonr' And again he
listened. Then he chuckled family with
relief, for the voice did not return.
THANK God. I've got rid of thst. he
whispered. And OF the circus band
toow
A dust road turned to the right. fol-
lowing the river and shaded By big
sycamores on the bank; the monrrel.
intensely preoccupied with this road.
scampered away. his nose 20 the
ground. Good enough" said the mas
ed -