Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-04-03

W
II don't qcdnt a job, nOltOt0!" said Nh.
Fear.
tie did so 1t seemed 10 MIN thai he
heard close to his ear another voice,
woman's, troubled and insistent, but
clear and sweet saying:
Remember! Across Main street
bridge at noon.'
1t was SO distinct that he started and
looked round Then lie laughed "Tll
be seeing circus parades next" His
laughter fled, for, louder than the ring
ing in his ears, Enthusiastically came the
strains of faraway brass band which
had no existence on land or sea or in
the waters under the earth.
'.Here!" he said to the mongrel 1--WE
need n walk, l think. Let's you and
me move on before the camels turn
the corner"
The music followed him to the street,
where he turned westward toward the
river, and presently as lie walked ON,
tanning himself with his straw hat, it
faded and was gone. But the voice he
had heard returned
"Remember! Across Main street
bridge at noonw 1t said again close to
his ear.
This time he did not start. "All
right" he answered, wiping his fore
head. "If you'll let me alone, I'll be
there"
At dingy saloon corner near the
river shabby little man greeted him
heartily and petted the mongrel "Hm
mighty glad you didn't go, after all,
joe" he added, with Frightening
face.
go where, Happy?"
Mr.. Fear looked grave. Don't you
rec'lect meetin' me last night?"
I.ouden shook his head. mo. Did
II?
The others jaw fell and his brow
corrugated with self reproach. "Well
II that don't show what thick head
am! l thought we was all right er I'd
gone on with We. Nobody cd "a walk
ed straighter ner talked straighter
Said We was goin' to leave Canaan fer
good and didn't want nobody to know
it. Said We was goin' to take the 'leven
O'Clock through train fer the west and
told me 1 couldn't come to the deepo
with We. Said ye'd had enough O. Ca
naan and Of everything. follered We
part way to the deepo, but We turned
and made a motion fer me to go back,
and l done 1t because We seemed to be
kind Of in trouble, and thought ye'd
ruther be by yerself. Well, sir, it's
one on me-"
mot at ALL" said Joe. 81 was all
right"
WAS yeY' returned the other. "Do
remember, do ye?"
almost" Joe smiled family.
almost" echoed Happy. shaking his
head seriously. 81 tell ye Joe, eff was
you he began slowly, then paused
and shook his head again. He seemed
on the point Of delivering some advice
but evidently percelving the snobbisll-
ness Of such a proceeding, or else con-
WINGED by his own experience of the
futility of 1t, he sweryed to cheerful.
ness:
81 hear the boys is all goin' to work
hard fer the primaries. Mike says We
got some chances We don't know about
He swears yell be the mkt mayor OF
Canaan"
Nonsense! Folly and nonsense, Hap
by! That's the kind of thing used to
think when l was boy. But now
pshaw" Joe broke off with tired
laugh. '"rell them not to waste theil
time! Are you going out to the Beach
this afternoon"
The little man lowered his eyes
modify. "Pll be near there" he said,
scraping his patched shoe up and down
the curbstone. "That feller's in town
agin."
"What fellow?"
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 Claudine to git
his evens with me. He's made q raise
somewhere's and plays the spender.
And her-well, reckon she's tired
waitin' table at the National House,
tired O. me, too. / got hint that
they're goin' out to the Beach together
this afternoon"
Joe passed his hand YEARLY over his
aching forehead. 81 understand he
said, "and you'd better try to. Cory's
laying for you, of course. You say he's
after your wife? He must have set
about it pretty openly if they're going
to the Beach today, for there is always
a crowd there on Sundays Is it hard
for you to see why he's doing it? It's
because lie wants to make you jealous.
What for? So that you'll tackle him
again. And why does he want that?
Because he's ready for you"
The others eyes suddenly became
bloodshot, his nostrils expanding in
credibly. "Ready. is he? He better be
ready. r.
Z. ''rhat's enough" Joe interrupted
swiftly. Wen have no talk like that.
I'll settle this for you myself You
send word 10 Claudine that want to
see her ut my office tomorrow morning,
and you-you stay away from the
Beach today. Give me your word"
Mr.. Fears expression softened ".All
right, Joe" he said. III do what
ever You tell me to. Any of us IL do
that; we sure know who's our friend"
keep out of trouble. Happy" Joe
turned to go and they shook hands.