Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-07-10

luSN uSd SOl1iC " thS VI SASpS
which descended to the yard, and the
visitor, looking down upon the angry
crowd, added, III they don't kill him"
Joe himself was anxious concerning
no such matter. He shook hands with
Happy at the end of the sitting, bid
ding him be of good cheer, and when.
the little man had marched away I'M
der strong guard began to gather and
sort his papers at desk inside the
bar. This took him perhaps five min
utes. and when lie had finished there
We're only three people left in the room
IA clerk, a negro ianitor with Il broom
and the darby friend who always hope
fully accompanies O coIored man hold
ing high public office. These two ;l,-
provingly greeted the young lawyer.
the janitor handing him . note from
Norbert Flitcroft and tile friend me-
cnanically borrowing quarter from
him as he opened the envelope.
I'll be roun' yo way to git box o.
se-gahs," laughed the friend. "soon ez
de campaign open up good. Dey all
goin' vote ye' way down on de levee
bank. but dey sho' eNpecks to git to
smoke little 'fo' leckshun day! We
knows who's ow frien.'
Norberts nissive was lengthy and
absorbing. Joe went on his way. ne
rusing it with profound attention, but
as he descended the stairway to the
floor below a loud burst of angry shout
ing outside the building caused him to
hasten toward the big front doors
which faced Main street. The doors
opened upon an imposing vestibule,
from which handsome flight OF stone
steps. protected by marble balus-
trade, led to the ground
Sta:,.ing Mt the top of these steps
and leaning over the balustr;de. he had
clear view of half the yard. No one
was near him. Everybody was run
ming in the opposite direction, toward
that corner of the yard occupied by the
Jail, the crowd centering upon an agi-
tated whirlpool of men which moved
slowly toward n door In the high wall
that Enclosed the building. and Joe saw
that Happy Fears guards. conducting
the prisoner back to his cell, were be-
Ing jostled and rushed. The distance
they had made was short, but us they
reached the door the pressure upon
them increased dangerously. Clubs
rose In the air, hats flew. the whirlpool
heaved tumultuousiy, and the steel door
changed.
Happy Fear was safe inside, but the
jostlers We're outside. baftled, ugly and
stirred with the passion that changes
crowd into a mob.
Then some of them caught sight of
Joe as he stood alone at the top Of
the steps, and great shout of rage
and eXultation arose.
For q moment or two he did not see
his danger. AT the clang of the door
his eyes, caught by the CLEAN of
wide white hat, had turned toward the
street. and he was somewhat tiXedly
watching Mr.. Ladew extricate Ariel
and her aged and indignant escorts
from an overflow of the crowd in
which they had been caught. But
voice warned him, the wild piping of
q newsboy who had climbed into tree
near by.
"Joe Iouden," he screamed, Iook
out"
With muftied roar the crowd surged
back from the Jail and turned toward
the steps. Tar and feather hmw
Take him over to the river and throw
him In" Drown him! Hang him.
Then thing happened which was
dramatic enough in its inception, but
almost ludicrous In It's effect. Joe
walked quietly down the steps and
toward the advancing mob with his
head cooked to one side, one eyebrow
drawn down in family distorted
smile.
He went straight toward the yelling
forerunners. with only Il small bundle
of papers in his hands. and then. while
the nonpartisan spectators held their
BREATH expecting the shock of contact,
straight OH through them.
A number of the bulge checked form
ed the scattering van of these forelrin-
hers. charging with hoarse and cruel
shrieks of triumph. The first, apDnr-
emily about to tear Joseph Louden to
pieces. changed countenance at arms
length, swerved violently and with the
loud cry, Head him off, dashed on
up the stone steps. The man next be-
hind him followed his lead, with the
same shout. strategy and haste Then
the others of this advance attack, find
man. who kept his even pace and show
ed no Intention of turning aside for
them. turned suddenly aside for him
and. taking the cue from the first. pur-
sued their way, believing: Head him
off! Head him off, until there were
dozen and more rowdyish men and
youths upon the steps, their eyes blaZ-
ing with fury, menacing Louden's back
with friEhtful gestures across the mar
Bile balustrade as they Historically
bleated the chorus, Head him off"
Whether or not Joe could have walk
ed through the entire mob as he had
walked through these is a matter for
speculation. 1t was believed in Ca
naan that he could Already II gust
of mirth began to sweep over the stern
er spirits rs they paused to marvel no
less at the dsconcerting advance of the
lawyer than at the spectacle presented
by the intrepid daredevils upon the
steps, Il kind of lane actually opening
before tie young man us he walked
steadily OIL And when Mr.. Sheelian,
leading half u dozen huge men from
the Farbach brewery, unceremoniously
shouldered Il way through the mob to
Joe's side, reaching him where the
press was thickest it is II question If
the services of his detachment were
needed.
The laughter Increased 1t became
voluminous. IIomcric salvOs shook the
air. And never one of the fire eaters
upon ths steps lived long enough to
live down the hateful cry of that day,
"Head him off, which was to become
a catclward ca the streets. taunt
more singing than any devised by de-
llberate invention, an insult bitterer
than the ancestral doubt. II fighting