Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-06
By BOOTH HARRINGTON.
CHAPTER XII.

HIT. 1905. BY HARPER BROTHERS

house to its final abiding place. With him in that task were Buckalew, Bradbury, the colonel and the grandsons of the two latter, and Mrs. Louden drew in her skirts grimly as her stepson passed her in the mourn ful procession through the hall. Her eyes were red with weeping (not for Eskew), but not so red as those of Mamie Pike, who stood beside her.
 On the way to the cemetery Joe and Ariel were together in a carriage with Buckalew snd the minister who had read the service, a dark. pleasant eyed young man, and the squire, after being almost overcome during the ceremony, experienced natural reaction, talking cheerfully throughout the long drive He recounted many anecdotes of Els kew, chuckling over most of them, though filled with wonder by coinci- dence which he and Fiitcroft had dis covered-the colonel had recently been made the custodian of his old friends will, and it had been opened the day before the funeral. Eskew had left everything he possessed, with the re- Sret that 1t was so little, to Joe.
 But the queer thing about It." said the squire, addressing himself to Ariel, twas the date of it, the 17th of June. The colonel and got to talkin' it over out on his porch last night, tryin' to reclect what was goin' on about then, and we fingered it out that it was the Monday after you come back, the very day he got so upset when he saw you goin' up to Louden's law office with your roses"
 Joe looked quickly at Ariel. She did not meet his glance, but, turning in- stead to Ladew, the clergyman, began, with barely perceptible blush, to talk of something he had said in ser mon two weeks ago. The two fell into . thoughtful and amiable discussion, during which there stole into Joe's heart a strange and unreasonable pain. The young minister had lived in Canaan only a few months, and Joe had never seen him until that morn- ing, but he liked the short, honest talk he had made. liked his cadenceless ing what he had heard Martin Pike voclferating ill his brougham one Sun day, perceived that Ladew was the fellow who had ''got to go" because his sermons did not please the judge. Yet Ariel remembered for more than fortnight passage from one of these sermons. And as Joe looked at the manly and intelligent face opposite him it did not seem strange that she should.
 He resolutely turned his eyes to the open window and saw that they had entered the cemetery, were near the green knoll where Eskew was to lie beside a brother who had died long ago. He let the minister help Ariel out, going quickly forward himself with Buckalew and then, after the lit- tie while that the restoration of dust to dust mercifully needs. he returned to the carriage only to get his hat.
 Ariel and Ladew and the squire were already seated and waiting. Aren't you going to ride home with us;" she asked surprised.
 "No," he explained. not looking at her. "I have to talk with Norbert Flitcroft. I'm going back with him. GoOdby"
 His excuse was the mere truth. his conversation with Norbert in the car riage which they managed to secure to themselves continuing earnestly until Joe spoke to the driver and alighted at a corner near Mir. Farbach's Italian possessions. Don't forget" he said as he closed the carriage door. I've got to have both ends of the string in my hands"
 Forget Norbert looked at the cu- pola Of the Pike mansion rising above she naples down the street. Tt isn't likely I'll forget.'
 When Jce entered the Louis Qu!nze room" which some decorator. drunk with power. had mingled into the brewers villa. he found the owner and NIr. Sheehan. with five other men. en- gagged in lferitorious attempt to tone down the apartment with smoke. Two of the five others were prosper ous owners of saloons, two were known to the public (whOse notion of what it meant when it used the term was something of the vaguesU as poll ticians: the fifth was Mir. Farbach's closest friend. one who Joe had heardl was to be the next chairman of the city committee of the party. They were seated about a table. enveloped fin blue clouds and hushed to a grave and pertinent silence which clarified snmedistely the circumstance that whatever debate had preceded his ar rival. it was now settled.
 Their greeting of him, however. though exceedingly quiet. indicated e certain expectancy as he accepted the chair which had been left for him at the head of the table. He looked thin ner and paler than usual. which is say ing a great deal. but presently. finding that the fateful hush which his en- trance had broken was immediately re- sumed. a twinkle came into his eye. one of his eyebrows went ID. and a corner of his mouth went down
 Well. rentlenenE- he said
 The smokers continued to smoke and to do nothing else. the exception being Mir Shcehan. who. though he spoke
  excitement which he curbed with diff