The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-07-07

VII WV NNt w WV tNAtNNth1 WV Wft
Ariel were together In u carriage with
Buckalew and the minister who had
read tho service. u dark, pleasant eyed
young man. and the squire, after being
almost overcome during tho ceremony,
experienced a natural reaction, talking
chocrfully throughout the long drive
lilo rccounted many anecdotes Of Es'
kew, chuckilng over most OF thcm,
though filed with wonder by coincl'
leuce which he aud Flltcroft had dis
covcred--the colonel had recently been
made tho custodian OF his old frlend'a
win, and II had been opened the day
before the funeral Eskew had left
everything no possessed. with tho re
gret that Il was 80 little. TO Joe,
"But the queer thing about It," said
the squire. addressing himself 10 Ariel,
twas the date Of II, tho i7th OF June,
The colonel and got TO talkln' II over
out on his porch last night. tryin' to
rec'lect what was goln' ON about then,
and we nggered II out that II was the
Monday after you come back. the very
day no got 80 upset when he saw You
goln' UP 10 Louden's law office with
your roses"
Joe looked quickly al Ariel, She did
not meet his glance. but. turning In
stead to I.adew. the clergyman. began.
with barely perccptlble blush, to
talk OF something he had said In u ser
mon two weeks ago, The two fell into
a thoughtful and amlable discussion.
during which there stole Into Joe's
heart 4 strange and unreasonable pain,
The young minister had lived In
Canaan only few months, aud Joe
had never seen him until that morn
ing. but he liked the short. honest talk
he had made liked his cadenceless
voice and keen. dark face and. recall
Ing what he had heard Martin rlke
voeIferatlng In his brougham one Sun
day, perceived that Ladew was the
fellow who had got to so" because his
sermons did not please the judge, Yet
Ariel remembered for more than n
fortnight a passage from one Of these
sermons. And rs Joe looked at the
manly and intelligent face opposite
him Il 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 Eskcw was 10 lie
beside brother who had died long
ago. IIc LEI he minister help Ariel
out. going quickly forward himself
with Buckalew, and then, after the H.
tlo while that the restoration Of dust
to dust mercItully needs. he returned
TO the carriage only TO get his hat.
Ariel and Ladew aud the squire were
already seated and waiting. Aren't
you going to ride home with us3" she
asked surprised
"No," he explained. not looking at
her, II have 10 talk with Norbart
!ltcroft. I'm going back with him.
l1dby."
His excuse was the mere truth, his
conversation with Norbert In the car.
riage which they managed 20 secure 20
themselves continuing earnestly until
Joe spoke TO the driver and alighted nj
corner near Mr.. Fnrbach's Italian
possessions. Don't forget" he said aS
he closed the carriage door, i've got
10 have both ends OF the string In my
nards.'
Forget! Norbert looked nj the Gu
p0la OF the Pike mansion rising above
the naples down the street, ut isn't
likely I'll forget!'
When Joe entered the Louis QuInzc
room" which some decorator. drunk
with power, had mingled into the
brewers villa, he found the owner and
Mr.. Sheehan. with five other men, en-
gagged In merItorious 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 II used the term
was something of the vaguesD as poll.
| tIcInns; the fifth was Mr.. Farbach's
closest friend, one who (Joe had heard
! was to be the next chairman Of the
city committee Of the party They
were seated about table, enveloped
in blue clouds and hushed to grave
and pertinent silence which clarified
Immediately the circumstance that
whatever debate had preceded his ar
rival, 1t was now settled.
Their greeting Of him, however,
though exceedingly quiet, indicated Il
certain expectancy as he accepted the
chair which had been left for him Mt
| the head Of the table, He looked thin
ner and paler than usual. which Is say
| Ing 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 up, and n
corner Of his mouth went down.
"Well, gentlemenT' he said.
The smokers continued to smoke and
to do nothing else, the exception being
Mr.. shcehan, who, though he spoke
not, exhibited tokens Of agitation and
excitement which he curbcd with DIFF
6culty, shifting about In his chair