The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-09-12

chemically borrowing q quarter from
him as he opened the envelope.
TN be roun' yo' way to git box 8,
se-gahs," laughed the friend, "soon e.
de campaign open up good. Dey all
goin' vote ye' way down on de leyee
bank, but dey sho' expecks to git to
smoke little TO leckshun day! We
knows who's ow frien'!' s.
Norbert's missive 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 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.
Standing at the top Of these stems
and leaning over the balustrade. 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 aci-
tated whirlpool Of men which moved
slowly toward a door in the high wall
that inclosed 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 as thew
reached the door the pressure upon
them increased dangerously. Clubs
rose in the air, hats flew, the whirlpool
heaved unanimously, and the steel door
changed. ..
Happy Fear was safe inside. but the
jostlers were outside, bamed, 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 a great shout of rage
and exultation arose.
For 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 fixedly
watching Mr.. Ladew extricate Ariel
and her aged and indignant escorts
from an overflow of the crowd in
which they had been caught. But a
voice warned him, the wild piping of
a newsboy who had climbed into a tree
near by.
"Joe Louden," he screamed, "look
out!'
With muffled roar the crowd surged
back from the Jail and turned toward
the steps. '"Tar and feather him!"
take him over to the river and throw
him in" "Drown himv "Hang him!'
Then a thing happened which was
dramatic enough in it's 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
lifted and one corner of his mouth
drawn down in a family distorted
smile.
He went straight toward the yelling
torerunners, with only small bundle
Of papers in his hands, and then, while
the nonpartisan spectators held their
breath, expecting the shock of contact,
straight on through them.
A number of the bulge checked form
ed the scattering van of these forerun-
ners, charging with hoarse and cruel
shrieks Of triumph. The first, appar-
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
ing themselves confronting the quiet
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
a dozen and more rowdyish men and
youths upon the steps, their eyes blaz-
ing with fury, menacing Louden's back
with frightful gestures across the mar
bic 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 a gust
Of mirth began to sweep over the stern
er spirits as they paused to marvel no
less at the disconcerting advance Of the
lawyer than at the spectacle presented
by the intrepid daredevils upon the
steps, kind of lane actually opening
before the young man as he walked
steadily on And when Mr.. Sheehan,
leading half a dozen huge men from
the Farbach brewery, unceremoniously !
shouldered a way through the mob to
Joe's side, reaching him where the
press was thickest, it is a question if
the services Of his detachment were
needed