Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-03-20
CHAPTER Y
Canaan Daily Tocsin of the
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CHAPTER v.
"HE Canaan Daily Tocsin of the
following morning "ventured
the assertion" upon Its front
4 page that 1.-The scene at the
Pike mansion was one of unalloyed
festivity, music and mirth; fairy
bower of airy figures waiting here and
there to the throb of waltz strains;
verltable temple of Terpsichore, shin
ing forth with myriad of lights,
which, together with the generous pro-
fusion of floral decorations and the
mingled delights afforded by Minds
orchestra Of Indianapolis and Caterer
Jones of Chicago. was in all likelihood
never heretofore surpassed in elegance
in our city. Only one incident" the
Tocsin remarked, "marred on other
wise perfect occasion, ard out of re-
gard for tie culprits family connec-
tlons. which are prominent in our So
cial world, we withhold his name. Suf-
fee 1t to say that through the vigilance
of Mr.. Norbert Flitcroft, grandson Of
Colonel A. A. Flitcroft, who proved
himself a thorough Lecoq (the cele-
brated French detective), the rascal
was seized and recognized. Mr.. Fit
croft, having discovered him in hiding,
Ind Gordon Of walters drawn up
around his hiding place, which was the
charmingly decorated side piazza Of
the Pike mansion, and sent for Judge
Pike, who came upon the intruder by
surprise. He eyaded the judges. in
dignant grasp, but received well
merited blow over the head from a
poker which the judge had concealed
about his person while pretending to
approach the hiding place casually.
Attracted to the scene by the cries of
Mr.. Flitcroft, who, standing behind
Judge Pike, accidentally received
blow from the same weapon, all the
guests Of the evening sprang to view
the scene, only to behold the culprit leap
through crevice between the strips
of canvas which Enclosed the piazza.
He was seized by the colored coach
man of the mansion, Sam Warden, and
Immediately pounced upon by the cor
don Of Caterer Jones' dusky assistants
from Chicago, who were in ambush
outside. Unfortunately after brief
struggle he managed to trip Warden
and, the others stumbling upon the
PROSTATE body Of the latter, to make
his escape in the darkness"
Not quite n mile above the northern
most of the factories on the water front
there projected into the river near the
end Of the crescent bend above the
town q long pier, relic of steamboat
days, rotting now and many years
fallen from its maritime uses. About
midway Of its length stood huge,
crazy shed, long ago utilized rs n
freight storeroom. This had been
patched and propped, and dangerous
looking yeranda attached to it, over
hanging the water Above the door
way was placed sign whereon might
be read the words Beaver Beach,
Mixes Place" The shore end of the
pier was SO ruinous that passage was
offered by single row Of planks,
porary as we'll as Insecure that one
might have guessed their Office to be
something in the nature Of a draw
bridge. From these narrow path ran
through marsh left by the receding
river to q country road Of desolate APP
pearance. Here there was a rough in
closure or corral, with some tumble
down sheds which afforded shelter on
the night of Joseph Louden's disgrace
for a number Of shaggy teams attached
to those decrepit and musty vehicles
known picturesquely and accurately as
night hawks.
BY 3 o'clock Joy at Mikes place had
become beyond question unconfined.
and the tokens of 1t were audible for
long distance in all directions. If,
however, there is no sound where no
ear hears, silence rested upon the coun-
tryside until an hour later. Then Il
lonely figure came shivering from the
direction of the town not by the road,
but Sinking through the snow upon the
frozen river. 1t came slowly, as though
very tired, and cautiously, too, often
turning its head to look behind. Final
~ 1t reached the pier and stopped as If
to listen.
Nltulu uOuSc uDONC u lidlio vi
evil life was being beaten to death for
its sins and clamorng its last cries
horribly. The old shed ratified in every
part with the thud of many heavy feet
and trembled with the shock Of noise,
an incessant roar of mems voices, pune
tuated with women's screams. Then
the riot Quieted somewhat. There was
clapping of hands, and violin be-
gan to squeak measures intended to be
oriental The next moment the listener
scrambled up one of the rotting piles
and stood upon the veranda. A shaft
of red light through broken shutter
struck across the figure above the
shoulders, revealing bloody handker-
chief clumsily knotted about the head
and beneath it the face of Joe Louden.
Joe opened the door and went in. All
Of the merry company (who We're able
turned sharply toward the door as 1t
opened. One or two nearest the door
asked the boy, without great curiosity.
what had happened to his head. He
merely shook it family in reply and
crossed the room to an open hallway
DeyOQQ. Az lle enu Vi lillS ile Citule "
frowzy bedroom, the door of which
stood ajar. Seated at deal table and
working by dim lamp with broken
chimney, a close cropped, red bearded
red haired man in his shirt sleeves was
jabbing gloomily Mt column of figures
scrawled in dirty ledger. He looked
up rs Joe appeared in the doorway. and
his eyes showed Il slight surprise.
81 never thought We had the temper
to git somebody to split yer head" sale
lie. "Where'd We collect it?"
He unwound the handkerchief ant
removed 1t from Joes head gently
'Whee" he cried as a long cash was
exposed over the forehead. II hope ye
left mark somewhere to pay a little
on the score o. tlIis.'
Joe chuckled and dropped dizZily
back upon tile pillow. "rlere was an
other who got something like it." he
gasped feebly, "and, oh, Mike, ! wisl
you could have heard him going on
Perhaps you did. 1t was only three