Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-06-26
CHAPTER NNII.

Mrs. Louden drew in her skirts grimly
as her stepson passed her in the mourn
full procession through the hall. Her
eyes We're red with weeping quot for
Eskew), but not so red as those of
Mamie Pike, who stood beside her.
On the way to the cemetery Joe and
Ariel We're together in a carriage with
Buckalew and 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 IL coinci-
dence which he and Flitcroft 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-
greet that it was SO little, to Joe.
"But the queer thing about it," said
the squire, addressing himself to Ariel,
was the date of it, the 18th of June.
The colonel and got to talkin' it over
out on his porch last night. tryin' to
rec'lect what was goin' on about then,
and we figgered it out that it was the
Monday after you come back, the very
day he got go upset when he saw you
goin' up TO Louden's law Office with
your roses"
Joe looked quickly at Ariel. She did
.nf IL; .r1n, l,,,N t,n,,,, sx,.. to-
stead to Ladew, the clergyman, began,
with barely perceptible blush, to
talk of something lie had said in SER
mon two weeks ago. The two fell into
thoughtful and amiable discussion,
during which there stole into Joe's
heart u strange and unreasonable pain.
The young minister had lived in
had never seen him until that morn
ing, but he liked the short, honest talk
he had made, liked his cadenceess
voice and keen, dark face and, recall
ing what he had heard Martin Pike
vociferating in 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 Il
fortnight n 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 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 al
her. II have to talk with Norbert
Flitcroft. I'm going back with him.
Goodby."
His excuse was the mere truth, his
SoaN Will ANolDell al Tic CuI-
r:age which they managed to secure to
themselves continuing earnestly until
Joe spoke to the driver and alighted at
corner near Mr.. 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,"
"Forgetr' Norbert looked at the GU
pola of the Pike mansion rising above
the naples down the street, 1T isn't
likely I'll forget!' ~ =,
When Joe entered the Louis Qulnze
room" which some decorator, drunk
with power, had mingled into the
brewers villa, he found the owner and
Mr.. Sheehan, with five other men. Ell,
gagged in n meritorious attempt to tone
down the apartment with smoke
Two of the five others were prosper.
Gus owners of saloons, two Were
known to the public (whose notion OF
what it meant when 1t used the term
was something of the vaguest) rs poll
ticians; the fifth was Mr. Farbach's
closest friend, one who doe had heard
was to be the next chairman of the
city committee of the party. They
were seated about Il table, enveloped
in blue clouds and hushed to n grave
and pertinent silence which clarified
whatever debate had preceded his ar
rival, it was now settled.
Their greeting of him, however,
though exceedingly quiet, indicated n
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 ell
trance had broken was Immediately re-
sumed, n twinkle came into his eye,
one of his eyebrows went up, and n
corner of his mouth went down.
well, gentlemen" he said.
The smokers continued to smoke and
to do nothing else, the exception being
Mr.. Sheehan, who. though lie spoke
not, exhibited tokens of agitation and
excitement which he curoed with DIFF
ficulty, shifting about IN his chair,
gnawing his cigar, crossing and I'M
crossing his knees, rubbing and slap
ping his hands together, clearing his
throat with violence, his eyes fixed all
the while, as We're those of his com
panions. upon MIR. Farbach. So that
Joe was given to perceive that it had
been agreed that the brewer should be
the spokesman. Mr.. Farbach was de-
liberate, that was all. which added to
the effect of what he finally did say.
"Choe." lie remarked placidly. you
are der next mayor off Canaan"
'Why do you say that:" asked the
young plan sharply.
''Biclioss us here" lie answered. in
terlocking the tips of his fingers over
his waistcoat. that being rs near fold
ing his hands as lay within his power,
"bickoss us here shall try to fix IT SO,
und SO hef ditcided."
Joe took a deep breath. "Why do
you want me?"
Dot" replied the brewer. "iss some
dinu I shall fell x,o,J To-,