Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-06-14
Continued from last week. !


knowledge OF Oakley's return should
be withheld, and In less than half nm
hour Antioch, with bated breath, was
discussing the news on street corners
and over back fences.
That night the town council met In
becret session to consider the weighty
matter OF his reception, for by com
mon consent It was agreed that the
town must take OFFICIAL action. II was
suggested that he be given the free
dom OF the city. This sounded large
und met with Instant favor. but when
the question arose as to how the free
dom Of the city was conferred the pres
ident turned, with slightly embar-
rassed pir, 10 the member who had
made the motion. The member ex-
planned, with some reserve, that he be-
heved the most striking feature had to
DO with the handing oyer Of the city
keys to the guest OF honor. But unfor-
tunately Antioch had no city keys to
deliver. The only keys that by any
stretch OF the imagination could be 80
called were those Of the courthouse,
and they were lost.
Here an appeal was made to the
Hon. Jeb Barrows, who was usually
called in to straighten out any parlia.
mentary tangles In which the council
became involved. That eminent states
man was leaning dreamily against
pillar at the end OF the council cham
Der. On one Of the cards he had al
ready penciled the brief suggestion.
Feed him and have out the band"
He handed the card to the president,
and the council hcaved a sigh Of relief.
The momentous question Of 0akley's
Official reception was settled. -
When Dan and DR.. Emory stepped
from No. 7 Saturday night the station
platform was crowded with men and
boys. The brass band. which Antioch
loved with love that stinsd criticism.
perspiring and in dire haste, was turn
iuk tho street corner half block dis
tant. Across the tracks at the railroad
shops a steam whistle shrieksd an %
static welcome.
Dan glanced at the doctor Win Q
slightly puxsled air.
What do you suppose y the mat.
terri he asked unsuspiciousiy.
"why. man. don't you understand
It's your
There was no need for him to say
more, for the crowd had caught sight
Of Dan and hundred voices cried:
There be Is! There's Oekieyr'
And in an instant Antioch, giving
way to wild enthusiasm, was cheering
itself black In the face, while above
the sound OF cheers and the crash Of
music tho steam whistle at the shops
shrieked and pealed.
The blood left 0akiey's face. He
looked down at the crowd and saw
Turner Joyce, lie saw McClintock
and Holt and the men from the shops.
who were, II possible, the noisiest OF
all. He turned helplessly to the doc,
Tor.
Lets get out OF this" he said be-
tween his teeth. The crowd and the
noise and the excitement recalled that
other night when he had ridden into
Antioch As he spoke he swung him
self down from the steps of the coach,
and the crowd closed about him with
glad shout Of welcome.
The doctor followed more slowly. As
he gained the platform the Hon. Jeb
Barrows hurried 20 his side.
"Where is he to 90, DocY' he painted.
''To your house or 10 the hotelT'
"ro my house"
"All right. then. The crowds spoil
ing the whole business. I've got an
address OF welcome In my pocket that
| was 10 have delivered, and there's 20
be supper at the rink tonight Don't
let him get away from YOU"
Meanwhile pan had succeeded In eX-
Treating himself from the clutches Of
hls friends and was struggling toward
closed carriage at the end OF the plat
farm that he recognized as the En-.
orys'.
In his haste and the dusk OF the dull
October twilight he supposed the figure
he saw In the carriage 10 be the doctor,
who had preceded him. and called TO
the man ON the box to drive home.
As he settled himself he said re-
proachfully;
81 hope YOU hadn't anything to do
with this 80
\ slim, gloved hand was placed IN
his own. and a laughing voice said:
"How do you do. MIR. oakleyT"
He glanced up quickly and found
himself face 20 face with Constance
Emory.
There was moments silence. and
then Dan said. the courage that had
brought him all the way TO Antioch
suddenly deserving him:
ITS too bad, isn't it2 had hoped
could 5lp Ia and out OF town without
any one being tbo wiser"
But you can't with a little air OF
triumph ">ntoch is going to enter
tain YOU. us been iu a perfect turor
OF excitement over since Il knew you
wcrc cow'n- r.Uk"
We'll, / suppose there is no help for