The San Francisco call., 1907-01-06
The San Francisco Sunday Call
.Y
BOOTH
TAnE1kIGTON

out the long, tricky cross-eNailil'As -
he continued to tell Just what hap
nenad" with A pIaintive truthfulness
not 20 be Initiated. and throughout -
Joe guarded him from pitfalls t4OL
lawyers in their search after truth A.o
compelled by the exigencies OF theil
profession to make pitfalls even IoI
the honest), and gave MIN, by various
devices. time TO remember, though not
to think. and made the words come
right In his mouth. So that oeIore
the eitting was over a disgusting ru
NOR ran through the waiting croWo III
the corridors, across the square anu
over the town. that the case was sure
lv going .Loudeu'n way" This was
also the opinion OF a looker-on IN
Canaan--a ferret-faced counsellor OF
corporations who. called to consulta-
tion with the eminent BuckaleW
spent an hour in his company at the
trial. It's going that young felloW
Louden's way" said the stranger. You
say he's q shyster. but
Well" admitted Buckalew with
some reluctance. II don't mean that ex-
aetly. I've Eot an old uncle who seems
lately TO think he's great man
"I'i1 take your unele's word for II,
returned the other. smiling Il think
he'll 60 pretty far"
They had come 10 the flight OF steps
which descended 10 the yard. and the
Visitor, looking. down upon the angry.
crowd, added. III they don't kill MIN.
Joe himself was anxious concerning
no such matter He shock hands with
Happy at the end OF the sitting. bidding
him be of good cheer. and, when the
little man had marched away, under
strong guard. began to gather and sort
his papers at desk inside the par.
This took him perhaps Ave minutes.
and when he had finished there were
only three people left In the room;
clerk. q negro janitor with broom
and the darky friend who always hope
fully accompanies colored man hold
Inc high public ONCE. These TWO ap-
provingiy greeted the young lawyer,
the janitoF handing him a note from
Norbert Flitcroft, and the friend me
chanioaliy borrowing" 4 quarter from
him as he opened the envelope.
eIll be roun' yo way to git a box o
sa-g -gahs." laughed the friend. soon ez
de campaign open up good. Dey all
goin' vote yo' way. down on the levee
bank. but dey sho' expecks TO git to
smoke little 'fo' leckshun- day! We
knows who's ow frien'v
Norbert's missive was lengthy and
absorbing: Joe went on his way. per-
using it with profound attention; but
as he descended the stairway to the
floor below a loud burst OF angry
shouting. outside the building. caused
him TO hasten toward the big front
doors opened upon an imposing vesti-
bule, from which a handsome flight of
stone steps. protected by marble ball
ustrade. led TO the ground.
Standing at the top of these steps
and leaning over the balustrnde, he had
a clear view Of half the yard. No one
was near him; everybody was running
in the opposite direction. toward that
corner OF the yard occupied by the jail,
the crowd centering upon an agitated
whirlpool OF men which moved slowly
toward a door in the high wall that in
closed the building and Joe saw that
Happy Fears guards, conducting the
prisoner back to his cell, were being
jostled and rushed. The T'stance they
had made was short. Lut as they
reached the door the pressure upon
them Increased dangerously. Clubs rose
in the air. hats flew. the whirlpool
heavsd tumultuously, and the steel door
changed
Happy Fear was afe inside. but the
jostlers were outside-bafIied. ugly and
stirred with the passion that changes
a crowd into 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 exuitation arose.
For moment or two he did not see
his danger At the clang OF the door
his eyes. caught by the gleam of a
wide white hat, had turned toward the
street, and he was somewhat hxedly
watching Mr.. Ladew extricate Ariel
land her aged and indignant escorts)
from an overflow Of the crowd in which
they had been caught. But voice
warned him: the wild piping of news
boy who had climbed into a tree near
by.
"Joe Ioudeng' he screamed. Look
out!''
With mufied roar the crowd surged
II - - I'll
the steps. Tar and feather him.
Take him to the river and throw him
inr' Drown him. Hang himi'
Then a thing happened which was
dramatic enough In it's inception, but
almost ludicrous in its 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 family distorted
smile.
He went straight toward the YELL
ing forerunners, with only a small bun
die OF papers in his hands and then
while the non-partisan spectators held
their breath. expecting the shock OF
contact--straight on through them.
number OF the bulge-cheeked
formed the scattering van OF these
forerunners, charging with hoarse and
cruel shrieks Of triumph. The first
apparently about to tear Joseph Louden
to pieces, changed countenance at arms
length. swerved violently, and with the
loud cry, Head him offf' 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 ana
showed no intention OF turning aside
tor them, turned suddenly aside for
him, and. taking the cue from the frat
pursued their way. believing: '-Iead
him on. Head him on" until there
were dozen and more rowdyish men
and youths upon the steps. their evas
blazing with fury, menacing Loudsn,s
back with frightful gestures across
the marble balustrade, as they hva-
tericalIy bleated the chorus, ssrIead
him orr
Whether or not Joe could hava
walked through the entire mob aa b~
had walked through these is a mattar
for speculation: II was believed An