Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-04
CHAPTER TX.

IF any echo Of doubt concerning his
undesirable conspicuousness sound
ed family in Joe's mind, 1t was 81
i fenced eftsoons. Canaan had not
forgotten him. Far from 1t, 80 far that
it began pointing him out to strangers
on the street the very day of his re-
turn. His course of action, likewise
that of bis friends, permitted him little
obscurity, and when the rumors' Of his
finally obtaining lodging at Beaver
Beach and Of the celebration Of his In
stallation there were presently con-
firmed he stood in the lime light in
deed, as Mephistopheles upsprung
through the trap door.
The welcoming festivities had not
been so discreetly conducted as to ac-
cord with the general policy Of Beaver
Beach. An unfortunate incident caused
the arrest of one of the celebrators and
the ambulancing to the hospital OF an
other on the homeward way. the ensu-
ing proceedings in court bringing to
the whole affair a publicity devoutly
unsought for. Mr.. Happy Fear (such
was the habitual name of the imprison-
ed gentleman) had to bear great
amount Of harsh criticism for injuring
a companion within the city limits oft
er daylight and for failing to observe
that three policemen were not too dis
tant from the scene Of operations to
engage therein.
''Happy, If he had it in mind to harm
him. said the red bearded man to Mr..
Fear upon the latters return to socie-
ty, "why didn't ye do it out here at the
beach?'
Because" returned the indiscreet,
che didn't say what he was goin' to
say till we got In town."
Extraordinary probing on the part Of
the prosecutor had developed at the
trial that the obnoxious speech had re-
ferred to the guest Of the evening.
The assaulted party, one Nashville"
Cory, was not of Canaan, but bit Of
driftwood happy touching shore for the
moment at Beaver Beach, and-strange
is this world-he had been introduced
to the coterie Of Mixes Place by Hap
py Fear himself, who had enjoyed q
brief acquaintance with him on a day
when both had CHANGED to travel in
cognito by the same freight. Natural
~ Happy had felt responsible for the
proper behavior Of his protege-was,
In fact, bound to enforce it; addition
ally, Happy had once been saved from
term of imprisonment Cat a time
when it would have been more than
ordinarily inconvenienD by help and
advice from Joe, and he was not one
to forget. Therefore he was grieved
to observe that his own guest seemed
to be somewhat jealous Of the hero of
the occasion and disposed to look cold
~ upon him. The stranger, however,
contented himself with innuendo
(mere expressions of the face and 9th
er manner Of things for which one
could not squarely lay hands upon
him) until such time as he and his
sponsor had come to Main street in
the clear dawn on their way to Hap
py's apartment, variable abode. It
may be that the stranger perceived
what Happy did not-the three blue
coats in the perspective. At all
events, he now put into words Of sim
pie strength the unfavorable concep-
ton he had formed Of Joe. The re-
suit was mediaevally immediate, and
the period Of Mr.. Cory's convalescence
in the hospital was almost half that OF
his sponsors detention In the county
Jail.
When Happy Fear had suffered,
with a give and take simplicity Of pa
thence, his allotment Of months in
durance and was released and sent
into the streets and sunshine once
more, he knew that his first duty lay
in the direction Of a general apology to
Joe. p1t the young man was no lon
ger at Beaver Beach, the red headed
proprietor dwelt alone there and, 70
ceiving Happy with scorn and pity,
directed him to retrace his footsteps