Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-02-20
u -TaE1 71ll1.7-E 80 -
-=sEz =.===- T II 81 -
CONQUEST q CANAAN
By BOOTH HARRINGTON,
of Cherry" Monsieur ETC.
By BOOTH HARRINGTON.

we ever git anywhere In an argument
like this unless we let one man talk at
Il time? How
$50 on with your statement" said
Uncle Joe Davey impatiently.
Mr.. Apps grievance was increased.
"Now, listen to you! How many more
interruptions are comm? I'll listen to
the other side, but I've got to state
mine first, haven't 1? If don't make
my point clear, what's the use of the
argument? Augmentation is only the
comparison of two sides of question,
and you have to see what the first side
is before you can compare it with the
other one. don't you? Are you all
agreed to that?''
Eyes, yes" said the colonel. $50
ahead. We won't interrupt until you're
through"
The argument" grew heated. Half
q dozen tidy quarrels arose. All the
sages went at 1t fiercely except Roger
Tabor, who stole quietly away. The
aged men We're enjoying themselves
thoroughly, especially those who quar-
relied. Naturally the frail bark of the
topic which had been launched was
-whirled about by too many side cur
rents to remain long in sight and soon
became derelict, while the intellectual
dolphins dove and tumbled in the
depths. At the end of twenty minutes
Mr.. Arp emerged upon the surface, and
in his mouth was this:
"Tell me, why amt the church-why
amt the church and the rest of the
believers in future life lookin' for
Immortality at the other end Of life
too? If we're immortal we always
have been. Then why don't they ever
speculate on what we were before we
We're born? It's because they're too
blame selfish; don't care fiapdoodle
about what was. All they want is to go
on Twin forever"
trlumphancy, when it suddenly falter-
ed, reIapsed to murmur and then to a
stricken silence us tall, fat man Of
overpowerlng aspect threw open the
outer door near by and crossed the
| lobby to the clerks desk. An awe fell
upon the sages with this advent. They
| were hushed and after movement in
budding, sat disconnected and atten-
tive, like schoolboys at the entrance of
| the master.
4 The parsonage had big, fat pink
face and heavily undershot jaw,
what whitish beard he wore following
his double chin somewhat after the
manner displayed in the portraits of
Henry VIII. His eyes, very bright
under puffed upper lids. were intoler-
ant and insultlngly penetrating despite
their small size. Their irritability held
kind Of holiness. and yet the person
| age exuded frost, not Of the weather,
all about him. You could not imagine
man or angel daring to greet this be-
ing genially-sooner throw kiss to
Mount Pilatus!
'Air. Brown" he said, with ponder
Gus hostility, in a bull bass to the
| clerk-the kind of voice which would
have made an express train leave the
track and go round the other way.
do you hear me!'
'.Oh, yes, judge" the clerk replied
swiftly in tones as unlike those which
he used for strange transients as q
collectors voice in his ladylove's Ell
Is unlike that which he propels at de
linquents.
EDO you see that snow?" asked thu
parsonage threateningly.
Eyes, judge" Mr.. Brown essayet
|
Pike"
HAS your employer, the manage
of this hotel, seen that SNOWY" pursued
the parsonage, with n gesture of lin
speakable solemn menace.
Eyes, sir. think so. Yes, sir.''
t'Do you think he fully understand
that am the proprietor of this built
/ ing?"
Certain. Judge. cer'-
ssYou will inform him that do II !,
intend to be discommoded by his naa
ligence rs pass to my Offices. rs.
him from ME that unless he keeps b
sidewalks In front Of this hotel elsa
OF snow I will cancel his lease. Thei
present condition Is outrageous. D,
you understand me? Outrageous! b,
you hearY"
Eyes, judge, 1 do So" answered th'
clerk, hoarye with respect. "I'll see t.
1t. this minute. Judge Pike"
t''You had better" The personag'
turned himself about and began a grin
progress toward the door by which III
, had entered, his eyes fixing themselve
angrily. upon the conclave at the win
dows. @
He nodded to the only man Of sub
stance among them, Jonas Tabor, AM
shut the door behind him with ma
jestic insult. He was Cannan's mil
lionaire.
Naturally Jonas Tabor was the frs
to speak. Judge Pixies lookin' might,
WELL" he said admirlngly.
Eyes, he is" ventured Squire Bucka
lew, with Difference; mighty WE'LL"
, .'There's party ut the judges to
night" said Mr.. Bradbury-'kind of
ball Mamie Pixies glvin' for the youni
folks Quite doin's, l hear"
"That's another thing that's rulnin
Canaan" Mr.. Arp declared morosely-
"these entertainments they have now
adays. Spend oil the money out o
town-band from indianapolis, chicke
salad and darby walters from Oh
cago"
A decrepit hack or two, couple o
old fashioned Surveys and n few "cut
unders" drove by from the 1O:45 trail
bearing the newly arrived and thei
valises, the hotel omnibus depositin
several commercial travellers ut til
door. A solitary figure came from til
station on foot, and when it appeare
within fair range of the window, Uncl
Joe Davey, who had but lowered o.
the tanks of the combat, first removes
his spectacles and wiped them, u
though distrusting the vision they OF
fered him. then, replacing them, scan
ned anew the approaching figure AM
uttered smothered cry.
"AIy Lord Almighty" he gasped
"what's this? Look there!'
They looked. A truce came involun
tarIly, and they sat In paralytic silenc
| oo In 70 SIN nj nj