Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-02

Did it strike ye now," MT. Sheehan asked earnestly, leaning forward in his chair-''did it strike ye that the Tocsin was aimin' more to do Happy harm because of you than himself?"
 "Yes." Joe looked sadly out of the window. i've thought that over, and ! 1t seemed possible that I might do Happy more good by giving his case to some other lawyer"
 "No, sir" exclaimed the proprietor of Beaver Beach loudly. They've be- gun their attack, they're bound to keep it up, and they'd manage to turn it to the discredit of both of ye. Besides, Happy wouldn't have no other lawyer. He'd ruther be hung with you fightin' fer him than be cleared by anybody else. b'lieve 1t, on my soul do! Buu look here," he went on, leaning still farther forward. T want to know if it struck ye that this morning the Tocsin attacked ye in a way that was somehow vilenter than ever before"
 "Yes," replied Joe, because it was aimed to strike where it would most |
 count"
 Ut ain't only that" said the other excitedly-"it ain't only that! want ye to listen. Now, see here, the Tocsn is Pike, and the town is Pike-I mean the town ye naturally belonged to. Ain't it?"
 Tn way, suppose-yes."
 "In a wayw echoed the other scorn. fully. "Ye know it is! Even as a boy Pike disliked ye and hated the kind of boy ys was. Ye wasn't respectable, and he was. Ye wasn't rich, and he was. Ye had a grin on yer face when yed meet him on the street." The red bearded man broke off at a gesture from Joe and exclaimed sharply: Don't deny it! l know what ye was like! Ye wasn't impudent, but ye looked at him as if ye saw through him. Now listen and I'll lead ye somewhere. Ne run with riffraff. Now. I ask ye this: Ye've had one part of Canaan with ye from the start-my part, that is-but l the others against ye. That parts Pike. and it's the rulin' part
 "Yes, Mike" said Joe wearily. Tn the spirit of things. know"
 No. sir" cried the other. "That's the trouble: ye don't know. There's more in Canaan than ye've understood. Listen to this: Why was the Tocsin's attack harder this morning than ever before? On yer soul didn't it sound so bitter that it sounded desprit? Now, why? It looked to me as if 1t had started to ruin ye, this time fer good and all! Why? What have ye had to do with Martin Pike lately? Has the old wolf got to injure ye?" MT. Shee- hans voice rose and his eyes gleamed under bushy brows. Think" he fin ished. Whats happened lately to make him bite so hard?"
 There were some faded roses on the desk, and as Joe's haggard eyes fell upon them the answer came. What makes you think Judge Pike isn't trustworthy he had asked Ariel. and her reply had been, Nothing very definite, unless it was his look when l told him that I meant to ask you to take charge of things for me"
 He got slowly and amazedly to his feet. You've got itr' he said.
 "Ye see?" cried Mike Sheehan, slap ping his thigh with a big hand. "On my soul I have the penetration! Ye don't need to tell me one thing except this: I told ye I'd lead ye somewhere. Haven't I kept me word!"
 Yes" said Joe. .,
 But I have the penetration." ex- claimed Mir. Sheehan. Should l miss my guess if I said that ye think Pike may be scared yell stumble on his track in some queer performances? Should miss it:'
 "No," said Joe. you wouldn't miss it."
 Just one thing more" The red bearded man rose, hopping the inner band of his straw hat. 'In the matter of yer running fer mayor, now
 Joe. who had begun to pace up and down the room. made an impatient ges- ture. "Pshaw.- he interrupted, but bis friend stopped him with hand laid on his arm.
 Don't be treatin' it as clean out of all possibility. Joe Louden. If ye do. it shows yc haven't sense to know that nobody can say what way the winds blowin' week after next All the boys want ye: Louie Farbach wants ye. and Louie has a big say. Who is it that doesn't want ye:"
 Canaan" said Joe.
 Hold up. It's Pike's Canaan ye mean. If ye git the nomination ye'd be elected. wouldn't ye;-
 "I couldn't be nominated
 "I ain't claimIn' ye'd git Martin Pike's vote" returned NIT. Sheehan sharply. though I don't say it's im- possible. Ye've got to beat him. that's all We've got to do to him what he's done to you and what he's tryin' to do now worse than ever before. We'll there may be ways to do it. and if he tealpts me enough I may fer # my troth and honor as a noble gen .eunsn and help ye with a word ye'd never 1 guess yerself-~
 You've hinted at such mysteries be- fore. Nike Joe smiled ''Td te glad 1 to know what ycu mean if there's any thing in them
 -It may come to that said the other. | with some embarrassment. Tt may come to that some day if the cd wolf ! presses me too hard in the matter O
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