Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-22
CHAPTER XXI.
II OE helped to carry what was
.,anAnl of Icrlr oxu from rinra

~ With him In that task were
buckalew, Bradbury, the colonel and
the grandsons of the two latter. and
Mrs. Louden drew In her skirts grimly
as her stepson passed her In the mourn
full procession through the hall. Her
eyes were red with weeping mot for
Eskew). but not 80 red as those OF
Mamie Pike, who stood beside her.
On the way to the cemetery Joe and
Ariel We're together in carriage with
Buckalew and the minister who had
read the service, dark, pleasant eyed
young man. and the squire, after being
almost overcome during the ceremony.
experienced natural reaction, talking
cheerfully throughout the long drive.
He recounted many anecdotes OF Els
kew, chuckling over most OF them,
though filed with wonder by coinci-
dence which he and Flitcroft had dis
covered-the colonel had recently been
made the custodian Of his old friends
WILL and 1t had been opened the day
before the funeral. Eskew had left
everything he possessed. with the re-
greet that 1t was so little to Joe.
"But the queer thing about It," said
/. the squire, addressing himself to Ariel.
twas the date of 1t, the 18th Of June.
The colonel and got to talkin' 1t over
out on his porch last night, tryin' to
rec'lect what was goin' on about then.
and we figgered 1t out that 1t was the
Monday after you come back. the very
day he got SO upset when he saw you
goin' up to Louden's law Office with
your roses"
Joe looked quickly at Ariel. She did
not meet his glance, but, turning In
stead to Ladew. the clergyman. began,
with q barely perceptible blush, to
talk Of something he had said In SER
mon two weeks ago. The two fell into
thoughtful and amiable discussions
during which there stole into Joe's
heart strange and unreasonable pain.
The young minister had lived In
Canaan only few months, and Joe
had never seen him until that morn
Ing, but lie liked the short, honest talk
he had made. liked his cadenceleSs
voice and keen, dark face and, recall
ing what he had heard Martin Pike
vociferating IN his brougham one Sun.
day, perceived that Ladew was the
fellow who had got to so" because his
sermons did not please the judge. Yet
Ariel remembered for more than Q
fortnight passage from one of these
sermons. And as Joe looked at the
manly and intelligent face opposite
him 1t did not seem strange that she
should
He resolutely turned his eyes to the
open window and saw that they had
entered the cemetery. were near the
green knoll where Eskew was to lie
beside a brother who had died long
ago. He let the minister help Ariel
out, going quickly forward himself
with Buckalew, and then. after the lit
tie while that the restoration of dust
to dust mercifully needs, he returned
to the carriage only to get his hat.
Ariel and Iadew and the squire were
already seated and waiting aren't
you going to ride home with us?" she
asked surprised.
no" he explained, not looking at
her. IT have to talk with Norbert
Flitcroft. I'm going back with him.
Goodby."
His excuse was the mere truth, his
conversation with Norbert In the car
rage which they managed to secure to
themselves continuing earnestly until
Joe spoke to the driver and alighted at
a corner near Mr.. Farbachs Italian
possessions. Don't forget" he said as
he closed the carriage door, Eve got
to have both ends Of the string in my
hands,"
"Forget! Norbert looked at the Gu
pola Of the Pike mansion rising above
the naples down the street. 1T isn't
likely I'll forget!'
When Joe entered the "Louis Quinze
ROOM which some decorator, drunk
with power, had mingled into the
brewers villa, he found the owner and
Mr.. Sheehan, with five other men, en-
gagged in meritorious attempt to tone
down the apartment with smoke.
Two Of the, five others were prosper
GUS owners of saloons, two were
known to the public (whose notion OF
what it meant when 1t used the term
was something Of the vaguesD as poll
ticians: the fifth was Mr.. Farbach's
closest friend, one who (Joe had heard
was to be the next chairman of the
city committee of the party. They
were seated about table, enveloped
In blue clouds and hushed to grave
and pertinent silence which clarified
Immediately the circumstance that
whatever debate had preceded his ar
rival. it was now settled.
Their greeting Of him. however,
though exceedingly quiet, indicated q
certain expectancy as he accepted the
chair which had been left for him at
the head of the table He looked thin
ner and paler than usual. which IS say
ing great deal, but presently, finding
that the fateful hush which his en-
trance had broken was Immediately re-
sumed. a twinkle came into his eye,
one of his eyebrows went up. and a
corner of his mouth went down.
"Well, gentlemen" he said.
The smokers continued to smoke and
to do nothing else, the exception being
Mr.. Sheehan, who. though he spoke
mot, exhibited tokens Of agitation and
excitement which he curbed with diff
ficulty. shifting about in his chair,