The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-04-15

- AA0&A1 bHA AAAAaAA So
ice to a comrade. which the obliged enc
had insisted on commemorative hen
and there with a quart of strong ale,
In spite of Joe's manful efforts to con-
vince him it was quite unnecessary.
Seeing, however, hat no excuse would
be taken in good part, he had yielded.
though sorely against his will, for not
only was Joe no drinker, never, in fact,
taking anything beyond his moderate
modieum of beer at dinner and sup
per time, but he felt that in accepting
this poor fellows well meant hob a
nob,' it would become incumbent upon
him to return the compliment the next
time they should meet lin play hours
And be sure his friend, who was Of a
fconvivia1 turn. managed to bring about
this meeting on purpose by chance, as
quickly as the code of fashion in Arun-
| dale-for where does that chameleon-
coated goddess not hold sway ?-should
give warrant.
This second carouse came off, then,
at about 8 o'clock on the Saturday
evening after Max ~Schippheim's de-
parture. Such little courtesies were
always easier TO pay for on pay day
than a few days later, and on this oc-
%easion, SO open-handed did Joe's friend
prove that our workman of abstemious
ways InlSnl nave IOuTu IL pNIZllnE 10
get away o any decent terms but for
the beneficent arrival of Joe's friends
wife, a virago of powerful dimensions.
who carried off her little sot,'' as she
called him, in triumph to the bosom Of
his family. No sooner was Joe rid Of
! him than he quilted the public house
and made a start for supper. He was
perfectly sober, and yet this pint of
strong "stingo.." taken by one not used
to it and on an empty stomach, made
him to a great extent a different man.
1t fired his passions, and weakened. in
some degree at least, his powers OF
: reason and self-eontrol.
1t was a fine summers night, and the
} moon shone already with unusual
!, brightness, although the sun had but
! just dipped behind the western Mills.
) There were two roads at Joe's dis
posal in seeking his abode after quit
: ting the "pub'-one crowded and short,
!, the other lonesome and a trifle longer.
He took the latter. 1t was a sort OF
!, half-finished highway; at one side
u fanked by a dead wall, and at the
other by ground partly laid out in all
( lotments and partly also in new build
, ings not yet many feet high. 1t was
" one of those roads that at present lead
chiefly nowhere, except, indeed, from
the factory to the new house of the
clerk of the works. Along this way M.
Paul invariably ended his way every
Saturday night, for it was part of his
business to confer with that official once
a week at that hour.
Whether our friend Joe knew of this
:, custom and took the lonely oath with
any sinister purpose lurking in his
: overheated brain. who shall say
Certaie IL 10 hoxVaVer that fha two
men came face to face in this deserted
. spot just as the big clock at the fac
tory tolled forth the half-hour after s
on this particular evening. Joe was
going along close to the wall, which
:, was on his left. and so. by the rule OF
the road, which is the reverse for
pedestrians to that which holds good
for riders and drivers he should have
given the wall to the Frenchman. M.
Brumeau evidently expected he would
do so, as he meyer attempted to ster
aside. but stopped dead short III from
g of Joe. 1t is a point upon which all
foreigners are somewhat punctilious
and the "Mounseer,'' as the lapds
- called him. would have considered is
degraded himself had he given way. Sc
n he said civilly enough;
Let me pass, please" .
To which Joe answered.:
: "You get out of my way. will yer?"
6 "Why Joe, you very we'll know-I DC
M ask it-you shall take to your right
y Hold yer jargon.'' roared Joe. TN
b not going to bulge a step for the likes
y o. you, so get out o my path or IN very
soon make yer. Dyer hear?"
The voice and Joe's red face. flushed
far more with coler than with drink, to.
gether with the whole fury of his as
pect, made the Frenchman jump to the
conclusion that Joe was in a state OF
intoxication, and as every n knows
how literally hors de combat a very
slight stage of drunkenness renders one
In am kind of a fight. Brumeau drew
from this mistake a courage which he
was, as a rule. very far from possess
ina. He carried in his hand a cane OF
the plant kind known as rattan. This
no doubt added to his misplaced con-
hdence, so he allowed himself the
luxury of losing his temper. which il
was seen he did not do when o on q
former occasion thrust his hat so igno-
minously over his eyes. and mutterine
a very audible "Sacre Canaillei" he
raised his right arm with intent to cut
Joe across the countenance with a de-
gree of force which would inevitably
have marked the bold fellow for life
But Joe Marks. as we have seen. was
not drunk. and proved far too quick
for the fiippant attack of the Gaul. lie
caught the cane in his right hand, and
letting out with his left at the same
moment, che Frenchman found himself
the next instant on his back on mother
IF earth. Then, to his nc little astonish-
rs ment, Joe, who remained erect with
h the trophy of the cane, left him alone
g. and there 1t would have been better
for him to have lain. Ignorant, how
ever Of the law and sanctuary which
in every neutrality-suspicious. land is en-
i ioyed by the soil to protect a fallen foe,
1t and still believing in the incbriety 81
Y his opporent. the Frenehman, now plind
with rage responded to Joe's-NoW
then get up and come on by implicit
70 obedience.
- (TO Ne Continued TOmOrrOsv,D