Gloucester County Democrat., 1908-02-27


ton with the eminent Buckalew (neph-
ew of the squire), had afterward spent
an hour in his company at the trial.
tits going that young fellow Louden's
way" said the stranger. you say
he's a shyster, but
'sWell," admitted Buckalew, with
some reluctance, II don't mean that
exactly. I've got an old uncle who
seems lately to think he's a great
man.
s'I'll take your uncle's word for 1t,
returned the other, smiling. 81 think
he'll go pretty far
They had come to the flight of steps
which descended to the yard, and the
visitor, looking down upon the angry
crowd, added, IF they don't kill himw
Joe himself was anxious concerning
no such matter. He shook hands with
Happy at the end of the sitting, bid
ding him be of good cheer, and when
the little man had marched away un-
der strong guard began to gather and
sort his papers at a desk inside the
bar. This took him perhaps five min
were only three people left in the room
Ia clerk, a negro janitor with broom
and the darly friend who always hope
fully accompanies colored man hold
ing nigh public Office. These two ap-
provingly greeted the young lawyer,
the janitor handing him note from
Norbert Flitcroft and the friend me-
chanically borrowing quarter from
him as he opened the envelope.
sT'I be roun' yo' way to git box o.
se-gahs," laughed the friend, 'soon ez
de campaign open up good. Dey all
goin' vote ye' way down on de leyee
bank, but dey sho' expecks to git to
smoke little 'fo' leckshun day! We
knows who's ow frien'r'
Norbert's missive was lengthy and
absorbing. Joe went on his way, pc
rusing it with profound attention, but
as he descended the stairway to the
floor below loud burst of angry shout
ing outside the building caused him to
hasten toward the big front doors
which faced Main street. The doors
opened upon an imposing vestibule,
from which a handsome fight Of stone
steps, protected by marble balus-
trade, led to the ground.
Standing at the top Of these steps
and leaning over the balustrade, he had
clear view Of half the yard. No one
was near him. Everybody was run
ming in the opposite direction, toward
that corner of the yard occupied by the
Jail, the crowd centering upon an agi-
tated whirlpool of men which moved
slowly toward a door in the high wall
that inclosed the building, and Joe saw
that Happy Fears guards, conducting
the prisoner back to his cell, were be-
ing jostled and rushed. The distance
they had made was short, but as they
reached the door the pressure upon
them increased dangerously. Clubs
rose in the air, hats few, the whirlpool
heaved tumultuously, and the steel door
changed.
Happy Fear was safe inside, but the
jostIers were outside, bafied. ugly and
stirred with the passion that changes
a crowd into mob.
Then some OF them caught sight of
Joe as he stood alone at the top of
the steps, and great shout Of rage
and exultation arose.
For a moment or two he did not see
his danger. At the clang of the door
his eyes, caught by the CLEAN of a
wide white hat, had turned toward the
street, and he was somewhat fixedly
watching Mr.. Ladew extricate Ariel
and her aged and indignant escorts
from an overflow Of the crowd in
which they had been caught. But a
voice warned him, the wild piping of
a newsboy who had climbed into tree
near by.
"Joe Louden," he screamed, "look
out!"
With a muf1ed roar the crowd surged
back from the Jail and turned toward
the steps. 'sTar and feather himw
''Take him over to the river and throw
him inn Drown himr' "Hang himw
Then thing happened which was
dramatic enough in its inception. but
walked quietly down the steps and
toward the advancing mob with his
head cooked to one side, one eyebrow
lifted and one corner of his mouth
drawn down in a family distorted
smile.
He went straight toward the yelling
forerunners, with only small bundle
Of papers in his hands, and then. while
the nonpartisan spectators held their
breath, expecting the shock Of contact,
straight on through them.
A number Of the bulge checked form
ed the scattering van of these forerun-
ners, charging with hoarse and cruel
shrieks of triumph. The first, appar-
emily about to tear Joseph Louden to
pieces, changed countenance at arms
length, swerved violently and with the
loud cry, "Head him OFF, dashed on