Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-01-02

mustn't come with Joe,' he answered,
especially from the Pixies Don't you
see that it mightn't be well for Joe
himself If the judge should happen to
see him? | understand he warned the
boy to keep away from the neighbor-
hood entirely or he would have him
locked up for dice throwing. The
judge is q very influential man, you
know, and as determined in matters
like this as he is irritable"
'sOh. if you put it on that ground, !"
the girl replied. her eyes softening. Il
think you'd better come for me your
SELF
Every well, put 1t on that ground"
ne returned, smiling upon her.
'sThen I'll send Joe word and get
supper she said, kissing him.
1t was the supper hour not only for
them, but everywhere in Canaan. and
the cold air of the streets bore up and
down and around corners the smell Of
things frying. The dining room win
slows of all the houses threw bright
patches on the snow of the side yards
The windows Of other rooms, except
those of the Kitchens, were dark, for
the rule of the place was Puritanical
in thrift, as in all things, and the good
housekeepers disputed every record OF
the meters with unhappy gas collectors
There was no better housekeeper in
town than Mrs. Louden, nor a thriftier,
but hers was one of the few houses in
Canaan that evening which showed
bright lights in the front rooms while
the family were at supper. 1t was
proof Of the agitation caused by the
arrival of Eugene that she forgot to
turn out the gas in her parlor and in
the chamber she called a library on
her way to the evening meal.
Joe escaped as soon as he could,
though not before the count of his lat
er sins had been set before Eugene in
detail in mass and in all of their depth,
breadth and thickness. His father spoke
but once after nodding heavily to con-
firm all points Of Mrs. Louden's re-
cital.
you better use any influence you've
got with your brother" he said to Eu-
gene, ito make him come to time.
can't do anything with him. If he
gets In trouble, he needn't come to me!
I'll never help him again. I'm tired
Of itr'
Joe's movements throughout the ear
lier part of that evening are of uncer-
tain report. 1t is known that he made
partial payment of 45 cents at sec
ondhand book store for number Of
volumes, "Grindstaff on Torts" and
some others. which he had negotiated
on the installment system. It is also
believed that he won % cents playing
seven-up in the little room behind
Louie Farbach's bar, but these things
are of little import compared to the
established fact that at II o'clock he
Vas one of the ball guests at the Pike
mansion. He took no active part in
the festivities, nor was he one of the
dancers. His was, on the contrary, the
role of quiet observer. He lay
stretched at full length upon the floor
of the inclosed porch-one Of the strips
of canvas was later found to have been
loosened-wedged between the outer
railing and row of palms in green
tubs.
1t was not to play eayesdroppeR that
the unlimited Joe had come. He was
not there to listen, and it is possible
that had the curtains of other windows
afforded him the chance to behold the
dance he might not have risked the
dangers of his present position. He
had not the slightest interest in the
whispered eoquetries that he heard.
He watched only to catch now and
then over the shoulders of the dancers
a fitful glimpse of pretty head that
fitted across the windoW-the amber
hair of Mamie Pike He shivered in
the drafts, and the floor of the porch
was cement, painful to elbow and
knee, the space where he lay cramped
and narrow, but the golden bubbles Of
her hair, the simmer of her dainty
pink dress and the fluffy wave of her
lace scarf as she crossed and recrossed
In waltz left him apparently In no
discomfort He watched with parted
lips, his pale cheeks reddening when
ever those fair glimpses were his At
last she came out to the yeranda with
Eugene and sat upon little diyan, SO
close to Joe that, daring wildly in the
shadow. he reached out trembling
hand and let his fingers rest upon the
end of her scarf, which had fallen
from her shoulders and touched the
floor. She sat with her back to him,
as did Eugene.
"You have changed, / think, since
last summer" he heard her say refec-
lively.
4For the worse, ma cherieY' Joe's
expression might have been worth see
ing when Eugene said ina cherie," for
1t was known in the Louden household
that Mr.. Bantry had failed to pass his
examination in the French language.