The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-06-28

and Willy Hammond. They went out
through the sitting room. and from
thence the stranger could perceive
That hey went to a chamber above.
h man who had had the alterca-
ton with Green declared thai he was
a bLackIeg, that Willy Hammond was
IN danger with him; that he would
bet ten dollars they had cards in
their hands at that minute and that
he believed Judge Lyman and the
landlord stood J" with Green in the
Fleeing Of young Hammond. Mrs.
Slade came to the barroom door and
called TO her son Frank had again
been tasting the dregs in a glass OF
sweetened liquor. There was a wor-
rfed, troubled expression on the face
OF the Wife and mother which sank
deep Il the sympathetic heart Of
the stranger. Presently Judge Ham
mond came In, looking for his son.
Slade declared that Willy had been
there but had left the barroon' two
hours before. There was an evasion
in Simon's answer which seemed to
trouble the Judge. He took three or
tour strides across the floor and then
SAID that Willy was probably at Judge
would go and see. Thus
d h First Night in the barroom
Of the Sickle and Sheaf.
1t was a yea afterward that the
Traveller again alighted at the sign of
Ak SiCh1c dIlu SI10dl, Al 11TSt SId11co
there. seemed no change in the genial
landlord. The year appeared to have
passed with Simon Slade like a pleas
ant summer day. Everything about
him seemed to say "Alrs right with
myself and the world" The stranger
had scarcely expected this, for upon
the occasion of his first visit elements
seemed to AVE been called into &C
tivity which must produce changes ad-
verse to that pleasant state of mind
which threw perpetual sunshine upon
the landlord face. But later the
traveller caught sight of Simon lean
ing Upon his bar, alone and musing. He
could scarcely believe it was the same
Two perpendicular seams lay
sharply defined on his forehead, the
arch Of his eyebrows was gone and
from each corner of his com pressed
lips were lines running half way to
his chin.
Just then Harvey Green arrived.
Just the man ] was thinking about
said Slade Think OF the devil, you
know laughed Green. LITERALLY true
in the present case; for if you are
not the devil you must be cousin to
him." Then the stranger saw the two
men In deep and earnest conversation
The gambler glanced toward the guest
with a sinister expression. In what
road, black letters was the word
TEMPER written across his face.
Simon came and sat down beside his
guest on the porch. The Sickle and
Sheaf was coming on f~arnously, he de-
clared; had exceeded his expectations
as a paying concern. Judge Hammond
had bought SHADES old mill and was
to turn 1t into a distiliery-Wh ich
| would be a great thing for the farm
ers round about, who had never got
landlords SON.. Frank, had grown con-
siderab bly, during the year and from a
rather delicate, innocent-looking boy
, had developed into a stout. bold lad.
| who listened with evident relish to
some obscene stories Harvey Green
was telling him over the bar. AS they
talked Flora, now a really beautiful
girl, went through the ROOM, ana
Green addressed her in a familiar
manner which brought a blush to her
cheek: but Frank, instead Of being in
dignant, only laughed.
In the evening the barroom was
filled and among the loungers was a
large numbeF Of young men. some Of
them mere boys. They all drank and
there was scarcely one Of them whose
face did not show the marks of SEN
suality or whose language was not in
/ terspersed with profanity or obscen-
ity. An elderly man came in whose
face wore a look of deep concern.
"Edward,'' he said as he laid his hand
upon a young mans shoulder Ed
| ward. my SON. Edward arose and
somewhat sheepishly followed his
father out Of the tavern. Joe Morgan
was there as usual, spending his last
penny and making sarcastic remarks
until Simon, at last stung to the quick
by Joe's taunts, cried out: See here!
Take yourself off home and never
show YOUR face here again. [ won't
! have such a ~vagabOnd as you hanging
about. If you can be decent keep
aUav from here" "A r1mseIler talks
of decency," sneered Joe and proceed
ed to inffict more of his arcasrn upon
| Slade, until the landlord. aroused to
fury, seized a heavy glass from the
bar and flung it with full force at he
head Of his tormentor.
The missile Just grazed Joe1s tenn pie
! and flew on its dangerous course. The
quick, sharp cry of q child startled
the air. Its Joe Morgan'S childi'
LIZ: l;1loa hort,, ~ Of tho