The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-19

That evening, as the stranger lounged
in the bar he saw Willy Hammond again.
He was talking with man older than
himself by several years, who inspired
the traveller With an instant revulsion.
He was evidently none of the villagers,
but an INSCRIPTIONS selfish adventurer,
who was In Cedarville for no good. A
larger knowledge of the world enabled
the traveller to spot the man at first
sight but his easy manners, his self
confident air and knowledge of phases
OF life which they had never seen seemed
TO fascinate the youth of the village and
would make them, as the observer feared
easy prey to whatever wickedness he
might design.
This man called himself Harvey Green
and in the group about him was Judge
Lyman, the local political Boss, who
had just been nominated for Congress
Judge Lyman was about 50, a leading
man" in the community, and the fact that
both he and Judge Hammond not only
pGtronized the Sickle and Sheaf, but were
enthusiastic about it, was sufficient OF
itself to make the place popular and
select
The future congressman was all ur-
banity, and soon took the lead of the
conversation, even out of the hands of
Harvey Green. He praised the landlord
fulsomely and predicted that In 10 years
he would be the richest man in Cedarville.
In fact, there was much good company
in the barroom of the Sickle and Sheaf
that night and the only EARRING note in
the pleasant intercourse of the evening
was old Joe Morgan, who, from having
been Slade's partner In the milling bust
ness, had now sunk to the position of
village drunkard. When the Judge said
that in 10 years Sade would be the rich
est man in Cedarville Morgan growled
out: "If he is richer somebody will be
poorer" No one took any notice or ques-
tened the intruder. though the landlords
brow grew dark, and soon the tide of
good-natured talk flowed on again to be
Interrupted presently by Morgan striding
across the room and, throwing down a
sixpence upon the counter saying:
Come, landlord, mix me up whisky
punch. There's another sixpence toward
the fortune you are bound to make. 1t
is the last one have Four others have
found their way into your till today and
they will be lonesome without their little
brother"
Joe got his drink, but Slade said: "See
here, Joe Morgan, if you will be Ill ma
tured. pray go somewhere else and not
interrupt good fellowship among gentle
men, Got my last sixpence-no further
use for me tonight" retorted Joe. II
wish you would go home" said Slade, a
little coaxingly. Just at that moment the
door opened and pale little face peered
in-the face of a child-while a pair of
pleading eyes went searching about the
room. "Father"-the word sent thrill
through every nerve as little girl sprang
across the floor and laid her hand upon
the arm of Joe Morgan. Come, father,
won't you come homer" Morgan arose
and allowed the child to lead him from
the barroom. "If I were in your place,
said Harvey Green to Slade, I'D make
that fellow keep away. He's no business
here. He's a sot, and one such person as
he Injuries respectable place" II wish
he would stay away" replied Simon.
Green made some other references to Joe
Morgan, which one of the other patrons
Of the bar resented and the result was
a quarrel and fight, In which Green drew
knife, but was disarmed before he could
use it. Peace being restored, Green left
the room, to be presently followed by
Judge Lyman and Willy Hammond. They
went out through the sitting room. and
from thence the stranger could perceive
that they went to a chamber above.
The man who had had the alteration
with Green declared that he was black
leg; that Willy Hammond was in danger
with him. that he would bet $40 they had
cards in their hands at that minute and
that he believed Judge Lyman and the
landlord stood in" 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 glass of sweetened liquor
There was a worried, troubled expression
on the face of the wife and mother which
sank deep into the sympathetic heart of
the stranger. Presently Judge Hammond
came in, looking for his son. slade de-
clared that Willy had been there, but had
left the barroom" two hours before.
There was an evasion In Smon's answer
which seemed to trouble the judge. He
took three or four strides across the floor
and then said that Willy was probably at
Judge Lyman's-he would go and see.
Thus ended the First Night in the bar
room of the Sickle and Sheaf.
1t was a year afterward that the trav-
eler again alighted at the sign of the
Sickle and Sheaf. At first glance there
seemed no change In the genial landlord.
The year appeared to have passed with
Simon Slade like pleasant 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 have been called into
activity which must produce changes adj
verse to that pleasant state of mind which
threw perpetual sunshine upon the land
lords face. But later the traveller caught
sight of Simon leaning upon his bar, alone
and musing. He could scarcely believe 1t
was the same man. Two perpendicular
seams lay sharply defined on his forehead
the arch of his eyebrows was gone and
from each corner of, his compressed lips
were lines running half way to his chin.
Just then Harvey Green arrived Gust
the man I 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
vr,u rnust he cousin to him." Then the