The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-02-07

country bred man never quite loses.
He came to corner where another
crowded thoroughfare crossed. He
stopped and leaned against the wall of
the bank that stood there.
The theaters were just letting out.
and around him swirled a stream of
humanity, the sound Of many voices
and twice as many feet rising in q
peculiar, unmusical roar John won.
dered as the endless stream of hui
manity swept by him If it were true
as Haig had said to him once that
900 men in 1000 in the cities were
dependent on the thousandth, and that
six men had it in their power to turn
on panic" to put on the screws"
What, if the screws were put on.
would these men do-fght or submit
But it was not that which made the
load of dependency hang heavier
Once, seeing a thousand men gathered
ir the square at home, he had thought
Of the power there, 1.-THE power and
the glory" Now he saw the people,
not in their immensity, but in their
infinite multiplicity; so many men
with so many interests, each living in
his own restricted sphere. Was Haig
then right? How could a dreamer or
a thousand dreamers by word of
mouth teach these men to think what
their lives taught them not to feel
that a social problem was their prob
lem, that political putrefaction was
their peril. that the masses interest
was their interest?
He walked on, tortured by doubts,
yet clinging, as the shipwrecked mari
ner clings to his raft, to his dwindling
faith in the people.
AS he was passing through the lob
by of his hotel the clerk motioned him
to the desk. Say, there's been a big
tough guy in three times tonight ask
ing for you. Says it's important, and
he'll be back again. Name is Maley.
1 guess" he laughed, knowing his
guest, 'it's some political bum want
ing to make a touch"
| Butch Maley of New Chelsea, former
"heeler," doubtless John, curious.
found seat in the lobby and waited.
He laughed inwardly, not pleasantly,
at the recollections called forth by the
name, which he had almost forgotten.
Butch Maley was the first to be con-
victed in that crusade of nearly six
years ago.
| He had not long to wait. Maley was
the same bestial creature who had
stood trembling in the dock and march
I'd away, mouthing imprecations and
arge threats, to the penitentiary. That
ne was prosperous, the yellow diamond
his necktie loudly proclaimed He
:olled toward John, grinning affably.
'Howdy, Johnny?" He did not Of
fer to shake hands, for which John
was thankful.
"How are you, Maley?
"Me" Maley drew up a chair and
deposited his huge bulk in it. "Oh,
I'm livin' on No. Easy street. These
here is good times fer fellers like me-"
With an apparently unconscious ges-
ture he lovingly stroked his paunch.
$50 / should say. Same old profess
sion?"
81 got half intrust in booze joint.
That's my business. AS fer profesh'
I'm still a statesman. Only yuh'd
have fine time gittin' the goods on
me now. | learnt" he grinned, "a lot
from yuh. Say, I'm wantin' sump'n."
"What can l do for your
"'Tain't fer me-" He assumed an
air of extreme caution. "S'posin' they
wuz a feller wot never done yuh no
dirt and at the same time, not bein in
yer game, yuh got him foul. An then
s'posin' he beat it, not wantin' to serve
time, an then, bein up against it in a
pertickler way he wanted to see yuh.
Would yuh see him."
"Slayton or Sheehan?"
"Sheehan."
81 guess I'd see him. Where is he?
Maley winked solemnly. 81 don't
know nuthin' till l know yuh won't
have him pinched. That's the point
will yuh have him pinched?"
John thought moment before re-
plying. "Well, l guess l wouldn't so
long as he stays out of my jurisdic-
ton. l couldn't make him more harm
less now by having him arrested"
"Then go in the little room back o.
the bar, an III have him with yuh in
no time. He's waitin' not fur away"
In a few minutes Maley returned,
leading the fugitive. There was an
embarrassing moment as John rose to
greet the man whom he had broken.
He hesitated. hardly knowing how to
address him. Sheehan's hand started
forward in an uncertain gesture, then
dropped back to his side. On kind
ly impulse John held out his. The
other caught it almost eagerly in a
soft, damp clasp.
81 hope you are well, Sheehan."
81 look it, don't II" The fugitive
gave half hearted laugh.
John was obliged to confess to him
self that he did not look it. His
IL.