The Detroit times., 1913-08-13
CHAPTER XIX.
Continued

ing. Ladeau beamed on. And al
PlaQuemine We was all broke. Name
o. God, We all come down 10 AK Oh
man Bowler 70 feesh heads TO make
4 cou boulllon under de bridge.
\ ii Wiley raised a deprecating hanu
He smiled wanly. Maurice II
never touched card since. He
smiled still on his political hackers.
Never. since"
.e"Since dat lettle Adrienne made
you promise when YOU take her TO
xN'Awlyns Eheu, dem OF Creole
days" He sighed--"Dat leetle Adri'
enne of Butte Ia Rose!
The dapper Mr.. Purcell coughed.
Arne stirred. WILEY were you ever
married."
The chuckIe of the stranger broke
the pause. Married? Dem tajuh
girls, when dey loyc--Nom de Dieu'
.-dey don't stop TO marriage!
The Honorable T. p Purcell
coughed again. lie glanced hurried
1y out TIE door az passer.hy, then
at the candidate. ~ think, gentlemen.
this is enough. Al very interesting
TO Mr.. Curran, but lis nothing 10 do
with his campaign. I'm glad he
wiped his managerial brow perpleXed
1--WE overheard this, / was com
ing 10 speak 20 Mr.. CurTan about his
campaign this fall, and We Just
stumbled on this-ah- gossip, fortu-
nately. We brought him TO You,
Wiley" He looked at his watch and
smiled This talk-if II Is true
Well I must CO. And Wiley
turned TO the candidate-"remembe
the committee wants YOU TO go
through Dallas county like house
afire. Start at Pleasantyille on the
tenth. But Harper will speak with
you, and well arrange the rest or
the program later. He came TO take
Wiley's hand-"And, old man Id cut
out all these malingerings OF youth
with our loquacious friend. here"
TON muttered Wiley, Ill was al
most twenty years ago."
"Then it's all outlawed. But this
constituency of yours-and you know
how sensitive they are to gossip OF
the sort Decent wholesome, God
fearing people--you know Americans
in general will never stand for any
sort of--of--well, this sort OF thing,
Wiley, Puritans-that's it-thats
what we are, Except about money
But this sort OF thing"--he looked
about at the others again and smiled
Gust between friends, eh?"
Arne nodded II Wiley Curran had
confessed to philandering with the
whole tribe OF Cajuns, whoever they
were, there would have been those TO
love him. When Purcell had gone.
Arne arose and touched Wiley's arm.
look here. why didn't you ever tell
some one OF this?"
why? 1t was long ago-before l
drifted west--when Id landed in New
Orleans broke from Cuba. We had a
flibustering gang and it busted. Oh,
we'll" he sighed. "Arne, what's the
use of calling up things? I'm not
ashamed of anything-much. Young
and foot free-and, anyhow, | always
played fair with women and every
body"
Il know It, But this-girl, Wiley?
Did you marry herr"
There was a stiffness for a long
time. Outside late bird was sing
ing In the sugar trees and the wind
WAS south. II seemed to bring
dream TO Wiley's eyes; nights OF
youth, misspent but unutterably dear
In memory.
did you marry her. Wiley?"
Wiley turned slowly toward him
with a touch of defiance. Yes"
Arne stood back That's all want
to know, old boy And Janet. too!
You'd better tell her. You'd better
+ have everything above board 10 be-
gin with. It's the only way. Pur-
cells right-the people, the great,
clean, wholesome heart OF the peo-
ple, They sort of love you. Wiley
but they wouldn't stand anything in a
leader that seemed-a-a double life.
1T never was that | never con-
cealed a thing. Only here, when
drifted back to the old town, what
was the use? All dead and buried,
Il Arne"
"This girl?" Arne turned abruptly
to Ladeau. You know what became
of herr"
Dat Wiley man-ask him"
Il was told" retorted Wiley. that
she died. 1t was after | went west
two years after IL sent her money,
Arne. You see we never lived to-
gether-we couldn't make 1t GO And
\ We parted-and she . died."
Arne took his hand. Il don't care
won't ask any more. I'm with Pur-
cell Well be with you to the fin
fish" He turned away with a sort OF
choke To Arne Vance, with his
ascetic humor OF a propaganda. his
\ capacity for enthusiasm, Curran had
become. since his victory. a figure
panoplied with power, their leader,
N their loved one He had still a boy
Vision and the need OF hero-loying
When he had gone out 10 hts team at
the hitching raj, Rube Van Halt
oauntered after. so Wiley's running
4 for congress- Sulferin' Johnson. Arne
II can't believe *, But IL this here
CAjun | brought mp from the bush
league towns is going TO hurt him.
B III kill the cuss Yes. sir take him
& TO Eagle Point and let him fall Off
accidentally"
Il Arne looked back at the News shop.
1 Harlan was in the door. The Cajun.
IN Wfley's Office seat. rolling a cigar.
cite, had come to stay, IL seemed.
b sHurt him." blurted Arne That
6tory would beat him. il Tanner and
hfb crowd ever got it, But we've
a can keep IL close. Rube, II you1l help p
"Help2 Help Wiley? WHY We was
y lids together--him and melN
He got in with Afne and they drove
on to the stables.
t Back I'm the Office, I.adeau. with the