Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-09-19
THE MIDLANDERS
By CHARLES TENNEY JACKSON
Au,hor of Che Day Of Soul, My Brother. Keeper Etc.

might come out. They were goSslpe(
about, had been for years.
And now Curran thrilled with 1t. HI
had felt 1t coming. He had told Arne
and Arne had cried sourly: Kick the
old SON. -of-a-gun out Of your shop Il
he ever comes to you'll" E
Rice's next words sealed It. The
banker shuffied nervously and ther
went on: "Curran. you've been dead
wrong about the First Nationals atti-
tude toward your fight. We're not-el
against you-not at all-not at all
And er-you'll come over at eleven?"
Hardly" Wiley drawled with irri-
tating amiability. Expecting tele.
gram from Governor Delroy-some-
thing about the campaign" He looked
at his watch again, conscious that ev-
cry man in the group was listening and
in fifteen minutes would spread the
report that Thad Tanner was going to
quit the fight on Curran. Then he said:
Make 1t eleven-f1fteen, Rice. Best
can do today"
"Ah, that will do-that will do!'
Rice rubbed his palms and smiled
Thank you, Mr.. Curran." He hurried
on as If some elaborate programme
was to be arranged for Mr. Curran.
Mr.. Curran looked about the group OF
county politicians. The red-necked
Boydston was frowning evasively. The
others were still. 1t was Curran's mo-
ment of triumph. He went leisurely
down the street with his mail. Mrs.
Van Hart was driving into the square.
She did not notice Curran OF tn News,
but Curran smiled airily. He could af-
ford to be complacent to High street
now. He was Curran, the insurgent
leader. Of the south counties; he had
broken the ranks of the reserve. He
was friend Of the governor. Best of
all, the country folk knew him. He was
their man." He wished he could see
Janet. He would have liked to tell her
this.
At half-past eleven-purposely he
had kept Rice waiting fifteen minutes
he strolled over to the bank corner.
The door-a small one at the side used
by the officers-opened before he touch
ed it. He had had an impression that
Rice had been watching him from the
shade Of the window in front and had
scurried back to let him in. That was
another sense Of his winning. Even
now Rice bowed and trotted ahead
down the gloomy bank corridor.
"This way, Mr.. Curran. All, late? Not
at all-not at ALI" He opened the door
to his private Office and the guest went
in. 1t was rather dark. but Curran knew
that a number Of men were there. He
paused, surprised to see Ransdell, the
editor Of the Earlville Mercury Jour-
nal. But, then, Thad controlled the
Journal. Boydston, the supervisor,
whom Curran had fought six years,
was there. Judge Van Hart was there,
sitting obviously Ill at ease by the
door; and Old Thad, the wizened coun-
ty boss, in his swivel chair before the
bank directors table. Curran looked
them over with a belying calm. They
were a representative gathering Of his
ancient enemies-men of the old re-
gime in politics, in wealth and social
place in the county. He was received
in a silence that somehow was slowly
strangling the fine glow of confidence
in which he had come. He felt himself
intuitively brace as one does to whom
a physical peril is imminent. The air
was hostile. 1t breathed evil; the room
had the menace of a trap.
Thad was cutting a cigar leisurely
He did not rise nor extend hand
When he spoke 1t was with precision
as one stating a prearranged pro-
gramme, conclusion to which the
others had given assent.
Good evening, Mr.. Curran. We were
expecting you"
so imagine"
Tanner sat forward, his brows con-
tracted over his narrow eyes. Then,
in his raspish voice, with the direct
disregard of courtesy which always
made his authority, with weaker man
take the aspect Of bullying. he went
on: I'VE sent for you, Curran, to ask
you to withdraw your candidacy be-
fore the people of the eighteenth dis
trict."
Curran appeared unmoved. So swift
had been his revulsion, so sure was he
Of trap, that he had steeled himself
He had an instant struggle to speak
with the cool satire which was all they
saw.
Gentlemen, you ask a good deal"
The other stirred. They had expect
ed amazement, at least.
Tanner eyed the victim shrewdly
IT'S our duty to ask a good deal. The
party's welfare, the coed name Of our
people, may say the purity of our
homes-demand it. / presume you
know what I mean"
Curran looked steadily at him. u
presume, in turn, that you mean story
of my early MARRIAGE story brought
to this town and to your attention by
Maurice Ladeau?"
Thad was irritated al this cool per-
tinacity and frankness. He had boast
ed a moment before to Judge Van Har
that he would make the News mar
cringe and crawl.
Yes. An incredible story, Curran
an intolerable story! A girl you de-
serted-and without marriage
There was a marriage"
I'VE have the facts. They came Il
light strangely enough. You left this
girl-Adrienne LIE Gania-in New Or
leans in 1891. She died the following
year during an epidemic of yellow fe'
ver." Thad was looking at a slip o.
| memoranda, and with each point h'
tapped the table with his pencil. hi:
face, under the light, pallid, graver
| mercilessly as that of a prosecutor O
an inquisition. He looked up briefly
Am l right in these facts?"
You are"
/ A--o;- +bo o,ro,,p ,,,orad OF Hirra N ;,