The Washington herald., 1913-07-13
THE MIDLANDERS

mary in Rome. Mrs. Van Harris word
was of weight on High Street-and
the grocer had more money than any
one except Thaddeus Tanner.
But something in Harlan's straight
out declaration decided Wiley that the
mothers grooming of prospective
daughter-in-law would be in vain Elsie
was an extraordinary mice" girl. There
was no doubt of that But what at
tractedi Curran the most was some po-
tential rebellion in Harlan. Judge Van
Harris wife was not only the arbiter
of High Street, but it was said, with
show of truth, that she ruled her fam
lily with something of the authority of
a grand dame OF the old school, Mr..
Curran and the News were her pet
aversions-as Mr.. Curran mischievous-
ly knew, but nothing had ever with
held the affectionate friendship of Har-
Ian and himself.
well, l didn't know" muttered
Rube apologetically. "Ail the kids
grow up and get married. Except
Wiley and me-but then we never
growed up" And he and Wiley
laughed wistfully together. well. Pm
going down to the station and lug up
my stuff" went on Rube. Tell Aunt
>Abby-eo have hot biscuit, Wiley-and
honey"
The town kids struggled after Rube.
NOBODY sighed Mr.. Curran, wants
to be an editor"
Nobody did. At least nobody in
Rome. All the kids would rather grow
up to be noble and handsome and great
and able to bat 400. like Rube Van
Hart. They would rather sneak into
Carmichael's stable and help bed the
horses than go fishing.
Only two of all the bare-legged crew
remained The yelps and kyoodles had
wandered home or after Rube and his
idolaters-all except the Widow Ste
gers dog. long, strange, German sort
of dog, with no legs to speak of, a
lonesome, boyless kyoodle that had to
go home early and sleep under the
geranium box.
Harlan looked with friendly interest
at the two urchins remaining. They
were a fair open breed of the North,
tow-headed, summed by wholesome sum-
mer. The editor smiled out at them
from his desk, which he was locking.
The Danish boys held his fancy; he
was given to sentimentalizing over the
race fusion of the West. and fine edi-
torializing of that sort when he ought
to have been down meeting trans for
the personals or noting the fall milli-
nery openings around the Square.
We'll, Knute." he began, and the
elder of the two found some awkward
fearlessness to address him:
We Just thought you might know
first" Knute said. Just as soon as
the jury gets in"
Curran glanced across at the court
house again. ''Oh, yes. Your dads
case is on, isn't it? Hope he licks 'em,
Knute."
The boy flushed gratefully. "Mr.
Mason said we'd win sure" His young
note of faith arose. He said what's
law and justice for if Old Thad don't
have to dig up for having his crusher
fixed SOS paw'd get hrs arm cut off.
Mason, he said what's law and justice
for if poor man can't win against a
rich man."
The judges son listened with smile.
Next to Wiley Curran, Lafe Mason,
the lawyer, was the demagogic scala
wag of Rome. Wiley reached a hand
to pat Knute's head. Little man, /
hope you win-you ought to-"
knute's courage grew. well, here's
Harlan, his dads judge And the whole
county says Judge Van Harris the fin
est man there is. He wouldn't let Old
Thad Tanner get the best of dad in a
suit, would he
A curious consciousness came TO
Harlan's face. He caught Wileys pity
ing smile. "Lindstrom's suing Tanner
for the loss of his arm at the quarry"
the editor said. Tanner offered $500
as a settlement, but Mason persuaded
John to sue. And I'm afraid"-he
checked his voice-"'well, contributory
negligence and all that. Lord, lord!
$500 for mans right arm-a work.
ingman's armT
He looked on knute's sturdy face
Peter, by his side, peered fearfully at
Harlan. To the dusty lads from the
Pocket quarry Harlan was a young
man of consequence, who had his
clothes pressed at the Iowa Pressing
Club, and bought front seats in the
tin opera house when a show came to
town. The town kids in the "nigeer
heaven" could look down and see Har-
Ian with some pretty girl. Also he
went to the frat dances and treated
damsels at the Palace of Sweets, and
was Greek, whatever that was, and
studied law back East, and was a no.
table person in Rome, Iowa. So surely,
to be the son of Judge Van Hart and
live on High Street and own one of