Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-08-22
CHAPTER Xv-Continued.

lematical success. Mcbride was worse
than he had dreamed. His fathers
ideals of politics had not encompasseo
such brute truth. Mcbride turned his
blue eyes under their red brows direct
ly on him.
"Are you the man they're talking OF
for district Attorney"
Harlan stared at him incredulously
The easy ingratiating standards Of his
fathers sort of men around the court
house, even the rustic geniality Of the
county board members, he felt equal
to, but this ruthless analysis and mill
tant directness of the man Of new con-
ditions Jared him. He still stared at
Mcbride. ...-
81. Come out" rasped Mcbride, I'VE can
put you over this year. hear you'll do
Vance, Curran, here-put 1t up that
way"
Harlan turned to them with laugh
Since when had Arne and Wiley and a
few unknowns took it to themselves to
parcel out the county offices? These
audacious rebels, without authority
without organization? 1t was actually
humorous!
I'VE want to trim this crook Tanner
and an honest district attorney can
do it."
Still Harlan was silent. He knew
that secretly his father deprecated
Thad Tanner. And Jewett, the prose-
cutor, was not invited to his fathers
house. Still that did not keep Jewett
out Of office. His father was good
man. But here was a different good
the fighting good of the new order.
How about it?" pursued Mcbride.
Harlan smiled at length. complacent-
ly on the labor man. mo. thanks. Nc
Bride, think I'll stick to the law yet
a while" He was thinking how funny
it would be to tell his father OF the
trio sitting in the badly new dining
room of the Metropole plotting against
that ancient and honorable thing
Winnetka county politics. 1t had not
been rippled since James g. Blaine.
"You young men are needed" went
on Mcbride; instead of going off to
Canada and the cheap lands, or to the
cities, you ought to be right here max
ing your fight. There's big chances
rough knocks and big chances"
II have mime" retorted Harlan
quietly. He was conscious Of Wiley's
look upon him, appealing, sorrowful-
and Of Arne's subdued belligerency.
They had apparently been talking Of
him to McBride-the strongest young
man in the county!
See here, we need you"-there was
a flash of menace in McBrides tone.
You'll make name, too, cleaning up
that crooked board. Go after your
courts, too. They're not right. Here's
this man, Lindstrom, they tell me
about-gone crazy over religion. The
quarry man who lost an arm and then
his damage suit against Tanner on a
technicality-and then was sent over
on a contempt charge. Why, your court
made a criminal right there!"
wiley Sd" AoSS tuAh oAi
ugly red Mcbride went on. Here the
court wrecks a man over some holier-
than thou tradition of the law. That's
the stuff the courts hand out"
Harlan was on his feet. His clenched
hand shot across the table near NC
Brides face. See here-the judge who
made that decision was my father!'
Mcbride stared back: Your faith
err"
Yes! And no man can speak that
way of him!"
There was silence through the be-
gingered and tapestried room. Arne
and Wiley sat back. There was moth
ing else to do between man and man.
Mcbride, the older, the rugged power
full figure; and Harlan with the anger
of young god, fair, handsome, tow
ering over him.
You take that back" roared Har-
Ian.
Mcbride slowly relaxed. He watched
the other INCREASINGLY.
"ApologiZe!"
Mcbride sat farther back on his
chair A slow smile came to his face
as he looked up at the youth.
Young man, was raised on Stag
pile in Pennsylvania. / never saw the
sun shine except Sundays and the
time my father was killed, until was
twenty-four, 1t seems to me. l been
hungry so many times in my life that
sometimes now it amt natural to eat.
You can't know by any manner of
means what that's like. I'm rough
man and I work with rough men, but 1
know a man when l see one. Sit
down"
"Apologize!" shouted Harlan.
Mcbride looked long and grimly at
him. We'll" he growled, IF your
father raised you to stand up like this
with the fighting blood hot in you-l
guess I'm wrong. Now If that's an
apology. take it. If it ain't-to hell
with you!"
Harlan stood quivering. "Sit down
boy. whispered Wiley. The room was
dumb. Even the waiter girls knew who
young Van Hart was.
Harlan whirled suddenly to the rack
and took his hat Then he turned to
the group at the table. See here
just now told you l wouldn't take a
nomination for district attorney. Well,
just because of this insult I'll run!
Yes-and not on your ticket, either!"
He had started for the office. Nc
Brides cold eye followed him. Then he
was on his feet and about the table.
"Shakei" he growled. I'm with
you!"
Harlan stared at him without speak
ing. Man to man, and something in
McBride's eye went through him.
We'll" he muttered, Il suppose you
didn't mean 1t against father" He took
the labor leaders hard square palm.
But, damn you. I'll run against you!"
Mcbride was laughing softly. His