Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-02-26

had come somewhere out of a fighting
world. Harlan wondered rather
satirically why an outsider should come
down here and talk like a man of au-
thority.
mines where the Poles and dagos have
come in, it'll be for Curran," went on
Mcbride. Father Doyle gives it to me
straight. All that's good. And this
new Earlville contracting company.
which is sore over Tanner gobbling all
the work. is going to unload on the old
ring. Amt any reform going to get
far unless some one expects to clear
up something. Take it from me.
We're going to elect C%urran."
Harlan had listened more acutely.
He had begun to resent Wiley's prob
lematical success. Mcbride was worse
than he had dreamed. His fathers
ideals of politics had not encompassed
'such brute truth. Mcbride turned his
blue eyes under their red brows di-
rectly on him.
Are o 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 mil
itant directness of the man of new con-
ditions Jared him. He still stared at
Mcbride.
Come out" rasped Mcbride, I'VE
can put you over this year. l near you'll
do-Vance, Curran, here-put it up thai
way"
Harlan turned to them with a 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-Tan-
ner-and an honest district attorney
can do it,"
Still Harlan was silent. He knew that
secretly his father deprecated Thad
Tanner. And Jewett. the prosecutor,
was not invited to his fathers house.
Still this did not keep Jewett out of
office. His father was a 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-
" on the labor man. mo. thanks, Nc
Bride. l think IN stick to the law vet
Il 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 Metropolis. plotting against
that ancient and honorable thing
Wlnnetka 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"
Il have NINE retorted Harlan quiet
ly. He Was conscious of Wiley's look
upon him. appealing, sorrowful-and Of
Arne's subdued helligerency. They had
apparently been talking of him to Nc
BrIde-the strongest young man in the
county!
"Se here. we need you"-there was a
flash of menace in McBride's tone.
You'll make a name. too, cleaning UP
that crooked board. Go as3ar your
courts. too. They're not rig Here's
this man. Lindstrom. they to me about
gone crazy over religion. 5vh quarry
ma who lost an arm arm + then his
nicality--and then was seEhal5 over on a
contempt charge. Why, Mwour court
made a criminal right thefe!"
Wiley saw Harlan's face turn an ugly
red. Mcbride went on: '"Here the
court wrecks a man Eel some holier-
the stuff the courts hand ont"
Harlan was on his feet. His clenched
hand shot across the table near Nc
Brides face. See here-the judge that
made that decision was my father!"
Mcbride stared back: Your father?"
"YeS! And no man can speak that
way of hi1n!"
There was silence through the be-
Fingered n 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 a young god, fair. handsome, tower
ing over him.
"You take that back!" roared Harlan,
Mcbride slowly relaxed. He watched
the other INCREASINGLY.
"Apologize!"
Mcbride a father back on his chair
A slow smile came to his fdce as he
looked up at the youth.
Young man. / was raised on a Stag
pile In Pennsylvania. 1 never saw the
sun shine except Sundays and the time
my father was killed, until I was "a
it seems to me. I've beer hungry sc
many times in my life that sometimes
now it amt natural to eat. You cam
know by any manner Of means what
work with rough men. but I know 6
man when l see one. Sit down.
"~Apologize!' shouted Harlan.
Mcbride looked long and grimly al
him. We'll" he growled. 'if your ia.
Their raised you to stand up like this
with the fighting blood hot in you
guess I'm wrong. Now. if that's al
apology. take ii. If it ain't-to hel
with you!"
Harlan stood quivering. "Sit down
boy" whispered Wiley. The room wa,
dumb. Even the waiter girls knew VIII,
young Van Hart was.
Continued next week.