Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-04-10
CHAPTER x1x.-(continued.)

elder man went on more slowly: Its
just that things have come too easy fol
you, boy. Never had a rough and
tumble fight in your life-clean, strong
son! And why IL envy you. ]
wasted so many years. oh, so many
years!"
And while they sat in the dusk the
eyes of both went to the street, to four
men who We're crossing from the court
yard. One was RUDE Van Hart. Rube
n autumn were here once more. An
other was Arne Vance. Another was
I. p. Purcell, the dapper young law
yer-manager of Mr.. Curran's campaign.
And he fourth was a little. cheap
arrayed, ~fast-talking man at sight OF
whom Curran started with a smOthered
cry.
RUDE greeted them all with his la
comic shyness. FINISHED with the Cot
me when the pennant rush came. And
here's a guy that used to know you.
he a Shagged up the line with me
from Memphis. l happened to mention
you. and he sure was delighted to find
his old friend, Wiley! Ladeau. that's
his nane."
Curran was staring. Maurice" he
muttered at last.
The newcomers small coffee-coloced
a wrinkled amiably. He held out his
hand. Arne Vance n T. P. Pur-
cell appeared noting, with merciless in
t%entness. Curran's greeting. Curran.
the most democratic OF men,. to whom
even the lame dogs came for sympathy,
appeared not honored by Ladeau's ac-
Quaintance.
"Curran," muttered Mr.. Purcell,
Of the billiard hall. He was saying
COMMUNICATING some crazy yarn.
But we've heard q bit. and we took
him away!"
Curran glanced at his friends face.
Arne was grim. The newcomer went
on with reminiscent pleasure: "Yaas, /
sho' remember dat Wiley man! I say,
when dis Rube tell me he is here: Our
OIL Wiley? Name o. God-dat same
Wiley Of dem OF scalawag days! How
we laugh-him an me, and Gamblin'
Gawge, when we all get u u of
Ascension TO- dem games we rum"
The candidate vas staring. listening.
Ladeau beamed On: And at Plaque
mine we was all broke. Name o. God,
we all come dow to AK OIL man Bowler
TO- feesh heads to make a c%ou'bouillon
under de bridge"
smiled wanly. Maurice. i-i-never
touched a card SINCE" He smiled still
on his political hackers. Never.
0lllC0@
Since dat leetle Adrienne made you
promise when you talk her to N'Awlyns.
Ehue. dem OIL Creole days!" He sighed
Dat leetle Adrienne OF Butte La
Reset"
The dapper Mr.. Purcell coughed.
Arne stirred. wiley, were you ever
married?"
the pause. Married? Dem Cajun
girls, when dey love-Nom de Dieu!-
dey don't stop TO marriage!"
The Honorable T. p. Purcell coughed
again. He glanced hurriedly u the
door at a passerby. then at the can
didate. II think. gentlemen. this is
enough. All very interesting to Mr..
campaign. I'm glad"-he wiped his
managerial brow perplexedly-"we
overheard thisl I was coming to
speak to Mr.. Curran about his cam
paign this fall, and we just stumbled
on this-ah-gossip, fortunately We
brought him to you, wiley!" He looked
at his watch and smiled: This talk
wiley'-he turned to the candidate
remember the committee wants you
to go through Dallas county like q
house aflre. Start at Pleasantville on
the 10th. But Harper will speak with
you, and we'll arrange the rest Of the
program later. no Cdu0 70 IAhe
wiley's hand-"And. old man, I'd cut
out all these malingerings Of youth with
our loquacious friend. here"
'Tom," muttered Wiley, at was al
most 20 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.fearine
people-you know Americans in gen.
eral will never stand for any sort Of
Of-well, this sort Of thing, Wiley!
Puritans-that's it-that's what we
are! Except about money! But this
sort of thing'-he looked about at the
others again and smiled. Just between
friends, eh?"
Arne nodded. II Wiley Curran had
confessed to philandering with the
whole trike of Cajuns. whoever they
were, there would have been those te
love him. When Purcell had gone
Arne o and touched Wiley's arm
Look here, why didn't you ever tel
some n Of this?"
why? It was long ago-before
drifted west-when I'd landed in New
Orleans broke from Cuba. We had {
hlibustering gang and it busted. oh
we'll" he sighed. "Arne, what's tn,
use OF calling up things? I'm no
ashamed Of anything-much. YOUNG
and foot free-and. anyhow. I Away
body"
II know 1t. But this-girl. Wiley
Did you marry herr"
There was q stiffness for q long time
Outside q late bird was singing In tn,
sugar trees and the wind was south
It seemed to bring q dream to Wiley
eyes: nights Of youth. misspent bu
unutterably dear in memory.
did you marry her. Wiley?"
Wiley turned slowly toward him witt
. touch Of deflance. Yes"
- knov '. oI6 h csck Ana Tanst az : ~
better tell her. You'd better have every
thing shove board 70 begin With. It