Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-04-02
CHAPTER xK-(continued.)

CHAPTER XR-(Continued.)
Harlan watched him silently. The
elder man went IN more slowly: Its
just thai things have come too cas- for
you, boy. Never had a rough and
tumble fight in your life-clean, strong,
sheltered! That why II loved you.
son! And why II envy you. I
wasted SO many years, oh, sc many
years!"
And while they sat in the dusk the
eyes Of both went to the street, to TOUR
men who were crossing from the court
yard. One vas Rube Van Hart. RUDE
and autumn were here once more. An
other was Arne Vance. Another was
T. P. Purcell. the dapper young law
yer-manager OF Mr.. Curran's campaign.
And the fourth was a little, cheap
whom Curran started with a smothered
cry.
Rube greeted them all with his la
comic shyness. FINISHED with the Cot
ton Belt league, Wiley. They canned
me when the pennant rush came. And
here's a guy that used to know you.
he Gays. Shagged up the line with me
from Memphis. I happened to mention
you, and he sure was delighted to find
his old friend, Wiley! Ladeau, that's
his name."
Curran was staring. Maurice" he
muttered at last.
The newcomers small coffee-colored
face wrinkled amiably. He held out his
hand. Arne Vance and T. P. Pur-
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 MI. Purcell,
"Arne and I came on this man in front
Of the billiard hall. He was saying
But we've heard a bit, and we took
him away!"
Curran glanced at his friends face.
Arne was grim. The newcomer went
on Voc reminiscent pleasure: "Yaas, I
sh@ sarnember a Wiley man! I say,
whes dis RUDE 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, n Gamblin'
Gawge, when we all get run out of
Ascension fo' dem games we rum"
The candidate was staring, listening.
Ladeau beamed on: And at Plaque
mine we was all broke Name O. God,
we all come DOWN to ak OF man Bowler
TO- feesh heads to make a c~ou'bouillon
under de bridge
Wiley raised a d~eprecating hand He
smiled wanly. Maurice, LI-never
touched a card since" He smiled still
on his political hackers. Never,
since
Since dat leetle Adrienne made you
Ehue. dem OF Creole days!" He sighed
Dat leetle Adrienne Of Butte La
Rose!"
The dapper Mr., Purcell coughed.
Arne stirred. wiley. were you ever
married?"
The chuckle Of the stranger broke
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 out the
door at a passerby, then at the can
didate. II think, gentlemen, this is
enough. All very interesting to Mr..
Curran, but it's nothing to do with his
campaign. I'm glad"-he wiped his
overheard this! I was coming to
speak to Mr.. Curran about his cam
paign his fall, n 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 want you
to go through Dallas county like a
hous afire. Start at Pleasantville on
the 10th. But Harper will speak with
you, and We'll arrange the rest Of the
program later" He came to take
Wiley's hand-"And. old man, I'd cut
our loquacious friend, here"
TOM" muttered Wiley, "it 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, G~od-fearing
people-you know Americans in gem
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 ave been those to
love him. When Purcell had gone,
Arne arose n touched Wiley's arm.
Look here, why didn't you ever tell
some one of this? 2"
Why? 1t was long ago-bsfore 1
Orleans broke from Cuba. We had a
filibustering gang and it busted. Oh,
we'll he sighed. "Arne, what's the
use of calling up things? I'm not
ashamed of anything-much. Young
and foot free-and, anyhow, T always
played fair with women and every
body"
II know it. But this-girl, Wiley?
Did you marry herr"
There was a stiffness for a long time.
Outside q late bird was singing in the
sugar trees and the wind was south.
1t seemed to bring a dream to Wiley's
eyes; nights Of youth, misspent but
unutterably dear in emory
Did you marry her, Wiley7"
Wiley turned slowly toward him with
a touch of defiance. Yes"
Arne stood back. That's all 1 want
to know, old boy. And Janet, too! You'd
better tell her. You'd better have every
thing above board to begin with. It's
the only way. PurcelIs right-the peo-
pie, the great, clean, wholesome heart
OF the people. They sort of love you,
Wiley, but they wouldn't stand any
thing In a leader that seemed-a-a
double life"
1T never was that. I never on
cealed a thing. Only here, when I
drifted Jack to the old town, what was
the use? All dead and buried, Arne."
This girl?" Arne turned abruptly to
Ladeau.. You know what became Of
her?"
Dat Wiley man-ask him."
II was told,' retorted Wiley. that
she died. It was after I went west
two years after. Ii sent her money,
Arne. You see we never lived together
we couldn't make 1t go. And we
Earted-and she died."