Oxford Democrat., 1914-06-02
CHAPTER XIV.
Tho Mayor Welcomed Home.

CHAPTER XIV.
Tho Mayor Welcomed Homo.
kG R. MAGEE and the professor
Im went into the day coach fol
II their baggage. Mrs. Nortor
motioned to the former.
"Well," she said, "you know now,
suppose. And it didn't do you nc
harm to wait. I sure am glad this to
do is all over, and that child is safe
And / hope you'll remember what
said. 1t amt no work for woman
nohow, what with the shooting and
the late hours"
"Your words" said Mr.. Magee, "are
engraved Oh my heart" He proceeded
to gather her baggage with his OWL
and was thus engaged when KendricE
came up. The shadow Of his discOv'
cry in the smoking car an hour before
still haunted his sunken eyes, but his
lips were half smiling with the new
Joy Of living that had come to him.
Mr.. Magee." he began, Il hardly
ACcu hShtloh lIoI luS thiht
which happened-in there's between
you and me-and the man who's dead
No one must know. Least Of all, the
girl who is to become my wife-it
would embitter her whole life-as II
has mine."
Don't say that" Magee pleaded
eYou will forget in time, I'm sure
And you may trust mel had forgot
ten already" And indeed he had, on
the instant when his eyes fell upon the
Reuton Star.
Miss Thornhill approached, her dark
smiling eyes ON Magee. Kendrick look.
ed at her proudly and spoke suddenly,
determinedly:
you're right, 1 will forget. She
shall help me-"
A shadow had fallen upon the train
the shadow Of the huge Reuton sta
ton. In the half light on the platform
Mr.. Magee encountered the mayor OF
Reuton. Above the lessening roar
the train there sounded ahead Of them
the voices Of men in turmoil and riot.
Mr.. Cargan turned upon Magee a face
as placid and dispassionate as that OF
one who enters an apple orchard In
May.
"The boys" he smiled grimly, "wel'
coming me home"
Then the train came to stop, and
Mr.. Magee looked down into a great
array of faces and heard for the first
time the low, unceasing rumble OF an
angry mob. Afterward he marveled
at that constant cultural roar, how II
went on and OH, humming like tune,
never stopping. disconnected quite from
the occasional shrill or heavy voices
that rang out in distinguishable words
The mayor looked coolly down into
those upturned faces, he listened q
moment to the rumble Of thousand
throats; then he took Off his derby
with satiric pOliteness.
Glad to see one and all!' he cried.
And now above the mutterings angry
words could be heard. That's him!
That's 100000 Cargan" "How's the
weather Oh Baldpate?' and other sar'
castle filings about tar and feathers.
A squad Of policemen who had en-.
tered the car from the rear forceo
their way out on to the platform.
want us to see you through the
crowd, Mr.. Cargan?" the lieutenant
asked.
New boots and cries ascended to the
station rafters. "Who pays the po'
liceY 1--WE do" "Who owns 'emF
"Cargan.n Thus question and answer
were banded back and forth. Again
voice demanded in strident tones the
irnominious tar and feathers.
Jim Cargan had not risen from the
slums to be master Of his town with
out a keen sense Of the theatric. he
ordered the police back into the car
"And stay therew he demanded. The
lieutenant demurred. One look from
the mayor sent him scurrying. Mr.
Cargan took from his pocket a Dig
cigar and calmly lighted 1t.
"Some of them guys out there NJ
| remarked to Magee, "belong to the
Sunday school crowd. Pretty actions
for them. pillars of the church bowling
like beasts"
And still. like that Of beasts, thu
mutter of the mob went on, now In al
undertone, now louder, and still tina
voice that first had plead for tar ant
feathers plead still for feathers ant
tar. And here group preferred tn
rope.
And toward them, with the blanc
smile Of a child on his great face, nj
cigar tilted at one angle, his derby a
another. the mayor Of Reuton walket
unflinchingly.
The roar became mad. defiant. Blu
Cargan stepped forward boldly. NOV
he reached the leaders Of the mob. II
pushed his way in among them. smil
ing, but determined. They closed Il
ON him. A little man got firmly In nj
path. He took the little man by tn
shoulders and stood him aside wit
some friendly word. And now he wa
past ten rows or more Of them on hi
way through, and the crowd began I
scurry away. They scampered hk
ants, clawing at one anOthers back
to make a path.
And so finally, between two rows Q
them. the mayor Of Reuton went hi
way triumphantly. Somewhere, o
the edge of the crowd, an admirin
voice spoke. "Hello, Jimw The ma!
or waved his hand. The rumble
their voices ceased ut last. Jim Ca
gan was still master Of the city.
j, "Say what you will" remarked Nj
Magee to the professor as they stoo
} together on the platform OF the ca
''there goes q man."
He did not wait to hear the profe
sor's answer, for he saw the girl
the Upper Asquewan station standin
on a baggage truck far to the left
the mob wave to him over their head
Eagerly he fought his way to her $40
} It was a hard fight. The crowd woul
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