The Monticellonian., 1916-11-23
nIILHlILIL-IIHIH--L-ILILIL-IL.-.-LLIIIAL.IIL IILLH.

northern Indiana. It's population is mainly on the one side of the St. Jo- seph river, but quite a respectable traction thereof takes its industrial way to the opposite shore. and there gains an audience and a hearing in the rather imposing growth and hurly-bur- ly of it's big manufactories. and the consequent rapid appearance of multi tudlnouS neat cottages, tenement houses and business blocks. A stranger entering South Bend proper on any ordinary day will be at some loss to account for it's prosperous appearance its Tagged and powdered streets its handsome mercantile blocks, banks, and business houses generally. Rea- soning from cause to effect and seeing but meager sprinkling of people on the streets throughout the day, and these seeming, for the most part, mere iy fdlers, and in nowise accessory to the evident thrift and opulence of their surroundings, the observant stranger will be puzzled at the situation. But when evening comes, and the outlying foundries, sewing-machine, wagon, blow, and other 'twOrks' together with the paper mills and all the nameless industries-when the operations of all these are suspended for the day, and the wOrkmen and workwomen loosed from labor-then, as this vast army suddenly invades and overfiows bridge, roadway, street and lane, the startled stranger will fully comprehend the why and wherefore of the city's high pros perity. And, once acquainted with the people there, the fortunate sojourner will find no ordinary culture and intel fgence, and, as certainly he will meet with d social spirit and whole-souled heartiness that will make the place a lasting memory. The town, too, is the home of many world known people, and host of local celebrities, the chief of which latter class I found, during my stay there, in the person of Tommy Stafford or "The Wild Irishman," as everybody called him.
 Talk of odd fellows and eccentric characters" said Major Blowney, my employer one afternoon, you must see our Wild Irishman here before you say you've yet found the queerest, brightest, cleverest chap in all your travels. What dye say, Stockford?" And the Major paused in his work of charging cartridges for his new breech- loading shotgun and turned to await his partners response.
 Stoekford, thus addressed, paused above the Shield-sign he was lettering. slowly smiling as he dipped and trafled his pencil through the Ivory black upon bit of broken glass and said, in his deliberate. half absent minded way "Is it Tommy you're telling him about?" and then, with a gradual broadening of the smile he went on, Well, I should say so. Tommy !! Whats come of the fellow, anyway? haven't seen him since his last bout with the mayor, on his trial for shakin' up that fast-horse man."
 'The fast-horse man got just ex- actly what he needed, too," said the ge- nial Major, laughing, and hopping his perspiring brow. "The fellow was barkin' up the wrong stump when he tackled Tommy Got beat in the trade, at his own game, you know, and wound up by an insult that no Irishman would take and Tommy just naturally wore out the hall carpet of the old hotel with himl'
 And then collared and led him to the mayors office himself, they say l' "Oh, he did !" said the Major, with q dash of pride in the confirmation ; that's Tommy all over!"
 Funny trial wasn't it?" continued the ruminating Stockford.
 Wasn't it though" ?" laughed the Ma jor. '"The porter's testimony: You see, he was for Tommy, of course, and on examination testified that the horse man struck Tommy first. And here Tommy broke in with Hes a-meanin' well, yer honor, but he's lyin' to ye- he's lyin to ye. No Twin man iver struck me first-nor last, nayther, for the matter O thatv And I thought the - court - woud-die!" continued the Major in like imminent state of merriment.
 "Yes, and he said if he struck him
 
 like to know why the horseman was 'wearin all the black eyes, and the blood and the boomps on that head of lumr And it's that talk that got him off with so light finei"
 "As it always does" said the Major, coming to himself abruptly and look ing at his watch. "Stock, you say ,aly shooting party this time?
 Cant go possibly" said Stockford, mot on account of the work at all, but the folks aint just as we'll as I'd like to see them, and I'll stay here till they're better Next time I'll try and be ready for you. Going to take Tom my, of couse?"
 "Of course, Got to have The Wild Irishman' with us! I'm going around to find him now" Then turning to me the Major continued. Suppose you get on your coat and hat and come along? It's the best chance you'll ever have to meet Tommy. It's late anyhow, and Stockford1l get along without you. Come on."
 Certainly" said Stockford; "go ahead And you can take him ducking, too, if he wants to go."
 But he doesn't want to go-and won't go." replied the Major with a commiserative glance at me: Says