Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-15

as Father Callahan had requested?
This insistence upon an interview with
the bishop himself had flavor of sus.
picious determination. There was
disaffection in Attegat. Rumors had
come from that far parish. There were
grudges. This man might prove to be
a dangerous person IL he were admit
ted TO the presence of tho diocesan
head. He must be kept away. Per
haps II would be well to call the police
If he continued this persecution. At
all events the bishop must not be in.
formed of this desperate effort 10
enter. The bishop was old and he was
not well, and such bodeful persis.
tency might worry him. So those be.
hind the door decided.
Yes | will see him. I have been
sent to see him." Billedeau muttered,
ploddlng back to the park. his blue
bucket on his arm-a light burden
now.
Came one to him where he sat under
his tree on a sunny afternoon fel
low unkempt, his face mossN with
patches of beard. a vagrant, and yet
his eyes were bright, and the sharp.
ness of man who has lived long on
his wits among men marked his de-
iaeanor.
you have come here to stay, have
you, my cock sparrow" inquired the
OF, ,Dn a hnpn IN, fA,
u week"
II stop here till I have done my
business, M'ser." AnaXagoras put his
hand upon the little wad of money,
alarm in his soul.
What is your business--yag, vag
hobo, moucher, or bum"
Il think l do none of those-I'm
poor mani have learned no trade
like YOU say! l fiddle for my living
among the poor folks, my friends, in
st. John Valley"
The fellow sat down on the grass
and looked the old man over with new
interest.
well, Fiddler. in the name Of the
Ancient Order Of Grass Warmers,
welcome you to our city. l can't pre-
sent YOU with the keys. because we
never lock our bedroom doors"
The old man blinked without under
standing this chatter. He stammered: :
"Merci. M'ser." several times. feeling
that sort of kindness -- he did not
know just what-had been offered to
him by this stranger of the sharp eyes
and the glib tongue.
"I say, old man, YOU amt what |
took YOU for in the first place" cried
the stranger, after a further shrewd
survey of the queer garments, the sun
burnt face, the blue bucket.
He lighted the stub of a cigar that
he fished from pocket of his sagging
waistCoat.
you're in the dumps, old fellow.
You haven't been larking and playing
lately. I've had my eye on you. Now
out with il! You need TO talk to some
one. I'll listen. Maybe I'm your fairy
godfather in disguise. Perhaps you
have got a worse tale Of woe than
mine is: if that is so it will make me
cheer up to hear it. Go ahead"
All. the days that AnaXagoras Billie.
deau had not been able to talk with
any one in that wilderness Of human
ity. He who had always found so
many folk to talk with along the
roads of the border. His troubles
swelled within him. eager to take the
form of words. This ragged man with
the CHEEKY eyes had been the first to
look at him as one fellow-man should
look at another.
Billedeau dragged his shabby hat
from his gray hair and twisted it be
tween his nervous hands. Speech burst
from him. Yes. here was a man who
would listen! Till now he could tall
only TO the sparroWs, the cloud shad
ows. and the trees.
/ He told the story of the troubles
I OF Attegat. how he had been sent OF
this far journey. and his voice trem
bled with the pathos Of unshed tears
as he pointed to the golden cross
above the tree-tops and related how
he had laid siege to the great bishop:
oak door.
Another man who had been loafint
at a distance, a slouching figure OF &
man. saw the waving hands and heard
the shrill tones in which the old fid
dler voiced his sorrow. He came, drag
ing his feet on the grass, and sa
down beside the fellow. Of the sharl
eyes and nudged him after he hat
listened for a time
"Sav. this will be easy picking. DO.
he whispered. He must have tn
price of a return hidden on him. Let
YOU and me make a brother job of i
as soon as it comes dark