Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-12
Author Of THE Seats Of the Mighty
Tho Money Master" etc.

Three cheers for Felix MarChand,'
cried some one in the throng All
cheercd loudly save one old man with
grizzlcd hair and beard, who leaned
against the wall half way down the
room, smoking corncob pipe. He was
French Canadian in dress and ap-
pearance, and he spat on the floor like
a navvy-he had filled his pipe with the
strongest tobacco that one man ever
offered to another. AS the crowd
cheered for Felix Marchand, he made
his way up toward the bar slowly.
He must have been tall when he was
young; now he was stopped, yet there
was still something very sinewy about
him.
"Who's for Lebanon?" cried the
big river driver with an oath. "Who's
for giving Lebanon hell, and ducking
| Ingolby in the river?"
Il am AMI am-all of u.s."
shouted the crowd. Its no good wait
| ing for tomorrow. Let's get the Lebs
by the scruff tonight. Let's break
Ingolby's windows and soak him in the
! Sagalac. Allons-allons gal ~
Uproar and broken sentences,
threats. oaths and objurgations sounded
through the room. There was a sudden
movement towards the door, but the
exit of the crowd was stopped by a slow
but clear voice speaking in Frnech.
''Wait a minute, my friends,' 1t
cried. Wait n minute. Let's ask a
few questions first"
who's he?" asked a dozen voices
whats he going to say?" The mob
moved again towards the bar.
The big river driver turned on the
grizzled old -man beside the bar
counter with bent shoulders and lazy,
drawling speech.
'What've you got to say about it,
sonT' he asked threateningly.
well. to ask few questions first
that's ALL" the old man replied.
''Iou don't belong here, old man.
the other said roughly.
"A good many of us don't belong
here" the old man replied quietly.
1T always is SO. This isn't the first
time I've been to Manitou. You're a
river driver and you don't live here
either" he continued.
What We you got to say about it
I've been coming and going here for
ten years. l belong-bagosh, what do
you want to ask? Hurry up. We've
got work to do. We're going to raise
hell in Lebanon"
"And give hell to Ingolby," shouted
some one in the crowd.
"Suppose Ingolby isn't there? p
questioned the old man.
"Oh, that's one of your questions
is it?" sneered the big river driver
well, If you knew him as we do
you'd know that it's at night time he
: sits studyin' how he'll cut Manitou's
throat. He's home, all right. He's
| in Lebanon anyhow, and we'll find
, him."
, well, but wait minute-be auiet
/ bit,' said the old man, his ewes
blinking slowly at the big river driver
, I've been round a good deal and Nv,
had some experience IN the world. Die
Z you ever give that Ingolby a chance t,
p tell you what his plans were? Did yor
ever get close to him and try to fig.
ure what he was driving at? There
r no chance of getting at the truth if vol
don't let man state his case-but no
g If he cant make you see his case the1
is the time to jib, not before"
7 "Oh, get out!' cried rowdy Eng
= lish roadmaker In the crowd. "W,
know all right what Ingolby's after. ;
"Eh, well, what Is he after?'' aske,
the old man, looking the other in tn
eye.
: What's he after? Oof-oof-oof
t that's what he's after. He's for nj
own pocket, he's for being boss of al
S the woolly west. He's after keeping u
poor and making himself rich. He
K after getting the cinch on two town
and three railways and doing what b
o likes with it all; and we're after no
!. having him do it, you bet. That's hoy
). it is, old hoss."
(TO BE CONTINUED)