Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-04

among the merchants. They don't
say IL to me. but | know the sort
Of talk that's running round. They've
been rather against US. anyway. most
Of them. Their attitude was that
Ham was hurting business BY his in
cessant attacks. Waking trouble
Bad for the town. all that sort Of
talk"
II begin 10 think.r mused Stella.
that I'D better move Pretty careful.
Keep my thoughts 70 myself. Lis
ten a lot
Its the wisest course. We're in
a pretty thorny ~situltion, Stella"
IL hope ! can help you, Homer.
iii try"
The screen door opened and a huge
figure Of a man entered; a bearded,
elderly man. big in hone and frame,
in a wrinklcd old suit ard a wealth
er-beaten fedora hat. smoking a long
cigar. Stella found herself saying.
why. how DO you do. Mr.. Harmer!'
and submitting her hand to a big
grip Then. as he evidently had
something to say to Homer. she slip
ned back to the other desk and bus
led herself making notes Of the back
! ground Of the case on "a scratch pad.
Mr.. Hammer pulled 10 4 chair on the
further side Of Homer's desk.
He was q strong man. Joe Harmer.
A parsonage, as his father had been
%lefore him, and his grandfather and
ereat-grandfather Two hund 2 a
years Of solid Harmers. The old
families lived on in Ackland. lived
and thrived. The reddish-Ersy beard
hristled with vigor. the nose was long
and bony. the skin and eyes rich in
fermentation. A man of high color
and full habit, who ate and drank.
frankly. as he chose. He must have
F., teen sixty or more. at this time, vet
! appeared 10 be in his prime. But the
yigor Of his appearance seemed curl
ously helied by his voice, which was
low and guardedly quiet. Ard the
shrewdly humorous eyes were veiled
He never spoke an unnecessary word
and seldom wrote a letter. Though
he lived simply enough, in the rather
spacious old Harmer place. keeping
bis outmoded rattly automobile in
the barn where his forhears had kept
their horses, he was generally regard
Cd ms the richest mar In town. He
was president of the local bank, head
sElectman, owned much real estate,
conducted the coal and feed business,
quietly advised in most of the church.
charity and community business.
Really, however u~nobtrusively he
appeared 10 move IL the background,
little or nothing could be accomplish
ed Ir the town without his support.
He knew every clique, every group
prejudice. every individual. In "A
sense, with limitations that none un-
derstood more subtly than himself, he
might be said to rule the town.
Power. petty power, he rather frank
NV loved. IL was his life. And that
power was his 10 an extent that can
be found. as a rule, only IN these
older New England communities, q
power that was the greater in that
he never appeared to be welding X.
Back of his known judgment and
ability loomed the strength OF a re-
spected family tradition. And family
still means everything In these COM
n,unities. You could hardly take
issue with Joe Harmer in Ackland:
not IL you wished 10 live comfortably
- nE
Stella heard him Jay: II saw that
your light were on, Homer, and
thought I'D step in. I haven't had
a chance to tell. you how sorry | am
Homer struck q match and lit his
pipe.
The quiet, almost coIorIcss voice
continued: "I'm glad TO see that
you're bearing up, Homer. It's the
only thing /. . ] suppose it's a little
too early to ask what you're plan
King 10 do about things"
yes. a little early. Mr.. Hsrmer."
We're all with you. my boy. Don't
forget that"
People have been wonderfully
kind
Are you thinking of keeping on
with the paper"
why, yes. Yes, | think I'll keep
On with it."
Il think we've all hoped you would.
The town wouldn't seem normal
without some member OF the Pew
family running the Age"
The older man lowered bis voice.
Stella, tracing out parallelograms on