Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 May 1907 — THE CONQUEST of CANAAN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE CONQUEST of CANAAN

By BOOTH TARKINGTON,

Author of "ChstTy," "Monsteur Bosueairs,** Etc. 1

SYNOPSIS OF PHBVIOUS CH APTXRS. Chapter I—Eugene Bantry, a Canaan (Ind.,) young man, who haa been east to college, returns some and aatonnda the natives by the gtprgeotunesa of his raiment Hie stepbrother, Joe Loudin, is characterised by the aged male gossips who daily assemble at the National House for argument as the good for nothing associate of doubtful characters. II Eugene's appearance has a pronounced effect upon Mamie Pike, whose father, Judge Pike, is the wealthiest and most prominent citizen of Canaan. Joe worships Mamie from afar. Eugene interferes in a snow fight between Joe and bla hoidenish and very poor girl friend, Ariel Taber, who is worsted. Artel hotly resents the interference and slaps Eugene, who sends her home. 111-Ariel, unbecomingly attired, attends Mamie Pike a ball. IV—Joe. concealed behind some plants on the Pike veranda, watches hungrily for a glimpse of Minnie. Ariel is ignored by most of the guests. Ariel discovers Joe, aut shortly afterward, learning that her uncle, Jonas Tabor, has died suddenly, leaves. The Daily Tocsin oi the next day tells of Joe’s discovery on the Pike veranda and of bis pursuit and escape therefrom. It also refers to wounds in the head of himself and of Norbert Flttcroft, who detected him. Joe retires to the “Beach,” a low resort kept by bls friend, Mike Sheehan, who dresses his wound. VI Joe leaves Mike's place. He visits Ariel Tabor, who, by the death of her Uncle Jonas, has become rich. She wishes Joe to accompany her and her grandfather to Paris. Joe refuses and leaves Canaan to avoid arrest for the trouble at Judge Pike's. Vll—Joe is heard from two years later as a ticket seller for a side show. Eugene Bantry also meets him seven years later in a low resort in New York, but wisely refrains from advertising it. VIII-Joe returns to Canaan a full-fledged lawyer. Even his father ignores kirn, and he is refused accommodations at the National house. IX—Joe is welcomed at the “Beach,” and “Happy Fear,” one of Joe's admirers, seriously assualts Nashville Cory, a detractor. At the end of Happy’s term in prison he visits .be, who now has a law office on the square, with a living room adjoining. Joe has a large practice, principally among the lower classes, and Is frequently attacked by the Tocsin. Joe begins, in bls lonliness, to yield to the seductions of the bottle. Bantry’s engagment to Mamie Pike is announced. Bantry is now associate editor of the Tocsin, owned by Judge Pike. X—Joe awakens after a “bad Sight” with the words, “Remember, across the Main street bridge at noon,” ringing in hie ears. He goes there and is presently joined by the most beautifully dressed girl he has ever seen. Xl—She turns out to be Ariel Tabor, arrived in Canaan the night before from her long sojourn in Paris. She has seen Joe as ■he alighted from the train and, realizing his condition, had escorted him home after ex'acting from him a promise to meet her the next day (Sunday) across the Maiu street bridge at noon. Joe learns that Ariel is stopping at Judge Pike's home, the judge having entire' charge of her money, etc. XII— Eugene Bantry, although engaged to Mamie, is much smitten with Ariel's charms.. Judge Pike tries his usual blustering tactics with Ariel, but subsides When she tells him that she shall ask him to turn over the care of her estate to Joe Louden. XHI-f Artel holds a sort of informal reception at Judge Pike'sand learns that the "tough element” is talking of running Joe for mayor. XlV—Happy Fear ■nd Nashville Cory have more trouble. Joe corners Happy and sends Claudine (Mrs. Tear) to meet him. XV—Ariel visits Joe's office to put her affairs in bis hands. While there Happy Fear rushes in and announces t|iat he haskllled Nashville Cory in self defease. Joe makes Happy give himself up. Pike admits to Ariel that she, too, hM begun to bellCY? In io? Louden,

CHAPTER XVII. • •il V EVER,*’ said the Tocsin on the T IXI morr <> w , “has this community I been stirred to deeper indlgA 1 nation than by the cold blooded and unmitigated brutality of the deliberate murder committed almost under the very shadow of the courthouse cupola last night. The victim was not a man of good repute, it is true, but at , the moment of his death he was In the Ssct of performing a noble and generous action, which showed that he might have become if he lived a good and law fearing citizen. In brief, he went to forgive his enemy and was stretching forth the hand of fellowship when that enemy shot him down. NoChalf an hour before his death Cory had repeated within the hearing of a dozen men what he had been saying all day, as many can testify: T want to find my old friend Fear and shake hands with him. I want to tell him that I forgive him and that I am ashamed of whatever has been my part in the trouble between us.’ He went with that intention to bis death. The wife of the murderer has confessed that this was the substance of what he said to her and that she was convinced of his peaceful Intentions.

“When they reached the room where her husband was waiting for her Cory entered first The woman claims now that as they neared the vicinity he hastened forward at a pace which she could not equal. Naturally her testimony on all points favoring her husband Is practically worthless. She followed and heard the murdered man speak, though what his words were she declares she does not know, and of course the murderer, after consultation with his lawyer, claims that their nature was threatening. Such a statement tn determining the truth is worse than valueless. It is known and readily proved that Fear repeatedly threatened the deceased’s life yesterday, and there is no question in the mind of any man, woman or child who reads these words of the cold blooded nature of the crime. The slayer, who had formerly made a murderous attack upon his victim, lately quarreled with him and uttered threats, as we have stated, upon his life. The dead man came to him protestations of friendship and waa struck down a corpse. > «It is understood that the defense will in desperation set up the theory of •elf defense, based on an unsubstantiated claim that Cory entered the room with a drawn plstoL No pistol was found in the room. The weapon With which the deed was accomplished WM found upon the person of the murderer when he was seised by the police, one chamber discharged. Another revolver was discovered upon the person of the woman when she was arrested ou the scene of the crime. This upon being strictly Interrogated she said she had picked up from the floor in the confusion, thinking it was her hueh*nd’a and' hoping to conceal it The

chambers were full and undischarged, and we have heard it surmised that the defense means to claim that it was Cory’s. Cory doubtless went on his errand of forgiveness unarmed, and beyond doubt the second weapon belonged to the woman herself, who has an unenviable record.

“The point of it all Is plainly this: Here Is an unquestionable murder in the first degree, and the people of this city and county are outraged and incensed that such a crime should have been committed in their law abiding and respectable community. With whom does the fault lie? On whose bead is this murder? Not with the authorities, for they do not countenance crime. Has it come to pass-that, counting on juggleries of the law, criminals believe that they may kill, malm, burn and slay as they list witbout punishment? Is this to be another instance of the law’s delays and Immunity for a hideous crime, compassed by a cunning and cynical trickster of legal technicalities? The people of Canaan cry out for a speedy trial, speedy conviction and speedy punishment of this cold blooded and murderous monster. If he is not dealt with quickly according to bis deserts the climax Is upon us, and the limit of Canaan’s patience has been reached.

“One last word, and we shall be glad to have Its significance noted. J. Louden, Esq., has been retained for the defense! The murderer before being apprehended by the authorities went straight from the scene of his crime to place his retainer In his attorney’s pocket! How long Is this to last?* The Tocsin was quoted on street corners that morning, in shop and store and office, wherever people talked of the Cory murder, and that was everywhere, for the people of Canaan and of the country roundabout talked of nothing else. Women chattered of It In parlor and kitchen; men gathered In small groups on the street and shook their heads ominously over it; farmers, meeting on the road, halted their teams and loudly damned the little man In the Canaan jail; milkmen lingered on back porches over their cans to agree with cooks that it wag an awful thing and that if ever any man deserved hanging that there Fear deserved It—his lawyer along with him. Tipsy men hammired bars with fists and beer glasses, Inquiring if there was no rope to be had In the town, and Joe Louden, returning to his office from the little restaurant where he sometimes ate his breakfast, heard hisses following him along Main street A clerk, a fat shouldered, blue aproned, plnlple cheeked youth, stood In the open doors of a grocery and as he passed stared him In the face and said “Yah!” with supreme disgust. Joe stopped. “Why?” he asked mildly.

The clerk put two fingers in his mouth and whistled shrilly in derision. “You’d ort to be run out o’ town!’’ he exclaimed. “I believe,” said Joe, "that we have never met before.” “Go on, you shyster!" Joe looked at him gravely. “My dear sir,” he returned, “you speak to me with the familiarity of an old friend.” The clerk did not recover so far as to be capable of repartee until Joe had entered his own stairway. Then, with a bitter sneer, be seized a bad potato from an open barrel and threw it at the mongrel, who had paused to examine the landscape. The missile failed and Respectability, after bestowing a slightly injured look upon the clerk, followed his master. In the office the red bearded man sat waiting. Not so red bearded as of yore, however, was Mr. Sheehan, but grizzled and gray and, this morning, gray of face, too, as he sat, perspiring and anxious, wiping a troubled brow with a black silk handkerchief. “Here’s the devil and all to pay at last, Joe,” he said uneasily on the other’s entrance. “This Is the worst I ever knew, and I hate to say It, but I doubt yer pullin’ It off.” “I’ve got to, Mike.” “I hope on my soul there’s a chanst of it! I like the little man, Joe.” “So do I.” “I know ye do, my boy. But here’s this Tocsin kickin’ up the public sentiment, and if there ever was a foilerin’ sheep on earth it’s that same public sentiment." “If it weren’t for that”—Joe flung himself heavily in a chair—“there’d not be so much trouble. It’s a clear enough case." “But, don’t ye see," Interrupted Sheehan, “the Tocsin’s tried it and convicted him aforehand? And that if things keep goin’ the way they’ve\started today the gran’ jury’s bound to indict him and the trial jury to convict him? They wouldn’t dare not to. What’s more, they’ll want to. And they’ll rush the trial, summer or no summer, and”— “I know; I know.” “I'll tell ye one thing," said the other, wiping his forehead with the black handkerchief, “and that’s this, my boy: Last night’s business has just about put the cap on the Beach fer me. I'm sick of it, and I’m tired of it I’m ready to quit sir." Joe looked at him sharply. “Don’t you think my old notion of what might

’ T - 1 be done could be made to pay?” Sheehan laughed. “Whoo! You and yer hints, Joel How long past have ye come around me with ’em? 'I b’Ueve ye c*d make more money, Mike'—that's the way ye’d put it—‘if ye altered the

Joe etopped. "Whys” he aukcd mildly. Beach a bit Make a little countryside restaurant of it' ye’d say, ‘and have good cookin’, and keep the boys and girls from raisin’ so much hell out there. Soon ye’d have other people cornin’ beside the regular crowd. Make a little garden on the shore, and let ’em eat at tables under trees an’ grape arbors’ ‘‘Well, why not?’’ asked .Toe. "Haven’t I been tellln’ ye I’m thinkin’ of it? It’s only yer way of hintin’ that’s funny to me, yer way of sayin’ I’d make more money, because ye’re afraid of preacbin’ at any of us, partly because ye know the little good It’d be and partly because ye have humor. Well, I’m thinkin’ ye’ll git yer way. I’m willin’ to go Into the missionary business with ye!” “Mike!” said Joe angrily, but he grew very red and failed to meet the other’s eye, “I’m not”— “Yes, ye are!” cried Sheehan. “Yes, sir! It’s a thing ye prob’ly haven’t had the nerve to say to yerself since a boy, but that’s yer notion Inside. Ye’re little better than a missionary. It took me a long while to understand what was drivln’ ye, but I do now. And ye’ve gone the right way about It because we know ye’fl stand fer us when we’re in trouble and fight fer us till we git a square deal, as ye’re goln’ to fight fer Happy now.” Joe looked deeply troubled. “Never mind,” he said crossly and with visible embarrassment “You think you could not make more at the Beach if yon ran It on my plan?” “I’m game to try,” said Sheehan slowly. “I’m too old to hold ’em down out there the way I yoosta could, and I’m sick of It—sick of it into the very bones of me.” He wiped his forehead, “Where’s Claudine?" jj, ... “Held as a witness.”

“I’m not sorry fer her!” said the red bearded man emphatically. “Women o’ that kind are so light headed It’s a wonder they don’t float. Think of her pickin’ up Cory’s gun from the floor and hidin’ it in her clothes! Took it fer granted It was Happy’s and thought she’d help him by hidin’ it! There’s a hard point fer ye, Joe—to prove the gtm belonged to Cory. There’s nobody about here could swear to it I couldn’t myself, though I forced him to stick it back in his pocket yesterday. He was a wanderer, too, and ye’ll have to send a keen one to trace him, I’m tbinkln’, to find out where he got it so’s ye can show it In court.”

“I’m going myself. I’ve found out that he came here from benver.” “And from where before that?" “I don’t know, but I’ll keep On traveling till I get what I want” “That’s right, my boy,” exclaimed the other heartily. “It may be a long trip, but ye’re all* the little man has to depend on. Did ye notice the Tocsin didn’t even give him the credit fer givin’ himself up?” “Yes,” said Joe. “It’s part of their game.” “Did.lt strike ye now," Mr. Sheehan asked earnestly, leaning forward In his chair—“did it strike ye that the Tocsin was aimin’ more to do Happy harm because of you than himself?” “Yes.” Joe looked sadly out of the window. “I’ve thought that over, and it seemed possible that I might do Happy more good by giving his case to some other lawyer." “No, sir!” exclaimed the proprietor of Beaver Beach loudly. “They’ve begun their attack, they’re bound to keep it up, and they’d manage to turn it to the discredit of both of ye. Besides, Happy wouldn’t have no other lawyer. He’d rather be hung with you fightin* fer him than be cleared by anybody else. I b’lleve its. on my soul I do! But look here,” he went on, leaning still farther forward, “I want to know if It struck ye that this morning the Tocsin attacked ye In a way that was somehow vi’lenter than ever before.” “Yes,” replied Joe, “because it was aimed to strike where it would most count" "It ain’t only that" said the other excitedly—“it ain’t only that! I want ye to listen. Now, see here, the Tocsin Is Pike, and the town is Pike—l mean the town ye naturally belonged to. Ain’t it?" “In a way, I suppose—yes.” “In a way!” echoed the other scornfully. “Ye know it is! Even as a boy Pike disliked ye and hated the kind of

a boy ye was. Ye wasa’t and he was. Ye wasn’t rich, and he was. Ye had a grin on yer face when ye’d meet him on the street” The red bearded man broke off at a gesture from Joe and exclaimed sharply: “Don’t deny It! I know what ye was- like! Ye wasn’t impudent but ye looked at Um as if ye saw through him. Now listen and I’ll lead ye somewhere. Ye run with riffraff. Now, I ask ye this: Ye’ve bad one part of Canaan with ye from the start—my part that Is—but the other’s against ye. That part’s Pike, and it’g the rulin’ part”— , “Yes, Mike," said Joe wearily. “In the spirit of things. I know.” “No, sir,” cried the other. “That’s the trouble; ye don’t know. There’s more in Canaan than ye’ve understood. Listen to this: Why was the Tocsin’s attack harder this morning than ever before? On yer soul didn’t It sound so bitter that it sounded desprit? Now, why? It looked to me as If it had started to ruin ye, this time fer good and all! Why? What have ye had to do with Martin Pike lately? Has the old wolf got to injure ye?” Mr. Sheehan’s voice rose and bls eyes gleamed under bushy brows. “Think,” he finished. “What’s happened lately to make him bite so bard?* There were some faded roses on the desk, and as Joe’s haggard eyes fell upon them the answer came. “What makes 'you think Judge Pike isn’t trustworthy?” he had asked Ariel, and her reply had been, “Nothing ‘very definite, unless it was his look when I told him that I meant to ask you to take charge of things for me.” He got slowly and amazedly to his feet. “You’ve got It!” he said. “Ye see?” eried Mike Sheehan, slapping his thigh with a big hand. “On my soul I have the penetration! Ye don’t need to tell me one thing except this: I told ye I’d lead ye somewhere. Haven’t I kept me word?” , v?‘Yes,” said Joe. “But I have the penetration!” exclaimed Mr. Sheehan. “Should I miss my guess if I said that ye think Pike may be scared ye’ll stumble on his track in some queer performances? Should I mis? it?” “No," said Joe, "you wouldn’t miss it”

“Just one thing more.” The red bearded man rose, mopping the Inner band of his straw hat. “In the matter of yer running fer mayor, now"— Joe, who had begun to pace up and down the room, made an Impatient gesture. “Pshaw!” he interrupted, but his Triend stopped him with a hand laid on his arm. “Don’t be treatin’ it as clean out of all possibility, Joe Louden. If ye do, it Shows ye haven’t sense to know that nobody can say what way the wind’s blowin’ week after next. All the boys want ye; Louie Farbach wants ye, and Louie has a big say. Who Is it that doesn’t want ye?” “Canaan,” said Joe. “Hold up! It’s Pike’s Canaan ye mean. If ye git the nomination ye’d be elected, wouldn’t ye?” “I couldn’t be nominated.” “I ain’t claimin’ ye’d git Martin Pike’s vote,” returned Mr. Sheehan sharply, “though I don’t say It’s impossible. Ye’ve got to beat him, that’s all. Ye’ve got to do to him what he’s done to you and what he’s tryin’ to do now worse than ever before. Well, there may be ways to do It, and if he tempts me enough I may ferglt my troth and honor as a noble gentleman and help ye with a word ye’d never guess yerself.”

“You’ve hinted at such mysteries before, Mike,” Joe smiled. “I’d be glad to know what you mean if there’s anything in them.” “It may come to that,” said the other, with some embarrassment. “It may come to that some day if the old wolf presses me too hard in the matter o’ try in’ to git the little man across the street hanged by the neck and yerself mobbed fer helpin’ him. But today I’ll say ho more.” “Very well, Mike.” Joe turned wearily to his desk. “I don’t want you to break any promises.” Mr. Sheehan had gone to the door, but he paused on the threshold and wiped his forehead again. “And I don’t want to break any,” he said, “but if ever the time should come when I couldn’t help it”—he lowered his voice to a hoarse, but piercing, whisper—“that will be the devourin’ angel’s day fer Martin Pike!” fro BB CONTINUBD.I Take the fresh air cure in a Roberts rig of your own. If you want the beat for the least money, buy of C. A. Roberts, the buggy man.