"But I'll see you again before you go.I want to give you some advice.""I'm not going," said Joe."Not going to leave Canaan, I mean.Where will I find Eugene?""At the Tocsin office; he's the assistant editor.
Judge Pike bought the Tocsin last year, and he thinks a good deal of Eugene.Don't forget I said to come to see me again before you go."Joe came over to the older man and held out his hand."Shake hands, father," he said.Mr.
Louden looked at him out of small implacable eyes, the steady hostility of which only his wife or the imperious Martin Pike, his employer, could quell.He shook his head.
"I don't see any use in it," he answered."It wouldn't mean anything.All my life I've been a hard-working man and an abiding man.Before you got in trouble you never did anything you ought to; you ran with the lowest people in town, and I and all your folks were ashamed of you.Idon't see that we've got a call to be any different now." He swung round to his desk emphatically, on the last word, and Joe turned away and went out quietly.
But it was a bright morning to which he emerged from the outer doors of the factory, and he made his way towards Main Street at a lively gait.As he turned the corner opposite the "National House,"he walked into Mr.Eskew Arp.The old man drew back angrily"Lord 'a' mercy!" cried Joe, heartily."It's Mr.Arp! I almost ran you down!" Then, as Mr.Arp made no response, but stood stock-still in the way, staring at him fiercely, "Don't you know me, Mr.Arp?" the young man asked."I'm Joe Louden."Eskew abruptly thrust his face close to the other's."NO FREE SEATS!" he hissed, savagely; and swept across to the hotel to set his world afire.
Joe looked after the irate, receding figure, and watched it disappear into the Main Street door of the "National House." As the door closed, he became aware of a mighty shadow upon the pavement, and turning, beheld a fat young man, wearing upon his forehead a scar similar to his own, waddling by with eyes fixed upon him.