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Marm Parraday had returned home that very day and she had returned a different woman from what she was when she went away. The Inn was already being conducted on a Winter basis, for most of the Summer boarders had flitted. There were few patrons now save those who hung around the bar. Walky, entering by the front door instead of the side entrance, came upon Lem and his wife standing in the hall.
Cross Moore, President of the Council, held a large mortgage on the Parraday premises, and it was whispered that this fact aided in putting the license through in so quiet a way. It was agreed that Polktown was growing. The "boom" had started some months before.
There had, in the opinion of the majority of the citizens, been no call for a drinking place, and there would probably have been no such local demand had Lem Parraday backed by Mr. Moore, who held the mortgage on the Inn not desired to increase the profits of that hostelry. The license was taken out that visitors to Polktown might be satisfied.
"Who from?" demanded Massey, sticking to his text, and that only. "Young Joe Bodley, of the Lake View Inn." "Joe Bodley! Why, he was abed when them coins was stolen I know that," blurted out the druggist, very much disappointed. "Lem Parraday 'tends bar himself forenoons, for Joe's allus up till past midnight. You know that, Walky." "Ya-as f'r sure," agreed the expressman.
"The mystery of the 'early worm' that you saw this mornin'." He brought his hand from behind him and displayed an empty, amber-colored flask on which was a gaudy label announcing its contents to have been whiskey and sold by "L. Parraday, Polktown." "Oh, dear! Is that the trouble with the Besmith boy?" murmured Janice. "That's how he came to lose his job with Massey." "Poor fellow!
Her appearance offered quite as much excitement to the loafers on this occasion as it had the day of the tempest. Only they shrank from her with good reason now, as she flourished the axe. "Git aout of here, the hull on ye!" ordered the stern woman. "Ye have had the last drink in this place as long as Lem Parraday and me keeps it. Git aout!" She started around behind the bar.
Joe Bodley, smiling cheerfully, advanced to meet her. "Now, Marm! You know this ain't no way to act," he said soothingly. "This ain't no place for ladies, anyway. Women's place is in the home. This here " "Scat! ye little rat!" snapped Marm, and made a swing at him or so he thought that made Joe dance back in sudden fright. "Hey! take her off, Lem Parraday! The woman's mad!"
"Wal," sighed Aunt 'Mira, comfortably, rocking creakingly on the front porch of the old Day house in the glow of sunset, "Polktown does seem rejoovenated, jest like Mr. Middler preached last Sunday, since rum sellin' has gone out. And it was a sight for sore eyes ter see Marm Parraday come ter church ag'in an' that poor, miser'ble Lem taggin' after her." Janice laughed, happily.
It is a shame the bar was ever opened at the Lake View Inn. And something ought to be done about it!" Walky had pulled in his team for her to jump down before Hopewell Drugg's store. "Jefers-pelters!" murmured the driver, scratching his head. "If that gal detarmines to put Lem Parraday out o' the licker business, mebbe mebbe I'd better go down an' buy me another drink 'fore she does it.
An intoxicated man on the streets of Polktown during the three years of Janice Day's sojourn here was almost unknown. There had been no demand for the sale of liquor in the town until Lem Parraday, proprietor of the Lake View Inn, applied to the Town Council for a bar license. The request had been granted without much opposition. Mr.
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