"
The blacksmith, forerunner of the modern city newspaper reporter in his
love of taking the center of the stage in order to drag into public sight
the misfortunes of his fellows, did not finish his tirade. The merchant,
white with anger, rushed up and struck him a blow on the chest with his
small and rather fat fist. The blacksmith knocked him into the gutter and
later, when he was arrested, went proudly off to the office of the town
mayor and paid his fine.
It was said by the enemies of Smoky Pete that he had not taken a bath for
years. He lived alone in a small frame house at the edge of town. Behind
his house was a large field. The house itself was unspeakably dirty. When
the factories came to town, Tom Butterworth and Steve Hunter bought the
field intending to cut it into building lots. They wanted to buy the
blacksmith's house and finally did secure it by paying a high price. He
agreed to move out within a year but after the money was paid repented and
wished he had not sold. A rumor began to run about town connecting the name
of Tom Butterworth with that of Fanny Twist, the town milliner. It was
said the rich farmer had been seen coming out of her shop late at night.
The blacksmith also heard another story whispered in the streets. Louise
Trucker, the farmer's daughter who had at one time been seen creeping
through a side street in the company of young Steve Hunter, had gone to
Cleveland and it was said she had become the proprietor of a prosperous
house of ill fame.
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