Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-05-09
CHAPTER II.

a n
disposal before the freight train left
Concord, and he made up his mind that
he would put IN the time looking over
the town. Before descending the de-
crepit stairs leading from the Blizzard
Office. he fingered at the top 10 scan
the three points Of the compass that
lay open 10 him. As the building occu-
pied 10y the newspaper was well at he
foot Of the main thoroughfare, nearly
the whole Of Concord lay under the
young mans eye.
Certainly no eulogies were 10 be
wasted upon that collection OF houses
and stores. The principal street had
roads debouching 10 left and right.
Buildings were not huddled together;
on the contrary. they were far apart,
with stretches Of virgin prairie be-
tween them. II had been the policy Of
the Townsite company 10 donate lot
IN each block in the residence portion
TO any one who would build a house
upon H. For this reason. nearly every
dwelling had a block 10 itself.
Main street began al the Northern
Pacific depot and ran south for half a
mile beyond the Blizzard building, the
latter closing up the ragged file Of
store structures. Just south Of the
depot was huge, barn-like hotel The
hotel, be il observed, always formed
the nucleus ~ the "boom" town.
Across from the hotel was the office Of
real estate agent; south Of that. on
the same side. was a building erected
by the Townsite company for a bank:
then there was a drug store and then
Mr.. Benjamin G,immer's Emporium,
and then livery stable. the latter al
most opposite the Blizzard building.
Between the latter and the hotel was
The new courthouse.
As Guy gave further attention TO
the courthouse he saw something
which had before escaped him. namely.
a weather vane. This vane was-cut
into the profile Of a mans head. hand
before the face. thumb 10 the nose and
digits outspread. The head looked
steadily and insolently westward and
refused 10 move with the northwest
wind. Guys anger arose al the sight.
lie had no idea what such a vane might
mean, but he would tolerate nothing
Of that kind in his town. That vane
was TO come down In a very short time,
even If he had 10 remove il himself
Descending the stairs he went over
10 the Emporium and introduced him
self 10 the proprietor. Mr. Glimmer
was a slender man Of sallow complex
ion and looked at the world through
iron-framed spectacles. He was glad
10 meet Guy and presented him 10 sew
eral citizens; among others, Elisha
McQuilkin, the postmaster. Lemuel
Bilkins, a youth of harmless aspect,
whose abnormally long and spider-like
legs were the standing Joke OF the
town; Christopher Waffle. Justice Of
the peace and proprietor Of thresh-
ing outfit, and Bill Comfort. who oper-
ated Judge Waffle's engine. Conver.
sation with these gentlemen revealed
such a depth of animosity and bitter
ness over the county-seat question
that Guy was surprised.
THE Harmony folks have threat
ened 10 come down on MS like Assyri-
ans on the fold and run al with the
county records" observed Mr. Glim-
mer, his thin lips COMPRISING and his
eyes cleaning through his glasses.
We'll fool EN- if they try it on, can
tell you. I've only 10 pull this rope
he laid his hand on "A rope that dam
gled through hole in the ceiling
land a bell on the roof II ring out a
warning and bring every citizen to the
new courthouse"
And every citizen will bring a gun"
snapped Waffle.
And use it if necessary" Numbered
McQuilkin.
Coming from the fairly peaceable
confines Of Chicago this warlike Ian
guage filed Guy with considera BILE APP
prehension. II likewise gave him re-
alizing sense OF the danger of the mis-
sion he was about 20 undertake. II the
Harmony people were aroused in
similar degree 10 be discovered TAX
ing notes at their town meeting would
mean-Guy refrained from following
out this train Of thought He did not
care 10 anticipatN the disaster which
would probably befall him in case Of
discovery. Truth TO tell. this work
was being entered upon against the
counsel OF his honor. In love and war,
however. all means are supposed TO be
fair and he was endeavoring 10 apply
that principle 20 the present case.
Nevertheless he was troubled.
The $50 o'clock freight had few
cases OF merchandise for Concord and
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