Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-27

y
ing spy 2" asked City, impatiently.
why should I denounce you? Con-
cord is your town, Mi. Herbert. and It
is right for you to. do what you can to
hold the county scat. Harmony is our
town, and we shall de what we can
to take the county seat away from
you: Pm sorry for you, for yours is,a
losing fight.
"Yet there are means you would not
kind?" ~;
IT will have no violence. That's why
l added q line to the note which Bar.
ney brought from Concord"
"That line" had escaped Guy. He
took the note from his pocket and saw
penciled. dimly at the bottom the
words: See that no harm comes to
Mr.. Herbert, Betty" He drew . deep
breath.
Then / have you to thank for my
present safety" said he, replacing the
note in his pocket.
please don't misunderstood me,
Mr.. Herbert" returned Miss Betty.
my fathers ruling passion is real es-
tate. He wanted to sell you. some
lots in Harmony, and, for fear you
wouldn't be where he could watch
you, he insisted on having you come
here. That was also his reason for
taking you to the meeting and
he had not the slightest notion
he was harboring an enemy" Miss
Betty laughed again. "At heart" she
resumed, "my father is one of the
MODEST men in the world, but can
not remember that he ever cham
pioned, losing cause. Whenever he
enters D. fight he goes in to win.
With my aid he is going to be vic
torious in this county seat affair"
She spoke decisively. don't know
your sreal motive for coming here,
but presume YOU wanted to look
oyer the rival town and find out what
chance there was for Concord retain
ing its prestige" -
THAT was partly it," admitted Guy.
"But I also wished to attend the meet
ing and find out, if l. could, what
move your side intended to make"
.col. Keeyer suggested that, did he
not p" =, IS
Ut was suggested to me-"
"And you endeavored to follow out
this counsel against your better judg-
ment?"'
~ am very sorry now that I acted
on the suggestion at all"
You are too much of gentleman
for this sort of work, Mr. Herbert. A
county seat contest of this kind is
very .disagreeable affair.""
why should there ever. have been
. contest?t 81;
.s.That was because Concord stole
the county seat from Harmony in the
first place. The vote. was close and
the oanvassing board bought by Col.
Keever, threw out sufficient number
of Harmony votes to give the county
seat, to Concord."9 The blue eyss
snapped and the thin snostrils iilated.
For this reason the question 6as
been reopened, Mr.. Herbert and it ia
for this reason, also, that am heart
and soul in the conflict. / will have
no violence but Col. Keever may have
to be met with his own weapons in
order that right and justice may pre-
vail, We can be good enemies and
good friends as well, and after the
election" she smiles-"we will try
to forget. the disagreeable Incidents
OF the campaign"
with all my hearth" declared Guy.
She offered him sher hand and he
pressed the little palm cordially.
At that moment they heard running
feet along the road by the gate, an.
CRY shouts and now and then the re-
port of revolver Betty sprang up
and hurried to window
There's a mob in 'front.' she said,
quietly, but you need have no fears,
Mr. Herbert. You are just as safe
under this roof as you would be in
Concord
Guy greatly admired her calmness.
but she underestimate his courage
if she thought fora moment that ho
was frightened. Before he could re-
ply, Mr.. Yiandingham hurried into
the room, coming from the rear Of
the house. is - e.
I've gotta horse at the barn, Her,
bert, .all saddled, zbridled and watt
ing" he said, quickly " don't want
to alarm you. butt some OF those ras-
Gals ont there are drunk and Barney
has, told them everything. You'd beta
ter go. might be powerless to pro-
tect you"
Some one jingled the bell furiously.
A scufiing of feet and mutterine Of
hoarse voices came from the porch.
There they are said Betty. .Yoa
talk with them at the door. father.
while I show Mr.. Herbert where he
can find the Shorse.''
Vlandingham started for. the hall.
but paused, to reach out his hand to
Guy. s5ess i Il. 4,
- don't believe you knew, what kind
OF a hornets. nest You were going to
'get4into oyer here, Herbert. You've
got. Betty on your side, lean see that,
and don't lay up any. kard feelings.
ia. advise you, though, to give this