Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-07-04
CHAPTER WI.

CHAPTER vi.
Col. Keever was tremendously
wrought up. He was pacing the re-
stricted limits of his Office and toss
ing his arms and talking to himself,
SO wrathfully oblivious of his sur
roundings that he did not notice the
entrace of Guy and Sampson for sew
eral moments.
Occasionally the Colonel would
halt, glover at copy hook fastened
to the wall, shake his fist at it and
address it by such terms as infer
nal scoundrel." Contemplate cur"
and so on. Finally he jerked the
hook from the wall, cast. it on the
floor and set his heel on the sheets
that were strung upon it.
Great guns, Colonel" cried Samp-
son, you're spoilin' about dozens
stickfuls of copy"
"Oh. is it you, Sampson?" said the
Colonel, whirsing. "AIr. Herbert. l
want a word with you, sir He
picked up the hook with its attached
sheets and handed it to the printer.
$50 out and get to work on that, -
he said, shortly. Sampson vanished
into the workroom forthwith. "How
long have you been in this Office,
Mr.. Herbert?" asked the Colonel.
about two minutes" replied Guy.
"Fhen you witnessed my ebullition
of wrath. sir. and l beg your par
don. All, but have devil of tenn
per! / would fight at the drop of a
hat-possibly, sir, would jar the
hand that held the hat. It's my
southern breeding, l suppose; my
southern breeding, backed by long
years of slaughter in our late war.
am trying to outgrow my temper,
but success comes very slowly. Some
ancient philosopher said that every
man has wolf imprisoned In his
breast. / believe that, Herbert, and
l am trying to strange my own par
1 ticular wolf. It was the wolf that
hurled scorching words at that copy
hook and tore it from the wall, sir;
| not Keever-no, no, not Keever.
But" and the Colonel brought
his right fist down in his left palm
the wslf is going to have the up.
| per hand until l square accounts
with this. man Dingle.'
81 wouldn't do anything rash
Colonel" ventured Guy.
"Rash? Cad! What would you dc
if man struck you twice across the
face with his hat?"
knock him down. said Guy
promptly.
Precisely, and that's what any
man with an ordinary temper would
do. But that would only be half
way measure with me. / presume
you noticed that 1 did not knock
Dingle DOWN."
Il did," was the dry response.
II restrained myself, held myself
in check in order that | might take
a more terrible vengeance. Herbert
l am going to have Dingle's life!"
''Yon certainly are not
There, there! Don't try to argue
with me, for it is useless, utterl,
useless. have made up my mind
Let me assure you that l am M
(. stranger to the field of honor. Al
one time, sir, the code duello wa.
my wade mecum. I counted that da,
lost, Herbert, which passed withou
my calling some one out"
The Colonel pulled the brim of hi.
white stop" hat firmly down Over
his brow. In his estimation stiff
white hat was the acme of gentility
the crown and symbol of gentle
man. A stiff white hat, moreover
throws about its wearer politica
glamour, which was something no
to be ignored by the editor of tina
| justly celebrated sheet, the Concord
Blizzard The Colonel not only pulled
down the brim of his hat, but he but
toned the two lower buttons of hi
frock coat across his capacious stom
j ach, rested one elbow on the top o
his desk and swung his cane--swun.
| it slowly and relentlessly. His man
ner plainly stating that threats
prayers and entreaties would alik
be powerless to swerve him, Gu,
i thought best not to make anothe
4 attempt.
In little while the Colonel cease
swinging his cane long enough to in
dictate with the point of it a lette
| which lay open on the top of hi
desk
Read that, Herbert" he said; "b
CAD, you read that"
Guy cast his eyes down and rea
the following:
archibald Keever, Colonel so-called-
Sir: have been appointed a committee @
one to rid this territory of your banefl
presence. You have numbered the earth to
long, and shall be pleased to offer you
proof of my distinguished regard with
six-shooter at 20 PAGES. time and place t
be designated by you. My only stipulatio
Is that the place selected be equidIstanc
from Concord and Harmony. Reply b
post If you do not meet me. shall max
1t my pleasant duty to publicly chastis
you and denounce you as the arrant brag
CART that you are.
ISAAC DINGLE."
"That certainly has business-lik
sound" commented Guy.