The Irish standard., 1902-04-26
His Friend,
The Enemy
BY WILLIAM WALLACE cooK
Copyright, 1901, by the $. $. Mcclure Coz
CHAPTER lll.-CoNT1NuED.
Author Of Rogers of Butte" THE Spur Of
Necessity, MIR. Fit, Astroloser," etc.

CHAPTER lll.-CoNTlNUED
"Please don't misunderstood me,
Mr.. Herbert" returned Miss Betty.
"My fathers ruling passion is real es-
tate. lie 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 mad not the slightest notion
he was harboring an enemy Miss
Betty laughed again. cat heart she
resumed, my father is one of the
noblest men in the world, but / cam
not remember that he ever cham
pioned losing cause. Whenever he
enters fight he goes in to win.
With my aid he is going to be VIC
torous in this county seat affair"
She spoke decisively. I don't know
your real motive for coming here,
but I presume you wanted to look
over the rival town and find out what
chance there was for Concord retaln-
ing its prestige"
THAT was partly it," admitted Guy.
"But also wished to attend the meet
ing and find out, if 1 could, what
move your side intended to malse.'
"Col Keever suggested that, did he
not?"
'lt was suggested to me-"
"And you endeavored to follow out
this counsel against your better judg-
ment?"
81 am very sorry now that l acted
on the suggestion at all"
"You are too much of a gentleman
for this sort of work, Mr.. Herbert. A
county seat contest of this kind is a
very disagreenble affair"
"Why should there ever have been
a contest?"
"That was because Concord stole
the county seat from Harmony in the
first place. The vote was close and
the canvassing board bought by Col.
Keever, threw out a sufficient number
of Harmony votes to give the county
seat to Concord" The blue eyes
snapped and the thin nostrls dilated.
"For this reason the question has
been reopened, Mr.. Herbert, and it is
for this reason, also, that 1 am heart
and soul in the conflict. 1 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 her 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 VI
and hurried to a window.
"There's Il mob in 'front.'" she said
Mr.. Herbert. You are just us saf,
under this roof as you would be il
Concord"
Guy greatly admired her calmness
but she underestimated his courag
if she thought for a moment that h
was frightened. Before he could re
ply, Mr. Vlandingham hurried int,
the room, coming from the rear o
the house.
"I'vc got horse at the barn, Her
bert. all snddled, bridled and wait
ing" ne said. quickly. 81 don't wan
to alarm you, but some of those ras
Gals out there are drunk and Barne
has told them everything. You'd bet
ter go. | might be powerlcss to pre-
tect YOU"
Some one jinglcd the bell furiousl,
A scul1ling of feet and muttering O
hoarse voices came from the porch.
"Thcre they are" said Betty. "Yo
talk with them at the door, father
while | show Mr.. Herbert where h
+ can find the horse"
Vlandngham started for the hal
but paused to reach out his hand
Guy.
81 don't believe you knew what kin
of hornets nest sou were going
get into over here. Herbert. You,
got Betty on your side, can see tha
and l don't lay up any hard feeling
I'd. advise you. though, to give tn
burg a wide berth in future. You Sc
hold the winning cards in this figl
and can afford to be magnanimous."
Guy wrung Vlandingham's hand ar
followed Betty outside to post whe,
horse was hitched. Untying the hs
ter he vaulted into the saddle. Bet
directed him how to go.
II hope shall see you again, Mi
vlandingham," he observed.
"You may see me when you least e
pect it," she answered.
''I will send the horse back to-mo
row."
"Any time that you find it convene
will be soon enough. Remember, ,
are enemies on county seat matters"
"And friends on all others?"
's1f you wish it,"
II do wish it. Good-by."
She waved her hand and he sped aw
into the night.
CHAPTER Nv.
Guy had lonely ride back to Co
cord over the broad, fiat, star-lit lant
He cou1d SEQ the road dim1v lirhti