Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-01
That's strange" murmured Guy.
What was the messare?"

That's strange" murmured Guy.
What was the message?"
Nothing very important"
Messages are usually quite impor.
tant If they are autographed"
81 should have said that it is not
very important now, so we need not
concern ourselves any further about
1t. As you said a moment ago, you are
here, and I'm here, and we can talk
over the matter about which you
wished to see me. What il It, Miss
VlandinghamT
Possibly am acting q treasonable
part" abe answered, thoughtfully,
"but i have already told you how
abhor any show of force, or suggestion
OF violence. The Concord people have
not taken course calculated to mol
lily the bitterness inseparable from
contest of this kind"
81 know that very WELL" said Guy, rs
Miss Betty paused. "Mnch of the evil
was done before I reached Concord
and, during the short time have been
in town, I have had no influence with
the citizens whatever" Guy smiled as
he said this, wondering what Miss Bot
ty would think if he told her the plain
truth of his situation. "If wish to do
anything that's really commendable,"
he added, I'm obliged to resort to
force and violence myself"
Miss Betty raised her eyebrows in
terrogatively, but Guy would not an
swer her unspoken question. In a
few moments he cursed his folly for
not doing SO while he had the oppor-
tunity. A woeful misunderstanding
would thus have been avoided.
II hope no unpleasantness has re-
suited from the timely aid you gave
those two Sisters of Charity?" said
Miss Betty, demurely.
II have only pleasure in the thought
that 1 was able to assist them" an
swered Guy, CALAMITY.
AS he spoke he fancied he heard a
noise in the underground behind him
and looked around hastily. He could
zee nothing to arouse his suspicious
and both Miss BETTY and her friend
followed his quick look with question
ing eyes.
"You were about to tell why you
wanted to see me. Miss Vending
ham, continued Guy, smothering
every symptom of alarm and looking
as calm and self-possessed as was pos
sible under the circumstances. ST
don't think you could be reasonable
if you tried"
''Indeed!" she exclaimed with a
smile. How do you know that l have
mot summoned YOU here to MAKE a
captive of you? How do yon know,
sir, that haven't horde of Harmony
people at my beck and call, lying in
ambush yopder?"
Guy laughed at the tragic afr she put
on to fit.the words.
3 81 am sure there are no Harmony
people over there" he replied, trying
to imagine what the sheriff was doing
by this time.
Nevertheless, you seem very nerv-
ous,' said Miss Betty. 'It is getting
late and you are anxious to start
homeward, can see very plainly, so
will hasten to finish tho business that
brought me-" Swapping with the whip
lash at wild rose blooming on the
verge of sandy beach and prairie sod.
she went on in a manner that was cap
tivatingly confidential. capt. Blus,
one of Harmony's most warlike citi-
zens has organized company of in
vincibles and is drilling them night and
day. There arc q score Of men in the
company and am very much afraid,
Mr.. Herbert, that possessing the
means for some headstrong piece Of
work will lead to the work being done.
| have tried to break up the Invinci-
bles, and to scatter them, but what
can one woman do against 20 armed
men2 They have defed me and declare
that they are organized to protect
their homes at the expense of their
lives, if need be. Now, Concord is taxi
ing just the course to make trouble
and arouse the Invlncibles to some-
thing overt and desperate. l was go
ing to ask you to use your influence
with your fellow townsmen and see
II you cannot impress upon thom the
expediency of more concihatory
course. And now you tell me that you
have no influence! am very sorry to
hear that, for / have grave fears of the
Inrincibles. If only" r
Miss Betty was interrupted by Q
quavering shout, instantly followed by
fiercer yells in voices of stronger tim
bre. Guys heart leaped into his
throat and he whirled about in the di-
rection from which the sounds came
This is trap for US, Betty!" cried
Miss Pinkney in startled tones. "Oh,
5IEslI5ESSzz,y -; -,
,,:;eAssW phg,,,
SXIgI0 .lX [