Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-01
CHAPTER XII.

Guy had an idea that he might tele-
graph Miss Vlandingham he would be
at Lake Elizabeth at four o'clock, but
that. through circumstances over
which he had no control, the sheriff
would accompany him. A little ref1ec-
ton convinced him that it would not
be we'll to send message of this kind;
SO, instead of that, he sent the fol-
lowing:
please appoint another day, same
place"
This was tantamount to saying that
he would not be able to meet Miss
Betty at the rendezvous and Guy, high
ly pleased with the way he had gotten
around the difficulty, returned from
the telegraph office to the hotel. I'm
fortunately he did not observe that
Col. Keever was in the freight depart
ment of the depot, where he had come
to find out whether the patent out
sides" for the next issue Of the Biz
zard had yet arrived. Unseen, the
Colonel overheard the young mans
colloquy with the operator. What the
great man did after that will soon APP
pear.
Pettibone joined Guy at dinner. Aft
er the meal they smoked their cigars
and chatted in friendly fashion until
three o'clock, when young Alec drove
high stopper and a covered buggy
up to the hotel veranda. Guy and the
sheriff immediately got into the We
hicle and drove Of, leaving young Alec
staring wistfully after them.
Very soon the travellers were out
of town, and rolling rapidly along the
level road which, worn deeply into the
turf, was almost as hard and smooth
as asphalt. The sun had half descend
ed the western sky; few vaporous
clouds hoated overhead and balmy
wind blew from the northwest and
languidly riPpied the grass and the
flowers. The whistle of robin and
the Plaintive notes of meadow lark
thrilled through the scene, giving a
tolcn OF melody to day already per-
feet.
This is something like living" re-
marked Guy, again and again filing
his lungs to their fullest capacity with
the warm, sweet air.
That's what" assented Pettibone.
IF man was only out in these parts
for his health what a time he could
have! God made the country, they
say, and men make the town. Every
things lovely until civilized people
come along, tickle the soil with plow
and make it laugh wheat and oats, and
then the trouble begins. Seems like
the more nature smiles and shows her
good nature, the more unsociable peo-
pie become. Now, look there"-and
the sheriff waved his hand toward the
stretch of prairie dotted with squares
Of growing grain, each square pushing
the shack" Of its owner as far toward
its limits as possible-"did you ever
see anything purifier? But there's
heart In every one of those shacks.
Mr.. Herbert, that's bitter as gall over
this county seat question. And If it
wasn't that, it would be something
else. tell you, a human bein' has
got to have grievance to nurse, or
fondle, or tuck away, or put up on
pole ana howl about, or he won't be
contented. That's right"
'Why are the farmers so deeply in
terested in the county seat fght?"
"Most of 'em have a lot or two in
town, so it's pocketbook affair with
them. Those that haven't any lots just
take sides in order to have something
to quarrel about. The farmer that
lives nearest to Concord is Concord
man, and the one closest to Harmony
is for that town tooth and nail. sile
Whittaker-that's his house way over
yender, you can see 1t just over the
lash OF my whip now--well, when he
first built his claim shanty it was right
square between the two towns, not a