Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-07-11

wrinkles disconnected HE glasses end
they eyaded his hands and dropped into
HE lap. The smila faded into looh
Of vexation az he piakad up the glasses
and TANNED them back on the bridge al
his nose,
"That's all right, Mr.. Herbert. !
have q contract with Vlandingham fop
Q block at the Same figure in case his
town wins"
Guy was startled
.sHas Mr.. vlandingham also imported
some votsrs9" he asked.
"Um-I don't know as I ought to saV
80, but he has run In . lot Of fellows
from Blsmarck-the same number as
Keevey brought In from Jimtown.
They're working somewhere around
Harmony, and will be In evidence on
election day"
"In case Harmony wilma. you are go
ing to pay ylandingham's workmen. Is
that it7"
"That's It."
''Col. Keever said you we're tender
foot, Mr.. Pinchbeck. but you certainly
do not act like one. No matter from
which direction the breeze comes, you
have an anchor to the windward."
"It's Just plain business, that's all
returned Mr. pinchbeck, dashing his
hand to his face Justin tina to keep his
glasses there.
SIS Mr.. vlandin9ha1b also building
q courthouse
"N-no. Idroye opersfrom Harmony
this morning and saw Vaandingham be-
fore I startsd. He's got something up
his sleeve. Ihardly know what, though.
He told me that fools build courthouses
aud wise men occupy them. don't
know as I ought to TEN 20 u this. being
q non-combatant, as you might say, but
I guess 1t won't do any harm. Wan
bingham is o deep one, but h1s daughter
is deeper still"
what do you know about Mise Wan
dingham7" asked Guy, With sudden In
terest. Mr.. Pinchbeck started to an
swer, but had to pause to grab his
glassss again. why don't you gee a
cnrd2" asked Guy. somewhat testify.
"Eh9"
"Tis 'sm on,s continued Guy, point
Ing to the glasses. 'If thsywers mine
they'd give me nervous pros tration. ]
don't know but they will any how"
| II get so mad sometimes" admitted
Mr.. Pinchbeck, "that feel as though I
could swear" He put the glassesi In his
pocket. "Nearsighted. you know, and
can't tell dog from wildcat across
the street,,
II was asking what you know about
| Miss Vlandingham?" said Guy.
$50 you were. Miss Vlandingham,
Mr.. Herbert, Is one OF the cleverest
young women I have evs,r seen. Her
mind is by far the brightest of any In
the rsvaltown. She'll give you the fight
/ of your life and I'm inclined to think
that her town will win. She'x girl OF
infinite resource that. the episode OF
this morning clearly illustrates the
spectacular way she hns OF doing
things. Gracious! Think of woman
deliberately donning. disguise and
coming deliberately into hotbed OF
partisanship like thitsl" Mr.. Pinch
beck seemed so overcome by the
thought that he found 1t impossible to
continue for several moments. "You
are young man without much expert.
ence, Mr.. Herbert" he said, finally, and
I'd like to give you word Of advice
Will you accept tin kindly spirt9"
/ Certainly, Mr.. l'inchbeck. VIVA,
have you to offer?'.
&. "Amityville is thef key to this county
seat situation. Oneilot of imported vot
ers will offset the.other and as Amity.
vile goes so goesthe election. Do yor
catch on9 ~
i 81 think do.~
4 Personally, I have little choice be.
tween Concord and Harmony. Still
my profits, If this town is victorious
will be slightly greater. as the blocks
are four lots larger. Hence this tip, MI
Herbert. Get Q county map aud study
It."
1 MI. Pinohbeck got up, walked ovel
TO the cigar case and took out cigar
laying nickel in the box for such pur.
pose made and provided.
The principle OF gain was too firmly
wrought into Mr.. Pinchbeck's ma.
ture for Guy to estimate him very high.
II as man, but he had furnished the
youth with good deal Of mental pab.
u1um.
Every makeshift and design in the
rival towns appeared to cluster about
the personality OF Miss Betty-Mis,
Betty with her Titan hair and melting
eyes-ss dauntless as she was charm,
ing, as brave as she was resourceful
She had met Col. Keever's most diplo.
matic move, bringing In voters from
Bismarck to offset those from James
town. The contest was assuming pro.
portions which made Guy extremely du
bious Of the result. Miss Betty was like
" to win the county seat away from
him and his heart along whit. After
an hours fruitless reflection Guy Dor.
rowed county map of Pedro, fortified
himself with good cigar and went up
to his room to consider the question OF
Amityville.
This village was the only other town
In Goodwill county. A marginal note
on the map informed Guy that its pop.
ulation was only about thirty-five
These thirty-fve were undoubtedly "
vorable to Harmony, for Amityville1 a
to the west of that town and co, !, .,
quently nearer to 1t than to Com .or
In order for Harmony to presents /, pet
ton containing the names Of tw
thirds Of the qualified voters IN Il
county. AmityyiLe must have