Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-24

note you wrote to Nlandlngham.
You made a mistake when you used
the back of an old sheet of copy.
have identified that copy with a
| printed leader in the Blizzard and
the circumstantial evidence against
| you is complete
The red faded out of SIMPSONS
face and left it sickly white. His
frightened glances focueed upon the
sheriff for an instant, and then re-
| turned to Guy.
81 know" went on Guy, that you
assisted Col. Dingle to get out of
that closet in the hotel and | think
that you are also the confederate
who helped Barney to make his es-
cape"
Sampson moistened his dry lips
with his tongue.
I'm not saying word about any
thing" he observed, finally. what
are you going to do about it?"
II am merely going to advise you
to stop the trafficking' with the enemy.
If I promise not to turn you over to
Pettibone and tell the Concord people
what you have done, will you be a
good citizen after this?'
Sure" was the printers prompt
reply. He was greatly relieved and
showed it. "I'll do more than that and
give you this letter right now instead
of sneaking into the hotel and Slip
ping it under the door of your room
/ as | was going to do, after / went to
the post Office" Sampson took
1 square, pink envelope from the breast
/ of his coat and handed it to Guy.
"Vlandingham's hired man brought
that over to me at 10 o'clock last night.
He said he couldn't deliver it himself
/ as the sheriff was sleeping with one
eye open in front of your room door
and he wanted me to slip it into your
hands"
/ Guy looked at the superscription Of
the missive. The chirography was
/ graceful and distinctly feminine. OF
course he did not know who the letter
was from, but he could imagine, and
/ his eyes frightened and his face
flushed.
cts good thing you're going to
keep still about me-" grinned Samp-
son. "I'm not the only fellow who has
established communication with the
enemy"
He went away chuckling, while Guy
dropped the note quickly into his
breast pocket and waited for the sher-
iff to rejoin him.
Didn't he give you something's"
queried Pettibone, as they walked on.
Nothing of much Importance" an
swered Guy.
The sheriff was thoughtful for a
space and then asked abruptly:
''Did you ever see a duel, Mr.. Her
bert?"
what kind of duel?"
''One of the old-fashioned blood-and-
thunder kind. Guess you know about
as much how they did it as do. It's
in defiance of the law and suppose
I'll have to go out and linger around
even if don't do anything. You can
have your choice between being
locked up while ! am gone, or going
with me-
CPL go with you, Pettibone"
That's sensible. We may have a
little fun incidentally. Read that"
The sheriff fished folded paper out
of his pocket and Guy opened the
| sheet and read as follows:
1 Concord June 16, 'S5-Mr Richard Petit
| bone, Sheriff of Goodwill county, Concord
D. T.-Dear Sir: One who cherishes the
| law as the dearest of our country's insti-
| tutions, and who has become aware of a
terrible crime about to be committed, comes
| to You with these presents, asserting that
| challenge and acceptance to figth a duel
| have passed between two of the most
| worthy people of Goodwill county. Chal-
| lenge was issued from the editorial of
| flee Of the Norther and accepted in the
| sanctum Of the BliZzard-this, be it stated,
| In direct violation of paragraph 2sS, chap
| ter %, penal code of this territory. This
affair of honor, unless thwarted by eXer-
else of your authority, will take place at
i four o'clock in the afternoon of Wednes-
| day, June II, on the north shore Of Lake
| Elizabeth
"If you have decent regard for the
| peace and well-being of this community,
| let me supplicate you forthwith to take
such steps as may seem advisable for avert
ing an impending catastrophe. Proceed to
the scene of this intended crime and resort
to force. II necessary, in overturning the
sanguinary plans of the duelists.
"PRO BONO PUBLICO."
'"This states plainly enough that
the two Colonies are the principals in
the affair" said Guy. "The fact of
this proposed duel is no news to me,
however, as / already had knowledge
/ of it. from Col. Keever himself. Who
is this Pro Bono Publico, Il wonder?"
"You wonder, eh?" returned Petit
bone, with another of his winks.
Don't you know that there is only
one man in this town who could, or
| would, write letter of that kind?"
"Who is that?"
"Hold that letter close to your nose
and get good Whit of it,"
Printers ink" said Guy.
fright you are; the kind of print
er's ink they use on the Blizzard"
"You don't mean to say that Col.
| Keever wrote this letter himself?"
eyes, do"
"Why, he's simply furious and VOWS
that he'll have Dingle's life"
By this time they were at the Lisbon
| House and pettiboue with one hand