Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-07-25

CutCAluB duy arm ana clnSlnS TO
him like leech. Painting, the two
stood fop second and gazed at each
other.
II don't wish to hurt you, Petit
bone," said Guy, in terse tone, "but
I assure you ] am going out to talk
with Miss Vlandingham. I'll do moth
ing reasonable, I promise you that.
Won't you take the word of gentle
man7"
I'm not taking anybody's word
just now" was Pettibone's obstinate
rejoinder. Here you are and here
you'll stay"
"Then look out for yourself"
With these words Guy closed with
tho sheriff. The young man had q
splendid muscular development,
which his appearance in measure
belied. He was likewise the possessor
OF fair amount OF fistic science and
wrestling skill which his quiet de-
meanor and modest bearing were far
from suggesting. A knowledge of all
this was quickly made manifest to
Psttibone and the realization that he
had met mora than his match was
about the last tangible thought he
had for several minutes. In twink
ling he was neatly thrown, and, in
falling, his head came in contact with
tree root, so that he was stunned
and his hold on Guy relaxed. After
contracting strongly, his limbs were
flung out with a jerk and he closed
his eyes and lay motionless.
Guy was alarmed at first, but when
he had pressed the tips of his fingers
through Pettibone's thick hair, and
felt tho skull at the point where it
had come in contact with the root,
his apprehension vanished. There
was nothing to worry over and the
sheriff would be himself again very
shortly. Removing Pettibone's coat,
Guy wrapped it up compactly and
placed it under his head; then he
hurried to the buggy, and secured tho
halter rope that was under the seat.
Coming back, he tied the sheriff's
hands behind him with one end of the
halter and secured the other end
about the tree beside whose trunk the
sheriff had fallen.
He worked rapidly, only few min
utes elapsing between his attack upon
Pettibone and his final work with the
halter. Without waiting an instant,
Guy pushed through the intervening
thicket and started down the grassy
descent toward the carriage.
Miss Betty, a yexed expression on
her pretty face had just frightened
the lines with one of her gloved hands
and taken the whip from its socket
with the other, when she saw Guy APP
preaching. The vexed look faued int o
a dazzling smile.
"Well, truant,. cried Miss Betty,
"did you remain away purposely to
punish us for being late??a
ranged and a wondering light came
into her eyes as she gazel At him. Miss
Pinkney was az reserved as usual al
though she smiled in friendly spirit
and evidently partook of her compan-
Ions curiosity.
II came as quickly as could, Miss
vlnndingham," answered Gyy, set
Ting his collar and arranging his
scarf. please pardon my disordered
appearance-it could not be helped"
You did not walk all the way here
from Concord, did you?" she queried.
no. The horse and buggy that
brought me are over there among the
trees. Your appointment was for four
O'Clock, if / remember
"Yes, and I would have been here
| punctually but for Lois. She misun-
derstood that part of our programme
and was late in getting to our house
TO accompany me. But here we are, Mt
last, and if we have not entirely ex-
hausted your patience, Mr.. Herbert,
perhaps had better proceed at once
with the matter which led me to seek
this interview"
| Pardon me just moment" Guy
had advanced to the forward wheel on
Miss Betty's side of the buggy. He
vas very close to her, and, in the few
times he had seen her, she had never
been more lovely in his eyes than she
was then. The breeze had brought a
fresh, ruddy color to her cheeks and
her broad brimmed straw hat was
most becoming. II was going to ask
gou," proceeded Guy, conscious of an
awkward pause, ''if you were at home
all the afternoon up to the time you
left to drive here?"
/ 81 was at home the entire after
+. noon,' answered Miss Betty.
i "And did you not.sreceiye my mes
sage?"
'.Your message?" she echoed.
4 Eyes. sent you a telegram"
"Then it was not delivered to me-"
"That's strange" mnrmured Guy.
"What was the message?"
Nothing very important"
i Messages are usually quite impor
tant if they are telegraphed."
II .should have said that it is not
very important now, so we need moi
/. concern ourselves any further about
4 it. As you said moment ago, you are
here, and Pm here, and we can tall
over the matter about which yol
wished to see me. What is it, Mis-:
| ylandingham?"
4 Possibly ! am acting treasonabl'
I part" she answered, thoughtfully
"but / have already told you how
nbhor any show OF force, or suggestion
of violence. The Concord people hav'
4 not taken course calculated to mol
lily the bitterness inseparable from
contest of this kind"
81 know that very well" said Guy, a