The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-07-12
and declared he would "stop work

and declared he would "stop work.
if he didn't get it.
This was the last straw. The
Colonel's patience gave way and hot
words were passed between him and
his printer. And then-well, he
struck Sampson with his cane, and
Sampson hit him with chair, and
threw him into one corner, and
shook a fist in his face and vowed
revenge, r-r-revenge! After that,
Sampson went away in high dudgeon
and the Colonel picked himself up.
limped to his Office chair and sat
there for long time, bitterly re-
flecting. The sun went down, the
shadows of evening fell and still the
! Colonel's acute mind had found no
difficulties.
1t was at this iuncture that four
gentlemen from Harmony, all of
serious aspect and wearing black
SLOUGH hats, assembled the unsteady
stairs that led to the Office of the
Blizzard. And one was very tall, and
one had glass eye, and the third
stumped through life on wooden
pin, and the fourth carried an empty
sleeve. Business called them to Con-
cord and ill-fortune had prepared
the Colonel to greet them in recep-
tive mood.
The committee of ways and means
dark ways and questionable means
came at night as befitted doors of
ignoble deeds. Their two-seated car
riage and team were left at the edge
of town and they were unseen by
any save Sampson. He still had a
key to the worllroom and as they
entered by the front he entered at
the rear.
Col. Keever cherished no ill-feel-
ings and he greeted his callers cor
daily and humorously. Should he
put their names down for years
subscription to his invaluable paper,
two dollars a year, in advance.
No; the four gentlemen from Har-
mony had not called for any such
purpose.
Indeed! While his four callers
were unfortunate, in so far as they
resided in a town with such poor
outlook as Harmony, yet lack of
taste was not crime, and Col
Neever was glad to extend the right
hand of fellowship to Col. Dingle
Maj. Harp, Capt. Blue and Mr.
Boomer.
Col. Dingle, Maj. Harp, Capt. Blue
and Mr.. Boomer gratefully acknowl,
edged Col. Keever's amicable senti.
ments and begged to assure him OF
their own. coupled with slight of,
fering in the way of liquid refresh.
ments.
This preliminary matter arranged
to the voluble satisfaction of all
parties, Col. Dingle asked to know
if they were alone.
Col. Keever told him that they
could not be more utterly alone il
they were set down on the broad
bosom of the Sahara-with nothing
to drink.
Then they all laughed and clappet
Keever on the back and seemed tc
think it an excellent joke, and Col
keever became bland and facetious
and informed them again of his ever
lasting regard.
After this, Mr.. Boomer went to
the door and looked out on the land
ing and down the stairs and came
back seemingly satisfied.
Col. Dingle hitched his chair into
confidential proximity to Col
Keever's.
Colonel" he observed, carefully
Concord is the county seat of Good
will county,"
Col. Kecver replied that he had NJ
reason to dispute his honorable
friends statement. He concurred il
it fully.
Colonel" went on Dingle, "Har
mony would like to have the count,
seat
Keever averred loudly, in answe,
to this remark, that Col. Dingle wa
a truthful man and a man of un
doubted ability. They had had thei
little differences, of course, yet Col
Keever knew how to grant homo
where honor was due. When i
rained, Col. Dingle knew where to g
to keep out of the wet.
Dingle laughed, his natural ey,
glowed, and he nudged Keever witt
his elbow. The other three gentle
men Joined in the merriment, liqui'
refreshment was again bountifull,
administered and the good feeling
prevailed to an extent that was al
! most morbid.
Dingle hung languishingly o.
Keever's shoulder while the tire
others huddled about, anxious t
1 laugh at any joke however old. an
: silently imploring an opportunity t
1 express their unbounded atfectio
/. for everybody,
f "a special election has been Gale
f for the purpose of shifting the cour
+ ty seat from Concord to Harmony,
= Dingle resumed, land two-third
: vote is necessary to the consumms
n ton of such a change. Now it is in
c possible to deny that Harmony is
t favorite with two-thirds of the cou,
f ty, but we"-Dingle designated hin
self and his three companions-"tho
d oughly understand how utterly val
= it would be for Harmony to atteml
n to secure the county seat witho,
r. the good will and assistance of or
o whose ability is undoubted, who's
. virtues are the envy of his fellow
% men and whose congenial nature
~ ~.