The Lamar register., 1902-07-23
Almost any day Pedro might b. seen

Almost any day Pedro might be sesr
sitting in front of his establishment
wearing his white apron and square
white cap. his legs crossed, elbows OF
his knee. complacently swinging his
suspended foot and putting at a corn
cob pipe. 1t was thus that Guy found
the proprietor when he came out from
breakfast on the morning after his
ride from Harmony.
The early train from the west had
just stopped at the station as Guy
took chair on the porch and lighted
cigar.
Quite an excitement when tbs
trains come in." observed Pedro.
$50 it seems" returned Guy, looking
at the little throng which had gath
cred on the platform and part of which
was visible around the ends of the sta
tion building. He saw Mr.. Glimmer
and Lemuel Bilkins, among others. and
gave especial attention to n slender
youth whose fiery hair curled fringing-
ly about the edges of his old cap. This
latter individual was throwing q can
vas bag into the open door of the mail
car
That's Sampson," ventured Pedro,
noting the direction of Guys gaze;
works for the Colonel. and is just
throwing on the east-bound bandle of
this weeks Blizzard. Here's copy
of it, II you'd like to run it over. It's
q mighty warm number-county seat
war is gettin' interestin'."
Pedro pulled the paper out from un-
der his apron and Guy examined it
lazily. There was red-hot leader. Ia
the Coloners scorching style. picking
the county commissioner to tatters
and then holding these remnants up
to public contumely. The intrinsic
value of the article did not interest
Guy quite so much as something else.
He produced the note which Mr.. Vlan-
bingham had handed him at the town
meeting the night before-N. Bile
was treasuring that scrap simply and
solely because of Miss Betty's penciled
message to her father at the bottom of
1t. Turning the note over, he perused
the writing on the back, as he had done
once before that morning.
The ehirography was . blotted
scrawl and the ink was purple in
color. Guy remembered that the ink
which the Colonel had Jared out of
It's stand on the preceding afternoon
was of that identical hue. Yet this
was not all. The writing on the back
of that note was the counterpart of
fraction of the leader, word for word,
comma for comma and exclamation
point for exclamation point. Had Guy
piece Of the copy" in his hands?
Was here clew to the identity of the
"broom man" mentioned by Barney?
"Jse-mi-nes!" broke from Pedro
Smith. as he got up from his chair.
Here come three passengers from
the west. We don't get many from
that direction"
Guy thrust the note back into his
pocket and looked towards the sta
tion. The train had gone and the GU
rious citizens were headed back to-
wards the business section of the
town. Lemuel was carrying the mail
sacks for Mr.. McQuilkin, a task which
he performed proudly and regularly
for the mere glory of 1t; Sampson. a
little time ut his disposal now that
the weeks issue was out of the way.
had lighted a cigarette and WAS saun-
tering leisureiy; Mr.. Glimmer had
been expecting his wife's sister from
Bismarck, and 1t cannot be said that
he wore a very disappointed look be-
cause she had failed to arrive. Waffle
was of the party, and his shadow, Bill
Comfort, and several more.
The attention of the group of siN-
zens WAS riveted upon the three ar
rivals who walked in advance and
headed for the hotel. Two of these
were women, ostensibly Sisters of
Charity, and closely veiled. The third
was . man, under medium height and
enveloped from head to heels In gar
ment that was much too large for him.
His hat was drawn down over his fore
cad and the collar of his ill-ftting
coat was turned up about his ears. The
attire was exceedingly warm for that
season of the year and Sampson
guyed the stranger in frequent asides
to Lem Bilkins.
The Sisters of Charity passed into
the hotel, ushered by the obsequious
Pedro. The little man in the long coat
likewise entered the Office and took
seat in one corner rigidly erect and not
deigning to unbutton his coat. The cit
izens halted in front of the veranda to
stare and specu!ate-all save Bilkins.
who was due at the post office.
'.Cracky!" exclaimed Sampson, look
ing hard at Guy. The printer started
to say something more, but bit his
words off short.
whats the matterr" asked Guy,
wondering at the mystified expression
of the youths face.
"oh, nothing" replied Sampson.
backing away.
my dear Hsrbertl" coosd. the famil-
iar voice of Col. Keevsr, as that gen.