Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-08-05

both fixed on the prisoner.
"Careful!" warned the rival editor
IT have not come here in anger, Col
Keever, but az messenger of peace
wish to ask you to let bygones be
bygones. The wheel of fortune has
turned against you, but we are both
editors and the art preservative is the
tie that should bind us in good fellow.
ship. I am here to extend fraternal
hand and helpful one. Shall we bury
the Ratchet and smoke the pipe of
peace?"
Col. Keever was astounded. There
must be an Interior purpose back of
this show Of friondliness. That was
certain. 1t was equally certain, to
Keever's mind, that he had everything
to gain and nothing TO lose by meet
ing Dingle half way in these amicable
overtures. AS Dingle switched his re-
volver to his left hand and extended
his right Col. Keever graeped it with
great show of cordiality.
ut is not my nature, SIR" said the
great man, "to cherish luminosity.
True, you behold me now at the depth
of my fortunes, but always and ever
you will find me suaviteT in modo,
fortiter in re-
No one could say fine thing more
finely, and this delicate bit, culled by
the Colonel from the back of his die
tionary in leisure hour. was re ndered
with voice and gesture that brought
admiration into Dingle's eyes-even
the glass eye. The little man put away
his revolver and thoy both took seats
on the cot.
"The accomplishing manner in
which you bear this reverse" said
Dingle, "has touched me most pro-
foundry"
II can bear as well az forbear," re-
turned Col. Keever.
Il see you can, Colonel, and it's that
which shows your inherent nobility.
You are not the only Concord man
whom the Harmony people have in
their midst" Being Of the old school,
Col. Dingle chung to some of it's p.ati-
tudes. another Of your fellow towns
llSu has SAPSIlSuCCu IQ6
of war"
Another Concordian in this town."
exclaimed Keever.
Not in town, exactly, but out at
Whittaker's and being cared for by
one of our men,"
ITO whom do you refer?"
ITO Mr.. Guy Herbert"
"He is not Concord man, sir: he in
clines more toward Harmony than to-
ward his own town"
What do you mean by that?"
Every Samson has his Delilah," was
the others gloomy and significant re-
Spouse. Herbert has deserted to
you?"
NO; some of your people chased him
out Of Concord and pursued him into
company of Harmonyites. Shots
were fired, Afr. Herbert was hit"
"Hit! Not killed."
No, no; just wounded, that's all.
But isn't that enough? The affair
might have been infinitely worse. If
any one gets killed during this squab-
bic the governor of the territory will
take a hand and it will go hard with
all OF us. Miss Vlandingham saw the
shooting this morning and when Her
bert dropped from his horse, she rode
up to him, dismounted in twinkling
and raised his bead She was pale as
death and how she did lecture US! She
would have no violence, no bloodshed,
she declared, and she would have some-
thing to say to all of us after Mr.. Her
bert had been attended to. The some
thing she had ON her mind was spoken
only little while ago and to nearly
every man in town-all of us having
been summoned to her fathers house
for the purpose. l can't tell you all
she said. but reconciliation is the order
of the day. The fight for the county
seat Is to continue just as vigorously
but. if it can possibly be, Miss Wan
bingham desires that the struggle for
supremacy shall be good natured
one"
SIT can't be-" declared Keever, $50
long as you have the courthouse"
"It's young woman's dream, that's
what it is, an unsubstantial fancy.
Matters in this town. however, are run
about as Miss Vlandingham desires.
We wouldn't give up this courthouse,
though, even if she should order us
to-
Then the bitterness will continue,
sir, mark my words"
with me that was foregone con-
clusion. Nevertheless, was told off by
Miss Nlandingham to inaugurate her
new policy. l have reconciled myself
with you and an now to drive you back
to Concord, or as near Concord as
dare to CO."
II am free?" asked Col. Keever.
you are. My horse and gig are out
in front"
DO 1 take the records back with
me?"
you do not"
Col Keever sighed.
''In accepting my liberty at your
hands," said he, understand that I
make no promises"
THAT'S understood. Miss Vlanding-
ham presents her compliments, how
ever, and hopes that you will persuade
your fellow citizens to accept the olive
branch which she holds out to them
on behalf of Harmony"
when Miss Vlandingham sends the
olive branch to Concord nailed to the
courthouse, / give my word it will be
accepted" This from Col. Keever, with
dignity.