Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-06-05

was that he was too easy going, toe
good natured. There were Spartan
fibers running through his makeup
but they were in evidence only on
extreme occasions.
ooh, I wouldn't make him any
trouble, Colonel" returned Petit
bone, soothingly. Hes young, you
know, and all young men are more
or less headstrong."
He's a traitor!" fumed the
Colonel. IF it hadn't been for him
Vlandingham's daughter wouldn't
have slipped through our fingers"
ST think she would, Colonel"
"No, sir!" raved the Colonel. CAR
rest that young rapscallion or I'll
chastise him here and now.'
The Colonel began to roll up his
coat sleeves, and Barney, coolly eye
ing him, made a wry grimace. Lay
ing the shotgun down on the seat,
Barney attempted to turn the car
riage and drive off. By this time,
however, the Colonel's words had
had an effect on his followers and
two of them caught the horses
heads. Pettibone, seeing that there
was nothing for him to do but to
act in his official capacity, ordered
Barney to get down. Barney obeyed
without any show of resistance and
! Pettibone marched off with him,
while Mr.. Glimmer took the team
and carriage back to the livery
stable.
During all this time Guy had been
overlooked. He remained in the vi
cinity long enough to note the out
come of the exciting little drama
and then slipped quietly away to
the hotel.
He was there an hour later. deep
ly engaged in ST. Paul paper, when
nervous little gentleman, wearing
pair of nose glasses, was led up
to him by Pedro Smith.
"Mr. HERBERT said Pedro, 'Mr.
Pinchbeck. Mr.. Pinchbeck has re-
Gently interested himself in our lit
tie city and he wishes to talk with
you concerning the outlook"
| Guy shook hands with Mr.. Pinch
beck, and the latter seated himself
at the young mans side while Pedro
drifted away toward the kitchen.
81 understand that you own near
ly all the vacant lots in this town,
Mr.. Herbert" observed Mr.. Pinch
beck. catching his glasses as they
dropped from his nose.
Guy nodded.
"Have you bought here recentlY"
ne asked.
"Quite recently
very much?''
ga Extraordinarily" Mr.. Pinch
beck caught his glasses again, fitted
them carefully to the bridge of his
nose and wrinkled his brows time or
two to satisfy himself that they would
hold 81 am to pay So, 900 for the block,
providing this town wins the county
seat fight"
"Ah, see. Your money is to be paid
back if we lose"
"Well-er-it hasn't really been paid
over, as yet. I have merely contract
for a deed. It's this way, Mr.. Herbert.
When the ballots are counted if they
show good safe majority for Concord
am to pay $4,000 to the workmen who
have been brought here to build roads,
bridges, ETC., and | am also to pay 1000
for that wooden she'll which is ulti-
mately to be the court house"
This Was a revelation to Guy. Here
was the "tenderfoot" about whom the
Colonel had told him. The Colonel,
however, had said nothing of condi-
tional bargain.
SIN case we lose the county seat, Mr..
Pinchbeck," said Guy, what would
happen?"
Mr.. Pinchbeck smiled. The mirthful
wrinkles disconnected his glasses and
thew evaded his hands and dropped into
his lap. The smile faded into look
of vexation as he picked up the glasses
and damned them back on the bridge OF
his nose.
"That's all right, Mr.. Herbert. I
have a contract with Vlandingham for
a block at the same figure in case his
, tewn wins"
Guy was startled.
s.Has Mr.. Vlandingham also imported
some voters?" he asked.
sUm-I don't know as ought to say
so, but he has run in a dot Of fellows
from Bismarck-the same number as
Keever brought in from Jimtown.
They're working somewhere around
Harmony, and will be in evidence on
election day.
'In case Harmony wins, you are 60
ing to pay Vlandingham's workmen. Is
that it?"
That's it,
'Col Keever said you were tender
foot, Mr.. Pinchbeck, but you certainly
do not act like one. No matter from
which direction the breeze comes, you
have an anchor to the windward."
Its just plain business, that's all"
returned Mr.. Pinchbeck, dashing has
hand to his face just in time to keep his
glasses there.