Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-08-15

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
key to the workroom 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 year, in advance.
No; the four gentlemen from Har-
mony had not called for any such
purpose.
Indeed! While his four callers
We're unfortunate, in so far as they
resided in a town with such a poor
outlook as Harmony, yet lack of
taste was not crime, and Col.
keever was glad to extend the right
hand of fellowship to Col. Dingle,
Maj. Harp, Capt. Blue and Mr.,
Boomer.
Col. Dingie, 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 a 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 tnla him that they
coula not be more utterly alone if
they were set down on the broad
bosom of the Sahara~-with nothing
to drink,
Then they all laughed and clapped
keever on the back and seemed to
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 leake,i out on the land
in. ana down the stairs and came
back seemingly satisfied.
"Al1 clear (o1op,l,. L.. aaia ..1
Col. Dingle hitehed his chair into
confidential proximity to Col.
Keever's.
"Colonel," he observed, carefully,
Concord IL the county seat of Good
will county"
Col. Kcever replied that he had no
reason to dispute his honorable
friends statement. He concurred in
it fully.
Colonel" went on psnsle, eHar-
mony we,Nhlld like to have the county
seat.S'
Reever averred loudly, in answer
to this remark, that Col. Dingle was
truthful man and man of I'M
doubted ability. They had had their
little differences, OF COURSE, yet Col.
Keevcr knew how TO grant honor
where honor was due. When it
rained, Col. Dingle knew where to go
to keep out of the wet.
Dingle laughed, his natural eye
glowed, and he nudged Keever with
his elbow. The other three gentle
men joined in the merriment, liquid
fefreshment was again bountifully
administered and the good feeling
prevailed to an extent that was al
most morbid.
Dingle hung languishingly on
Keever's shoulder while the three
others huddled about, anxious to
laugh at any joke however old, and
silently imploring an opportunity to
express their unbounded affection
for everybody.
"a special election has been called
for the purpose of shifting the coun-
W seat from Concord to Harmony"
Dingle resumed, land two-thirds
vote is necessary to the consumma-
ton of such change. Now it is i'm
possible to deny that Harmony is
favorite with two-thirds of the coun-
ty. but we'-Dingle designated him
self and his three companions-''th thor
oughly understand how utterly vain
it would be for Harmony to attempt
to secure the county seat without
the good will and assistance of one
whose ability is undoubted, whose
virtues are the envy of his fellow
men and whose congenial nature is
theme of general remark. In
short. Col. Archibald Keever, of Con-
cord"
Col. Keever smiled his qualification
and desired to state that it had
never been his extreme good fortune
to run across so truthful man as
Col. Dingle nor such a whole-souled,
appreciative set of companions as
had accompanied him; and he hoped
that, knowing him as they all did,
they would take this little apostro-
phe for what it was WORTH In the
meantime, as the national debt was
oppressive, why not give it another
lift?
The four gentlemen from Harmony
readily understood this hint and four
TASKS were stretched out stimuli
taneously towards Col. Kcever. The
latter bowed, and to the end that
none might feel aggrieved, paid due
and heightened attention to each
flask, supplementing each draught
with a peculiarly happy remark rela-