The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-04-17
'THE'P USIoN: r. RsDAY, APRIL ~ 1909.

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clenched fist down on his desk, with
q vim that made the ink leap out 81
its stand and Frustrated the pen
rack. What say the statutes?" he
demanded. "They expressly stipulate.
that the peoples will. with respect
to changing the Vocation of county
seats, shall be learned at the general
election directly following the pre-
sentation Of the petition praying for
such change. Now they have called a
special election. A sandbag game,
sir! Robbery, rank robbery!"
IF it's illegal, why can't it be
stopped?" asked Guy. ~ #
The Colonel's indignation dropped
away and he smiled indulgently.
'This is Dakota, my dear young
man. The Commissioners are under
the. thumb. of Vlandingham. But you
wait. Archibald Keever is to the fore
and the Blizzard lives! Well beat
them, tell YOU"
| "How?"
The Colonel tapped his brow sig
nifcantly. r.s@
ut requires a two-thirds vote to
capture the county seat away from
u.s." he replied. Il have arranged
matters SO that Harmony will never
be able to roll up a sufficient major
| ity.' The Colonel arose and walked
to the window. "Come here, Mr.. Her.
bert" City passed over and stood
beside him. Behold my confidence
in the outcome" added the Colonel,
with a sweep of his arm.
| What Guy saw was ten-by fifteen
building in process of construction
At least a dozen men were working
upon it and even novice like Guy
could see that they were very much
in each others way.
"a lot of carpenters for small
house like that" commented the
young man.
81 should say so,' chuckled the
Colonel. "Those men were brought
in from Jimtown and they're voters,
every mothers son of them. I've got
others building roads and repairing
bridges" He closed one of his murky
little eyes, slowly and slyly. They'll
vote as I tell them to, Mr.. Herbert,
and there'll be enough of them to
kill Harmony too dead to skin" He
threw up the window. "Hello, there,
Jordan!" he called to man who was
working languidly with a saw. "You
fellows are getting along altogether
too fast. Take a lay-of this after
noon." Instantly all work ceased,
tools were left where last used and
the IL workmen hurried away in a
body. The Colonel closed the win
dow and beamed upon Guy compla-
Gently. ''That's the courthouse
they're building," he added.
Rather a small courthouse, isn't
it?"
ooh, it will grow, it will grow
"Where does the money come
from?" inquired Guy, anxiously.
"Don't worry about the money, my
boy. I sold batch of lots to ten
derfoot few weeks ago, and it's
his money that's doing all this" s.
"It doesn't seem just right to rush
voters in in that way, Col. Keever."
"Anything's right that's successful
up in this territory. This is my lit
tie plan and of course Harmony isn't
laying back on it's oars and waiting
for me to grab the persimmons.
Vlandingham and his lieutenants,
Dingle, Harp, Blue and Boomer, are
going to do something, but just what
remains to be seen. They have a
town meeting over at Harmony to-
night to discuss ways and means for
getting ahead of me-" The Colonel's
smile faded into a look of trouble.
'I'd give hundred dollars" said he,
to know what kind of scheme they
hatch up at that meeting. They'll
have lynx-eyed men on watch, how
ever, to make sure that no Concord
fellows get in"
The Colonel turned and wandered
reflectively about the office. Guy sat
down again and watched him
thoughtfully. Finally the Colonel
halted, thrust his thumbs into the
arm holes of his vest and declared:
"Herbert, you're the mani"
"The man for what?"
''To run over to Harmony and take
in that meeting. You're stranger in
this section, and they won't kn ow you
from Adam. Be careful. though. and
don't give yourself away. Feeling is
running high and both sides are ex-
ceeding.y bitter. If you were to be
found out you'd have rough expert
ence Ever carry a revolver?"
"No.''
"Then get one. I haven't anything
but the office gun and can't spare that"
"Col. Keever," said Guy, reddening.
"I'm not going to make spy out OF
myself" -
"Tush! tush! You're not doing any,
thing dishonorable. I'd cut my tongue
out before I'd counsel anything of tha t
kind. You're high minded young
mani can see that at glance and I
admire you for it. But those fellows
on the other side Of the county are
| HI o1xr,1o orarv oro 81 4lor, TIL n