Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-03

wondering at the mystifed expression
of the youths face.
ooh, nothing" replied Sampson,
backing away.
"My dear HERBERT" cooed the famil-
lar voice of Col. Keever, as that gen.
tleman rounded the corner of the hotel
and advanced upon Guy precipitately.
"You look well,' added the Colonel sig.
nificantly, dropping hand on the
young mans shoulder. Then he
stopped and whispered: "How did you
come out?"
Before Guy could answer the little
man in the ill-fitting coat plunged out
on the veranda and halted at the
Colonels side.
Hal" cried the little man, furiously
"I have come into the jackals lair to
pay my respects to the jaclal-in-chief
Archibald Keeyer, you are an impudent
scoundrel, sir! You are an ill-man
nered blackguard, sir! You have not
the first instinct of gentleman. You
are a coward, do you hear me? A cow
ard and knave! My hat in your teeth,
sir!"
The little man jerked off his SLOUGH
hat revealing two eyes, one of which
cleaned CLASSIFY at Guy while the other
travelled up and down the full extent
of Col. Keever's anatomy; then the
blow fell across the Colonel's face.
1t all came about with paralyzing
audiences. The crowd of Concordians
stared and CAPPED as though under some
baneful spell. The little man was Col.
Dingle, of Harmony! The next instant
Guy had leaped to his feet.
shudder of nightly passion con-
vulsed Col. Keever. His hand tight
ened convulsively at the head of his
cane.
"Sir," he shouted, sis it your inten-
ton to apply to me those hurting cpl
thets?"
Come to think of it afterwards, there
was little use of the Colonel's question;
but great minds often wish to be abso-
lutely certain of both horns of propo-
sition before tackling the conclusion.
The little man laughed mockingly.
81 have coupled the word with n
blow!" he cried. "In order that you
may satisfy yourself l have made no
mistake, l will strike again, SO! The
Norther greets the Blizzard"
Again came that swishing blow with
the hat and Col. Keever, dazed for the
moment, famed imaginary flies from
before his face.
Its Dingle!" gasped Col. Keevers
hoarsely. Hold me, somebody! Hold
me, or 1 shall kill him!'
Mr.. Glimmer hurled himself into the
breach and caught Keever about the
waist, while Pedro Smith dashed out of
the hotel and threw himself upon Din
gle. Then, struggling Intellectually to
free themselves, the two Colonies
glared at each other.
"You are a sneak, sir. and coward,
sir!" screamed the editor of the
Norther.
Hold me tight, Glimmer," Kissed the
editor of the Blizzard through his
| grinding teeth. 81 am not myself!
me! If | We're to swoop down on that
misguided man nothing would be left
to tell the tale.'
LET him go!" cried Dingle, frantic
ally; 81 dare you to let him go!'
ga Harmony mani" howled the cit
liens. pushing angrily forward and
surrounding the diminutive person
with the glass eye.
"He must beIa spy!" roared voice
"String him up." echoed another.
Lynch him! lynch him! lynch
him!" swelled the chorus.
Stand back" shouted Guy, shout
dering his way to Dingle's side.
4 Get rope!" fumed the crowd
"Next to Nlandingham he's the worst
enemy this town has got! Make al
example of him!"
/ Guy halted in front of Dingle anc
kept the crush back with his strong
arms.
1--WE must get him out of here
! Pedro" said Guy, breathlessly. Il
we don't, some of these hot-head:
will get us all into trouble. Where
can we take him?"
: Eve got room upstairs that WE
can lock him in" replied Pedro, ane
: the people, catching the last words
voiced the fierce demand:
Lock him up! Put him under loci
and key until we decide what to d.
with him."
81 want to help you, Dingle." sail
Guy, in the little mans ear. Don
be foolish, go with us and we'll d.
what we can for you"
Dingle was sullenly defiant, but h
yielded to Guy and Pedro and accom-
panied them into the hotel and up tn
broad stairs leading to the secon'
floor, the crowd pushing and plung
; ing after them.
Rumors of the excitement ha,
, spread to the four quarters of tn
town and citizens came running from
every direction, adding their number
and their excitement to the tumult
: uous gathering in the hotel.
''Give the man show!" cried Chris
TOPPER Waffle, shrilly, springing upol