The Irish standard., 1902-06-14

THE IRISH ST
thinks Pm treacherous hound, who
disregarded her request and brought
you and Glimmer and Billlins-con-
found them-along with me-"
Much bitterness of spirit was mani
tested in Guys voice, and the sheriff
gave him his earnest attention.
You'll have plenty of chances to
explain" said he, land when Betty
Niandinsham finds out how she has
wronged you she'll think all the more
of you. Oh, know 'em! Twas that
way with me and Matilda. Why, we
used to quarrel every few days before
! we got married, and now look at US!
| lItched. by gee, and quarrelin' all the
! time" Pettibone chuckled to himself.
"You leave Vlandingham's girl alone
until we win this election, then waltz
over to Harmony and tell her you want
TO give her a dover interest in your
town. She'll snap you up too quick, see
| if she don't"
On reaching Concord, Guy went with
Pettibone TO put up his horse, and them
| they made for the hotel. Passing the
Emporium, they saw Mr.. Glimmer in
side holding forth to small and select
| gathering of citizens. Farther on. in
front of the drug store, was Lem Bill
kins. likewise engaged. When Guy
and Pettibone passed the second group,
| Ei.kins hushed his discourse, and every
man to whom he had been speaking
turned a glarng eye in Guys direction.
"It's very evident" remarked Guy,
that I'm prophet without honor in
my own town. Before long, however,
every one in Concord will see how
| greatly he was mistaken"
II hope they'll see that before they
| do anything to be sorry for" muttered
| Pettibone.
| Guy did not hear this, and perhaps it
was just as WE'LL
They had superb late supper of
| the kind which Pedro Smith husbanded
for strag glers-and during the meal,
and afterward as they sat smoking in
the office. the sheriff continually mani
tested the nervousness of his state of
mind. The slightest noise would
startle him. Once. at whirr of wheels
in the street, he sprang up and ran to
the door. returning in few moments
pale and tidgety.
"What's the matt with you, Petit
bone?" inquired Guy.
''l'm expecting something and am
afraid it's going to come"
"What is it?"
ga delegation of citizens looking for
YOU"
Guy laughed.
''That's giving you more concern
than it is me. Suppose we go to bed ?
If the delegation arrives after that [
hardly think they will dare to disturb
u.s."
The indignatio committee, if such
it might be called did not put in an a p
morning. Late in the afternoon of the
| following day. however, as Guy was
seated at the writing table in the hotel
office. struggling with letter of eX-
PLANTATION which he designed sending
to Miss Betty. five representative cit
liens presented themselves.
"Gee!" murmured Pettibone, despair
ingly: "here they are. Herbert"
Mr.. Pinney, the druggist, was one OF
of the livery stable; and Mr.. Glimmer,
Of the Emporium; and Mr.. Biggs, the
county trea surer-carrying tin box
and. last if not least, the rcdoubtab.e
Colonel.
The redoubtable Colonel had had "a
hours in which to recover his eGuipoise
and he had succeeded admirably. TO
look at him now, his white hat tipped
slightly over his right eye, the tip of
his cane planted firmly on the office
floor, one foot thrown over the other,
his frock coat caught together with the
two lower buttons and his left hand
thrust into his bosom-to look at him
thus, he gave no suggestion of his wild
struggle and eXhausting footrace OF
the preceding afternoon.
Guy minced into fine fragments the
doZenth sheet on which he had tried to
write. threw the pieces into a waste
who were grouped beside him. He
noted their grim and determined looks
and there was a portentous silence.
"The VOLTS legs performed excellent
service yesterday afternoon" re.
marked Guy. by way of breaking the
ice.
eve have not come here to discuss
that particular wo,f, SIR answered
the Colonc.. With an uneasy side glance
in the direction of his friends. can
other wolf is the object of this call. q
wolf in sleeps clothing, sir! A vol
with the outward guise of a loyal gen
tlcman. but with a heart Of"
"soft,y!" interrupted Guy. Don
forget how ] bumped you against the
partition the other day. If you made
me very angry. Colonel, / might dc
more than that"
The Coloners bosom began to heave
1t was the wolf, probably, seeking tt
get out, and show its white teeth. ant
snap. But the wolf did no more thar
shake its chin. for the Colonel calmet
the brute after a prodigious effort.
"Sir," went on the Colonel, huskily
"you are young and l will bear will
YOU. lam heading this delegation. thi
righteousiy indignant delegation
more in sorrow than in anger. "W,
| =