Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-07-25
cHAprER xr1.

Why was Miss Vlandingham there?
Was 1t possible that she had not re-
ceiyed his message? These questions
flashed through Guys brain, but he had
no time to debate them. Psttibons,
smarting under his summary treat
ment, was as near angry az he ever be-
came.
I'm good fellow all right, Hor-
bert muttered the sheriff, "bAt I'll
be dinged if I'm going to let you Sian
me around like that. I can be xociab!s
and pleasant, if I want to, and can
be the other thing, too"
"You mustn't go out there" eaid
Guy, nodding his head toward the
4 beach.
"Shucks! Anyone would think, to
hear you tax, that I'm the prisoner
and you're the sheriff. You can't boss
me, no stree"
"Look here, Pettibone," returned
Guy, earnestly, there's no need Of our
having particle Of difficulty. Those
ladies have come here to meet me"
An appointment, eh?"
Eyes"
"Who made it 2"
"They did,
"Funny thing that they should ap-
point this place and this Particular
time" observed the sheriff, oynioally.
"It's coincidence, but Ican't see
anything very humorous about It,"
"It's- a coincidence that doesn't coin
/ eide"
"Fm telling you the truth" eysrrod
Guy. flushing at this pointblank doubt
of his veracity. "They wanted me to
come out here alone and talk with tham
on an important matter. The appoint
ment was made by letter, received this
morning. Naturally I had no time 70
inform Miss Vlandingham that I wsa
under surveillance and II she sees you
she'll think I brought you. Ysu'ys
been capital fellow all along, Pstt-
bone. Be one now, can't yoa? stay
here while 60 out and talk Will
them"
"And put up Job for beating Con
cord out OF the county seat, eh? Not
much! You're little the most pseul
lar fellow ever saw, Herbert. Will
as big bunch OF lots - you've got ir
Concord you're willing to throw VI
everything on account Of chit Of 9
girl like Betty Vlandingham."
"See here" retorted Guy, warmly
"Miss Yiandingham is lady. and not
the kind of girl to try to put up {
job, as you call it, with any one. an
| just as loyal to Concord as you are
every whit. Heaven knows ought t.
| be, Tor if we lose the county seat
shall be a financial wreck and vii
have to hunt around for some body wht
1 wants a bookkeeper. Have alittie rea
son, Rettihone," Guy imp,ored, casting
IN hasty glance in the direction of thu
ladies and noting that Miss V.anding
ham was standing up in the buggy an.
looking around perplexedly. "If dom
go out pretty coon they'll think In
not coming. Stay here and keep quie
and I'll give you block Of lots
"You can't bride me- answered Pet
tibone; .and you can't so out Their
either"
The steely flash shot into Guys eye
and the lines frightened at the corner
of his mouth.
you refuse to let me pass?" he dc
manded, as Pettibone stepped in from
of him.
ST certainly do. Everybody In Coz
cord wanted you locked up, because
as they said, you were running TIL
chances of the town with your CAD
ding about. But ] says: No. He's
young gentleman says /, and pal
of blue eyes have fascination 70
him. says. IN take him in tow an
watch him, says, and see to it tha
he doesn't communicate with the er
envy, with that particular enemy
says, :any more Now, that's wha
! done, Herbert, and here you arr
first jump out of the box, trying t
get me into trouble. You don't G
out there, l tell you fat
"And ! tell you that l am going,
answered Guy, yehemently.
T. He made spring to the left wit
\ the intention Of darting past tn