Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-05-02
His Friend,
The Enemy
BY WILLIAM WALLACE COOK
Author Of Rogers OF Butte The Spur Of
Necessity Mr.. Fit Astrooeer etc.
copyright, 1901, by the 5. 5. Mcclure Co..
CHA DTTD

sided over the dcStlnlcS OF the Bl/Iard.
He was also the guiding hand that
manipulated the affairs OF the Con
cord Townsite Company in those
booming times of IS. Guy had TO do
with the Colonel on matters pertain
ing TO the town, weighty matters SO
far as Guy was concerned.
The building that harbored the
sapctum and its accompanying plant
was an unsightly two-story structure
covered with tar paper held in place
by strips Of lath. \ flight Of crazy
stairs chung 10 the outside, and Guy,
somewhat doubtful of their stability.
laid hold Of the hand rail and assembled
cautiously At the landing above he
turned sharply TO the left and was
confronted by a door bearing this
printed placard:
ONCE Of the Blizzard
Fearless Champion of the Rights Of Man.
In General.
And OF the Republican Party.
is PARTICULAR.
Welcome.
ryW.pe your feet on tho mat.
Guy scraped his shoes os,iduously
would hardly have thought that in
such a misty little cubby hole the
powerful mind Of Archibald kccVcr
was wont TO evolve those gems of edi-
torial wit which had made the BLIZZARD
veneratcd and feared all tie way from
Fargo 10 Bismarck, and from Standing
Rock as far north as Turtle Mountain
30 Ia =
about him with interest. Insurance
calendars, farming implement adver-
tisements, a cheap Autograph of Topsy
and another Of Eliza pursued by blood
hounds did their little mite toward
covering the rough board walls. Two
ten-penny nails, affixed 10 the board
wall by half their length, supported
white hat and cane. a window con
tanning eight panes of dusty glass let
in mellow light upon the great man
who sat at desk. his profile TO the
caller, and took no notice Of him. Evil
IDENTIFY the editor was in the throes Of
composition.
Guy had no desire to interrupt and
remained standing very quietly in the
scratch. bumped over that Anticipated
desk with his old steel pen. scraping
away as for dear life. What fire the
Colonel must have been throwing into
that editorial! Guy observed him curl
ously.
The Colonel was not tall, but rather
short He was also very stout-a
L
countenance. His face was red, the tip
of his nose conSpicuously so. He wore
a mustache and chin whiskers, both
gray and bristling and cut in the fierc-
est form compatible with high re-
spectability. The better to show the
Coloners illustrious bumps, Nature had
denuded Of hair the greater portion Of
his scalp. Phrenology had been pas
time study Of Guys, and he observed
how, beginning at the temples, the hir
suite fringe bordered the Coloners
head. passing. at the back, no higher
than the topmost limits Of philopro-
genitiyeness, imperfectly developed.
Two small eyes, murky. but wide apart,
claimed Guys final attention.
The caller realized suddenly that he
had been in the Office for quite con-
siderable period. If the Colonel could
not grant an interview. he might say
so, and Guy would call again. The
young man coughed. The Colonel
frowned heavily, raised his left hand
in token Of silence and scratched on.
Guy swung on his heel and started
for the door
Colonel" cried shrill voice.
Don't let him get away! Maybe he
wants TO subscribed"
Guy was startled He halted and
peered about the room, finally detect
ing a cadaverous, ink-begrimed face
topped with a snarl Of red hair. The
face wa peering into the sanctum from
the workroom through an unused
stovepipc hole cut in the partition.
The red haired boy grinned as he
caught Guys eye and lodged away to
escape paper-weight which the Colo
mel hurled at him. The Colonel's aim
was bad. and Guy observed that the
opening was bordcred with dents and
abrasious.
"By gad!" exclaimed the editor, an
grily. THAT imp has knocked the tar
out OF one Of the finest things / have
set hand 10 in many day. If the peo-
pie ever find out what they lose on &C
count OF that gracelcss cub, they'll
rise up as one man and hang him, no
doubt about it," WhirIng in his pivot
chair, he glowered at his caller.
Perhaps l had better go and come
back at some more convenient time"
said Guy.
THE mischief has been done, and
my inspiration is knocked into a
cooked hat" answered the Colonel,
softening. eff you wish TO subscribe
for my excellent paper, two-fifty a
year. in advance, i shall be pleased 10
euter your name on the books"
81 presume ] am addressing Col
Keever?"
"You are sir, you are"
81 do not wish 10 subscribe, colonel,
but came on other business"
The colonel looked disappointed: