The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-05-08
.sss''N 2, you don't!" said the young man,
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
Why was Miss Vlandingham there?
Was it possible that she, had not re-
ceiyed his message? These questions
flashed through Guys brain, but he had
no time to debate them. Pettibone,
sma rting under his summary treat
ment, was as near angry as he ever be-
came. L:~a- IL.
Pm good fellow all right, Her
BERT muttered the sheriff, .'but I'll
be dinged if I'm going to let you slam
me around like that. I can be socia BILE
and pleasant. if I want to, and 1 can
be the other thing, too"
| "You mustn't go out there" said
Guy, nodding his head toward the
beach
| "Shucks! Anyone would think, to
hear you talk, 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-" ,
IAN appointment, eh?"
eyes" IN T..
"Who made it?"
They did,
Funny thing that they should ap-
point this place and this particular
time" observed the sheriff, cynically.
Its coincidence, but I can't see
anything very humorous about it,"
TITS coincidence that doesn't COIN
eide"
I'm telling you the TRUTH" averred
Guy. flushing at this pointblank doubt
of his veracity: "They wanted me to
come out here alone and talk with them
on an important matter. The appoint
ment was made by letter, received this,
morning. Naturally I had no time to
inform Miss Vlandingham that 1 was
under surveillance and if she sees you
she'll think I brought you. You've
been capital fellow all along. Petit
bone. Be one now, can't you? Stay
here while I go out and talk with
| them"
And put up job for bea ting Con-
cord out of the county seat, Ell? Not
much! You're little the most pecul-
lar fellow I ever saw, Herbert. With
as big bunchof lots as you've got in
Concord you're willing to throw up
everything on account of chit of a
girl like Betty Vlandingham."
"See here" retorted Guy, warmly,
"Miss Vlandingham is lady, and not
the kind of a girl to try to put up a
| job, as you call it, with any one. I am
just as loyal to Concord as you are,
every whit. Heaven knows 1 ought to
be, for if we lose the county seat
shall be financial wreck and will
have to hunt around for somebody who
wants bookkeeper. Have a little rea-
son, Pettibone," Guy implored casting
a hasty glance in the direction of the
ladies and noting that Miss Vlanding-
ham was standing up in the buggy and
looking around perplexedly. IF dom t
go out pretty soon they'll think I'm
not coming. Stay here and keep quiet
and I'll give you block of lots"
| "You can't bride me-" answered Pet
tibone; land you can't go out there
either"
The steely flash shot into Guys eyes
and the lines frightened at the corners
of his mouth.
"You refuse to let me pass?" he de-
manded, as Pettibone stepped in front
of him.
II certainly do. Everybody in Con-
cord wanted you locked up, because,
as they said, you were running the
chances of the town with your CAD
ding about. But I says: No. He's a
young gentleman says I, and pair
of blue eyes have fascination for
him. says. I'll take him in tow and
watch him., says, and see to it that
he doesn't communicate with the en-
envy, with that particular enemy I
says, any more Now, that's what
I done, Herbert, and here you are,
first jump out of the box, trying to
get me into trouble. You don't go
out there, tell you flat.'
"And I tell you that 1 am going"
answered Guy, vehemently.
He made spring to the left with
the intention of darting past the
sheriff; but the latter was fully as
| anu Threw Q1mS61 Sideways,
catching Guys arm and clinging to
him like a leech. Painting, the two
stood for second and gazed at each
other.
Il don't wish to hurt you, Petit
bone," said Guy, in terse tone, "but
I assure you I am going out to talk
with Miss Vlandingham. I'll do moth
ing reasonable, 1 promise you that.
Won't you take the word of a gentle
MANI"
Pm not taking anybody's word
just now" was Petitioners obstinate
rejoinder. Here you are and here
you'll stay"
"Then look out for yourself"
With these words Guy closed with
the sheriff.. The young man had a
splendid muscular development,
which his appearance in measure
belied. He was likewise the possessor
of fair amount of fistic science and
wrestling skill which his quiet de-
| e.