Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-06-27
CHAPTER v.

CHAPTER v.
The citizens Of Concord were stupi-
fed. That weatheryane was symbol
of their defiance Of the other town
and to have the hated Dingle come bra
zenly among them, insult their leader
in peculiarly irritating manner, es-
cape mysteriously while they were
wrangling over the method OF his pun
ishment, and flee with the grotesque
galvanized figure waving over his head
was enough to, paralyze the most rabid
partizan.
Christopher Waffle was Concord
man to the marrow of his bones; but
he had no love for Col. Keever-possi-
bly, because the Colonel had once over
charged him for threshing lad" Nor
had Waffle admired the Colone;'s handi-
work as exemplified in the weather.
vane. The judge had said that he was
coarse and brutally inso.ent and that
something would happen on account Of
1t for which they would be sorry. In
the present crisis the judge was first to
find his voice and he cried in tones vi
brant with certain kind Of Triumph:
Al told you so!"
"That's what Waff said all along"
supplemented Bill Comfort.
The swarm turned upon the Judge
wrathfully and Col. Keever shouted:
"And do you, sir, do you mean to
champion the cause of this contempti-
BILE sneak from the other side OF the
county?"
mo, never! But Dingle has done
this town service by making off with
that monstrosity."
"What?" gasped the crowd, glaring
at Waffle.
Bill Comfort planted himself at the
judges side and defiantly reiterated
the judges statement.
Col. Keever was red and wrathful. A
clash was impending and Guy pushed
his way between the impending fac
tons.
Enough OF this" said he. eve have
powerful enemy in Vlandingham
and we cannot hope to win unless we
present an undivided front. Instead of
contending amoung ourselves suppose
we inquire into the method of Col.
Dingle's escape? And sampson-we
are forgetting about him. He may be
severely hurt"
This was sufficient to turn the atten-
tion of the crowd into another chan
mel and Guy led the backward move
ment along the hal! to the spot where
the unfortunate printer was lying.
Sampson had not moved hairs
breath. He was fiat on his back, his
arms and legs sprawled out and his
eyes closed. There were no visible
marks of injury upon his face and Guy
dropped down on one knee and lifted
his head.
AS he did this Guy saw section Of
glittering gold chain on the floor under
the printer and he dropped one hand
over it and concealed 1t in his palm. No
one else had glimpsed the bit of jewelry
and Guys heart was in his throat the
instant his eyes fell on it. At favor
able moment he transferred the chain
to his pocket and continued his exam
nation of Sampson.
"Stand back!s commanded the
Colonel. "Giye him air! Get some
water, somebody! Gentlemen, gentle
men, that boy has been the trial OF my
life, but if he has been sacrificed by the
Yenomous Dingle, I'lloall the murderer
outsby gad! In face him with six
shooter, and, my word, for It, he'll be
carried off the field"
That awful threat silenced the by
ISLANDERS and forced them back, but
Guy saw Waffle nudge his engineer and
whisper something that made them
both grin sarcastically.
you'll not have toacall Dingle out,
Colonel" said Guy. tsampson's pulse
Is normal, and his heart strong, and
can't find wound on him"
Pedro arrived Just then with q glass
of ice water. In his excitement he
dashed the whole of 1T in the printers
face. The effect was instantaneous
and Sampson sat up, rolling his eyes
and splnttering.
"Who did lhat?" were his first words,
| Sampson" said the Colonel, tender.
ly, DO you know me9 Look, boy!"
"'course know you! Who hit me
with that bucket Of water, that's what
l want to find outl Nice way to treat
a man when he's DOWN."
Sampson got up energetically and
looked about him with indignant eyes
There, there, Samp," said the
/ Colonel, soothingly. "You were
knocked down by that brute Of Dingle
Don't you remember?",
".Qh, yes, returned Sampson, peer
ing at the open door Of the closet and
rubbing his forehead in . bewildered
Way did he escape"
~ should say he did, Sampson. How
did It happen2 Tell us aboutit,"
SWELL" replied Sampson, II heart
him hunting around in that closet ant
| I opened the door to see what he wa.
up to. After that there's blank kind
OF mixed up with shooting stars, com
cts and other bright things"
"Where did he hit you2" inquired
Guy2"
| "Give it up"
"That is exactly what Guy did. Eithe,
the printer had had timely attack o
heart failure or else he was shamming
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