Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-06-13

bert" Guy passed over and stood
beside him. "Behold my confidence
in the outcome" added the Colonel,
with sweep of his arm.
What Guy saw was a ten-by-ffteen
building in process of construction.
At least dozen men were working
upon 1t and even novice like Guy
could see that they were very much
In each others way.
"a lot OF carpenters for small
house like that" commented the
young man.
~ should say So" ohuckled the
Colonel. "Those men were brought
In from Unknown and they're voters,
every mothers son of them. I've got
others building roads and repairing
bridges" He closed one of his murky
little eyes, slowly and slyly. They'll
vote as tell them to, Mr.. Herbert,
and therell be enough of them to
kill Harmony too dead to skin" He
threw up the window. "Hello, there,
Jordan!" he called to man who was
working languidly with saw. "You
fellows are getting along altogether
too fast. Take lay-oR this after
noon" Instantly all work ceased,
tools were left where last used and
the 10 workmen hurried away in q
body. The Colonel closed the win
dow and beamed upon Guy compla-
Gently. "That's the courthouse
they're building" he added.
Rather small courthouse. isn't
it?"
"oh, It will grow, It will grow"
"Where does the money como
from?" inquired Guy, anxiously.
Don't worry about the money, my
boy I sold batch of lots to ten
derfoot few weeks ago, and it's
his money that's doing all this"
ut doesn't seem just right to rush
voters in In that way. Col. Keever."
"Anything's right that's successful
up in this territory. This is my lit
tie plan and of course Harmony isn't
laying back on its oars and waiting
for me to grab the persimmons.
vlandingham and his lieutenants,
Dingle, Harp, Blue and Boomer, are
going to do something, but just what
remains to be seen. They have q
/ town meeting over at Harmony to-
light to discuss ways and means for
,tting ahead of mel" The Colonel's
81. lie faded into look of trouble.
I'D give hundred dollars" said he,
to i-now what kind of scheme they
hatch up at that meeting. They'll
have lynx-eyed men on watch, how
ever, to make sure that no Concord
fellows get in"
The Colonel turned and wandered
refectively about the Office. Guy sat
down again and watched him
thoughtfully. Finally the Colonel
halted. thrust his thumbs into the
nrm holes of his vest and declared:
Herbert, you're the mani"
"The man for what?"
ITO run over to Harmony and take
in that meeting. You're stranger in
this section, and they won't know you
from Adam. Be careful. though, and
don't give yourself away. Feeling is
running high and both sides are ex-
ceeding,y bitter. If you were to be
found out you'd have a rough expert.
ence. Ever carry revolver?"
"No."
| "Then get one. l haven't anything
but the Office gun and can't spare that
"Col. Keever," said Guy, reddening
"I'm not going to make spy out Of
myself"
! "rush! tush! You're not doing a ny.
thing dishonorable. I'd cut my tongue
out before I'd counsel anything of that
i kind. You're high minded young
mani can see that at glance and
admire you for it. But those fellows
on the other side of the county are
| blackguards, every one of them. They
are aging their plans to steal the coun
! ty seat away from you and all you are
to do is to discover what their plan!
are, if possible, SO we may balk then
in their nefarious attempt. My boy
you have something like 1900 lots il
this town. That means fortune TO,
you if we can keep the county seat
five lose the county seat your lots will
be worth just what they'll bring TO,
farming purposes, and no more. No
is that the worst of it. Let Harmon,
win in this election and every man
woman and child now living in Concord
will pull up stakes and move over to tn
other town."
"They wouldn't leave their home
and their places of business, woult
they?" queried Guy, aghast.
Not much they wouldn't leave zen
they'd take 'em along. You coul,
put wheels under the national capito
|. and move it along hundred miles owe,
these prairies without Earring out {
brick or chunk of mortar. My wor'
for it, Mr.. Herbert, let Harmony vii
3 and there won't be so much as hen
coop left to mark the site of the pres
ent town of Concord"
''I'll CO." said Guy.
81 thought you would" returned TIL
Colonel, approvingly. "There's
freight down at $50. Take that"
"Copy. C-o-p-y!' bawled vote
through hole in the partition.
= The Colonel made dive for the pa
> per weight and the red-headed printe
vanished in flash.
= "I'll have to grind out some stuff TO
. that rascal, or he'll drive me crazyl
y exclaimed the Colonel, tossing hi
., hands.
y "Then won't bother you any long
- err" said Guy.
b Uvo,,,l hove +o he d;enraat 0went n