Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-05-23
CHAPTER ".

Guy had lonely ride back TO Com
cord over the broad. fiat. star-lit lands.
He could see the road dimly. lightish
streak cutting the darker turf Of the
plains. moist, lush smell arose from
the dewey grass and the croaking OF
frogs. the chirping Of crichets and the
resonant boom Of the bittern floating
from the sedge served only tointensify
the stiffness.
There was far more 20 this county
seat business than Guy had imagined.
Miss Betty felt that Harmony had been
cheated out Of is rights and that was
the cause Of her memorable stand ia
the present contest Two-thirds Of the
voter. in the county had signed peti.
ton for special election and il was
foregone conclusion that these two
thirds would vote for Harmony. With
out doubt this was the premise on
which Mr. Nlandingham and his daugh-
ter were building their hopes. but Guy
had information relative TO Col
Keever's imported voters He did not
snow what the voting Strength Of the
county was. but he was sure the
Colonel had been sharp enough o bring
in sufficient ballots 10 overcome the
two-thirdS ma iority The young man
did not fancy this phase Of The ques-
ton. although the entire contest was
gradually presenting itself 10 him as a
case Of diamond cut diamond. He had
been brought up in adherence Of
ways that are dark and tricks that
are vain" but now that he wa in Rome
why should he not emulate the Ro-
mans? To take any other stand was
equivalent 70 bankrupting himself. for
what chance would Concord have IL he
ordered the Coloners imported voters
out Of the town or permitted them TO
exercise the right Of franchise unin-
fuenced? II ordered away they might
flock 10 Harmony In body. and II per
mitted TO vote as they pleased they
might be subsidized by agents Of
Nlandingham The matter was deli
cate one and 20 be handled with ex-
IRENE caution. The temptation O look
out for himself at al costs was a pow
erful one and had not Miss Betty her
self said that il was right for him 20
DO all he could 10 keep the county seat
at Concord? Taking everything into
Sideration. Guy thoughtit would be
Wei 10 lay back on his oars. watch the
opposition and see what happened
He had number of thoughts con-
corning Miss Betty entirely apart from
the political question, and in the fair.
or fields where they were 10 esteem
each other as friends. These were
headstrong faucies and so wildly tint
ed with the hues Of youth that they
were more properly dreams and not 20
be chronicled.
Arrived at Concord Guy left the
horse at the livery barn and made his
way along he dark and deserted street
TO the Lisbon house.
This hotel was under the proprietor
ship Of a Portuguese. Being unable
TO pronounce his name. the people If
Concord rose up and bestowed upon
him the patronymic Of smith" Re
tanning his multitude az Christian
names, his fun title thus became Pedro
Fernando Jose Manuel Smith. This
was. Of course, altogether too long for
n pioneer community, and when Pedro
Fernando was not plain Smith he was
Pedro. or which was prac-
ticallv the same.
Almost any day Pedro might he seen
sitting in front Of his establishment,
wearing his white apron and square
white cap, his legs crossed. elbows on
his knee. complacently swinging his
foot and pulling at a corn
cob pipe. II was thus that Guy found
the proprietor when he came out from
breakfast on the morning after his
ride from Harmony.
The early train from the west had
Just stopped at the station as Guy
took chair on the porch and Lighted
a cigar.
quite an excitement when the
trains come in" observed Pedro.
so il seems" returned Guy. looking
at the little throng which had gath
cred on the platform and part Of which
was visible around the ends Of the sta
tion building. lie saw Mr.. Glimmer
and Lemuel Bilkins. among others. and
gave especial attention TO slender
youth whose fiery hair curled ringing
ly about the edges Of his old cap This
latter individual was throwing a can
vas bag into the open door Of the mail
car.
That's Sampson" ventured Pedro.