Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-07-22
CHAPTER xI.

Guy had an idea that he might tele-
graph Miss Vlandingham he would be
at Lake Elizabeth at four o'clock, but
that, through circumstances over
which he had no control, the sheriff
would accompany him. A little reflec-
ton convinced him that it would not
be vel: to send message of this kind;
so, instead of that, he sent the fol.
lowing:
please appoint another day, same
place"
This was tantamount to saying that
he would not be able to meet Miss
Betty Mt the rendezvous and Guy, high
ly pleased with the way he had gotten
around the difficulty, returned from
the telegraph office to the hotel. I'm
fortunately he did not observe that
Col. Kecver was in the freight depart
ment OF the depot, where he had come
to find out whether the "patent out
sides" for the next issue of the Biz
card had yet arrived. Unseen, the
Colonel overheard the young mans
colloquy with the operator. What the
great man did after that will soon APP
pear.
Pettibone Joined Guy at dinner. Aft
or the meal they smoked their cigars
! and chatted in friendly fashion until
three o'clock, when young Alec drove
high stopper and covered buggy
up to the hotel veranda. Guy and the
| sheriff Immediately got into the We
hicle and drove off, leaving young Alec
staring wistfully after them.
! Very soon the travellers were out
of town, and rolling rapidly along the
level road which, worn deeply into the
turf, was almost as hard and smooth
as asphalt. The sun had half descend
ed the western sky; a few yaporous
| clouds tioated overhead and balmy
wind blew from the northwest and
languidly rippled the grass and the
flowers. The whistle of robin and
the plaintive notes of meadow lark
thrilled through the scene, giving a
touch of melody to day.already per.
fect.
This is something like living" re-
marked Guy, again and again filling
his lungs to their fullest capacity with
the warm, sweet air.
That's what" assented Pettibone
III man was only out in these parts
for his health what time he coul6
have! God made the country, they
gay, and men make the town. Every.
things lovely until civilized people
come along, tickle the soil with pillow
and make it laugh wheat and oats, and
then the trouble begins. Seems like
the more nature smiles and shows hel
| good nature, the more unsociable PEG
pie become. Now, look there'-ant
the sheriff waved his hand toward the
stretch of prairie dotted with square:
of growing grain, each square pushing
the SHACK" of its owner as far TOWARD
its limits as possible-.'did you eve
see anything purifier? But there's ,
heart in every one of those shacks
Mr.. Herbert, that's bitter as gall owe,
this county seat question. And If i
wasn't that, it would be something
else. tell you, a human bein' hal
got to have q grievance to nurse, @,
fondle, or tuck away or put up on :
! pole and howl about, or he won't b.
contented. That's right"
"Why are the farmers so deeply in
terested in the county seat fight?"
"Aiost of 'em have lot or two i
town, so It's a poclsetbook affair wit
them. Those that haven't-any lots jus
take sides in order to have something
to quarrel about. The farmer tina
lives nearest to Concord is.a Concor
man, and the one closest to Harmon
is for that town tooth and nail. Sill
Whittaker-that's his house way owe
yender, you can see it just over tn
lash of my whip ,now--well, when h
first built his claim shanty it was rigl
square between the two towns, not
foot farther from Concord than it wa
from Harmony. For long time Si
= didn't know what to do for a grievant
(. and it worried him so that he hitche
his team to his shack one night an
] pulled it over onto the northeast co
ner of his hundred and sixty. Thi
brought him nearer Concord, see
When the county seat was located
Concord and things got fairly quiz
there, he was blue as milestone ii
T he hauled his shack across to IL
southwest corner of the quarter, al
that made Harmony man ont OF hiI