The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-08-22

the Colonel's scorching style, picking
the county commissioners to tatters
and then holding these remnants up
to public contumelY. The intrinsic
value of the article did not interest
Guy quite so much as something else.
He produced the note which Mr.. Wan
bingham had handed him at the town
meeting the night before-N. Bile
was measuring that scrap simply and
solely because of Miss Betty's pencile.l
message to her father at the bottom of
it. Turning the note over, he perused
the writing on the back, as he had done
once before that morning.
The chirography was a blotted
scrawl and the ink was purple in
color. Guy remembered that the ink
which the Colonel had Jared out of
it's stand on the preceding afternoon
was of that identical hue. Yet this
was not all. The writing on the back
of that note was the counterpart of a
fraction of the. leader, word for word,
comma for comma and exclamation
point for exclamation point. Had Guy
a piece of the copy" in his hands?
Was here clew to the identity of the
"broom man" mentioned by Barney?
"Jee-mi-nee!" broke from Pedro
Smith, as he got up from his chair.
"Here come three passengers from
the west. We don't get many from
that direction"
Guy thrust the note back into his
pocket and looked towards the sta
ton. The train had gone and the Gu
rious citizens were headed back to-
wards the business section of the
town. Lemuel was carrying the mail
sacks for Mr.. McQuilkin, task which
he performed proudly and regularly
for the mere glory of it; Sampson,
little time at his disposal now that
the weeks issue was out of the way,
had lighted cigarette and was saun-
tering leisurely; Mr.. Glimmer had
been expecting his wife's sister from
Bismarck, and it cannot be said that
he wore very disappointed look be-
cause she had failed to arrive. Waffle
was of the party, and his shadow, Bill
Comfort, and several more.
The attention of the group of citi-
zens was riveted upon the three ar
rivals who walked in advance and
headed for the hotel. Two of these
were women, ostensibly Sisters of
Charity, and closely yelled. The third
was man. under medium height and
enveloped from head to heels in gar
ment that was much too large for him.
His hat was drawn down over his fore
head and the collar of his ill-ftting
coat was turned up about his ears. The
attire was exceedingly warm for that
season of the year and Sampson
guyed the stranger in frequent asides
10 Lem Bilkins.
The Sisters of Charity passed into
the hotel, ushered by the obsequious
Pedro. The little man in the long coat
likewise entered the office and took
seat in one corner rigidly erect-and not
deigning to unbutton his coat. The cit
liens halted in front of the veranda to
stare and speculate-all save Bilkins,
who was due a the post Office.
"Cracly!" exclaimed Sampson, look
ing hard at Guy. The printer started
to say something more, but bit his
words off. short.
"What's the matter?" asked Guy,
wondering t the mystified expression
of the youths face.
ooh, nothing" replied Sampson,
backing away.
"My dear HERBERT" cooed the famil-
lar voice of Col. Keever, as that gen
tleman rounded the corner of the hotel
and advanced upon Guy precipitately.
"You look we'll" added the Colonel, sig
nificantly, dropping hand on the
young mans shoulder. Then he
stopped and whispered: Glow did you
come out?"
Before Guy could answer the little
man in the ill-fitting coat plunged out
on the veranda and halted at the
Co,onels side.
'Ha!" cried the little man, furiously.
81 have come into the jackal's lair to
pay my respects to the jackal-in-c chief.
Archibald Keever, you are an impudent
scoundrel, sir! You are an ill-man-
nered blackguard, sir! You have not
the first instinct of a gentleman. You
are coward, do you hear me? A cow
ard and a knave! My hat in your teeth,
sir!"
The little man jerked off his SLOUGH
hat revealing two eyes, one of which
cleaned classify at Guy while the other
Travelled up and down the full extent
of Col. Keever's anatomy; then the
blow fell across the Colonel's face.
1t all came about with paralyzing
suddenness. The crowd of Concordians
stared and gaped as though under some
baneful spell. The little man was Col
Ding,e, of Harmony! The next instant
Guy had leaped to his feet.
A shudder of nightly passion con-
vulsed Col. Keever. His hand tight
ened convulsively at the head of his
cane.
Sir" he shouted, "is it your inten-
ton to apply to me those hurting cpl
thets?"
Come to think of it afterwards, there
was little use of the Colonel's question;
but great minds often wish to be abso-
lutely certain of both horns of propo-
sition before taclSling the conclusion.
The little man laughed moclingly.