Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-06-20
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
Tho town meeting was held h Q va
cant room over tho Bee Hive store. So
far as Guy could make out, Harmony
and Concord were very much alike, ex-
cept that In Concord the business
places were ranged along main
street, while in Harmony they were
grouped about a vacant square. This
was a distinction without much of a
difference. The square, Mr.. vlanding-
ham informed Guy, was reserved for,
the courthouse. In the event that Har-
mony won the contest. Guy wondered
what he and Col Keever would do
with their courthouse.
y lamp burned in the entrance lead
ing up to the hall and stern-looking
man with u rifle over his arm blocked
the way.
How Is everything. Marley3" in
CURED Vhndingham.
"Nothin' suspicious SO fur, squire"
replied Marley, staring at Guy.
scot sentries posted all around this
building?"
Sure. No one that amt on the
square can come within block of It,"
"That's right"
Vlandingham and his party ascend
ed the stairs. At the top they passed
the scrutiny of another guard and en-
tered the meeting-room. There were
some 20 OF 30 men in the hall and
Vlandingham made for platform at
the farther end of the room, nodding
to citizens on either side and speak
Ing word here and there us he pro-
crossed.
'I'll introduce you all around after
the meeting is over" he whispered to
Guy. You'll want some lots, know
you will, and I'll see that you get
them, no matter what Betty says"
Guy had no time. just then. to once
more disavow any intention of pur-
chasing real estate in Harmony, for
Vlandingham was late and the impa-
tient people wasted not moment in
having the meeting called to order.
Guy sat on the platform with Wan
bingham, Col. Dingle, Maj. Harp, Capt.
Blue and Mr.. Boomer. These FIVE. as
Guy quickly learned. constituted
committee of safety and ways and
means. vlandingham was elected
chairman. and 40 they had no use for
a secretary the business wsa begun
Immediately.
The first man to get the floor was q
Mr.. Pinkney. Mr.. Pinkney was ex-
cited to hysterical degree. He shook
in body and limb and during his agi-
tated delivery of the matter that OPP
pressed him his voice broke often from
excess of wrath and indignation.
Business had called him to the east
ern side OF the county that day, Mr.
Chairman and fellow citizens, and in
returning he had driven boldly back
through the outskirts of that pitiful
excuse for town called Concord.
Yes, sir, and no one had dared to raise
n hand against him. And what do you
think he saw, Mr.. Chairman, what do
you think he saw with his own eyes?
AT this point Mr.. Pinkney gulped his
words, choked on them, and finally
managed to articulate hoarsely. Why,
on that rattle-trap of building which
the wretched Keever is erecting for a
courthouse, he actually saw weather.
vane, a monstrous thing which an
swered to no wind of heaven but
pointed ever and always in the direc-
ton of Harmony. And what was that
weather-vane, Mr.. Chairman and gen
tlemen, what was it? 1t was mans
head, sir, a mans head and hand, and
the hand was doing this, looking
straight toward Harmony all the time,
and doing this, doing this at their hon
orable chairman, at Col. Dingle Maj.
Harp, Capt. Blue and Mr.. Boomer!
Yes, gentlemen, doing this at all of
you!
Mr.. Pinkney made weather-vane of
himself for purposes of illustration.
With his thumb to his nose and his
trembling fingers outspread he direct
ed the opprobrious gesture at Wan
bingham, then in turn at each mem
Der of the committee of safety and
then at the entire meeting.
Guy was consumed with desire to
laugh, but suppressed it strenuously
1t was not q laughing matter for the
citizens In the hall, and not one de-
tected trace Of humor in the situa-
ton. A murmur Of rage swept through
the assemblage and Col. Dingle sprang
to his feet with fierce cry.
sThey are all hoodlums and rowdies
on the other side of the county," he
shouted, tossing his arms, land the
arch fiend who leads the rabble is that
schemer, that political trickster, that
preeminent rascal, Archibald Keever!"
In a twinkling the meeting was in
an uproar. Every citizen was talking
wildly and shaking his clenched fists.
Vlandingham pounded for order.
When measure of quiet finally oh.
tanned he spoke n few words himself
We must be quiet, we must be calm,
we must not allow our passions to run
away with us. Let us remember that
it is the cool head and the daring hand
that wins the day. They have flung
the gage at us and we will bear with
this insolence now and return it hun
dredfold. Col. Dingle, we will hear
from you"
Mr.. Pinkney sat down, and Col
Dingle, calming himself with painful
effort, declared that this gratuitous
insult could have been the work of
none other than Keever; that he came
from Kentucky, as did the aforesaid
Keever, and that he wanted the meet
ing to appoint him committee of one
to ride directly into town and slap the
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