Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-03

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
cigar.
"Quite an excitement when the
trains come in" observed Pedro.
$50 it 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
ton building. He saw Mr.. Glimmer
and Lemuel Bilkins among Others and
gave especial attention to slender
youth whose fiery hair curled fringing
ly about the edges of his old cap. This
latter individual was throwing cam
vas bag into the open door of the mail
car.
That's Sampson" ventured Pedro,
noting the direction of Guys gaze;
"works for the Colonel, and is just
throwing on the east-bound bundle of
this weeks Blizza ID. Here's a copy
of it, if you'd like to run it over. It's
mighty warm number-county seat
war is gettin' intel estin'."
Pedro pulled the paper out from un-
der his apron and Guy examined it
1azily. There was a red-hot leader, i'll
the Colonel's scorching style, picking
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 treasuring that scrap simply and
solely because of Miss Betty's penciled
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
fraction of the leader, word for word,
comma for comma and exclamation
point for exclamation point. Had Guy
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, a
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
/
| 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 anc
/ headed for the hotel Two of thes,
were women ostancih1v Sisters ~
/ Charity, and closely yelled. The third
was man, under medium height ant
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-fittins
coat was turned up about his ears. Thu
attire was exceedingly warm for tina
season of the year and Sampson
guyed the stranger in frequent aside
to Lem Bilkins.
The Sisters of Charity passed int
the hotel, ushered by the obsequiou
Pedro. The little man in the long Goa
likewise entered the Office and took
seat in one corner rigidly erect and no
deigning to unbutton his coat. The cit
liens halted in front of the veranda t.
stare and speculate-all save Bilkins
who was due at the post Office.
"Cracky!" exclaimed Sampson, look
ing hard at Guy. The printer starte
to say something more, but bit hi
words off short.
''What's the matter?" asked Guy
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