Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-05-15

COlOHtI, SOOJnlngly. You Wc1C
knocked down by that brute Of Dtngle.
Don't you remenber?"
"Oh, yes" returned Sampson, peer
ing at the open door of the closet and
rubbing his forehead in bewildered
way. did he escape?"
II should say he did, Sampson. How
did it happen? Tell us aboutit."
SWELL" replied Sampson, II heard
him hunting around in that closet and
l opened the door to see what he was
up to. After that there's blank kind
of mixed up with shooting stars, COM
cts and other bright things"
"Where did he hit your" inquired
Guy?"
"Give it up"
"That is exactly what Guy did. Either
the printer had had timely attack OF
heart failure or else he was shamming.
whats this?" asked Comfort who
had wandered into the closet and was
now standing with his eyes fixed on the
door. The next moment he stepped
back into the hall, pulled the door shut
and all could see that there was letter
fastened to one of the panels with
pin. The crowd surged forward
eagerly.
"'For that arch-conspirator Keev-
er, with the compliments of Col. Din
gle,'" read Mr.. Glimmer as he jerked
the note from the door and handed it
to the Colonel.
"Read it, Colonel" chorused the
crowd, palpitating with curiosity.
The Colonel tore off the end of the
envelope and drew out the inclosed
sheet. His eyes flashed fire as he
swept over the few lines the note con-
passion and his breast shook with his
labored breathing.
"Read it, read it," clamored the by
ISLANDERS.
moi" roared the Colonel. "This is
for me alone, for me. / have borne
with this contemplate cur beyond en-
durance. The villain! The rascal!
Let him look to himself now il he
can!"
The Colonel spun about on his heel
and made off ragefully as fast as he
was able. Sampson shot after him
and then the crowd disintegrated by
| twos and threes and drifted in the d.
rection of the post office, discussing
| the exciting events of the morning
and asking each other what that note
could possibly have contained to set
| the Colonel off at such tangent.
A favorable moment presenting
itself, Guy drew Pedro into the par
lor on the second floor.
"Those two Sisters of Charity are
staying in this hotel, aren't they, Mr..
Smith? 90 asked the young man.
eyes," replied Pedro.
"Where did they come from? Do
you know"
ST don't know a thing about them.
| They haven't spoken half dozen
| words to me-"
"Have you made any guess as to
what they are here for?''
"Some charity or other, suppose"
parlor. Tell them that a gentleman
who is charitably disposed would like
short interview with them"
Pedro's eyes opened wide as ne went
away to carry out Guys request.
Presently there was a rustic of gar
ments along the hall and the two Ia
dies, still deeply yelled, entered the
parlor. Guy bowed. They acknowl-
edged the greeting with slight
courtesy. Pedro was standing in the
door.
81 will join you in the office in a
few moments, Mr.. Smith," said Guy,
Significantly, and Pedro went away
disappointedly.
The young man waited until he
heard the proprietor's footsteps de-
scend the length of the stairs and
then advanced to one of the ladies and
handed her the chain which he had
found short time before.
"You must have the clasp repaired,
Miss Vlandingham," he said, in a low
tone.
Both ladies started back instructive
"; and then low laugh cam from
Miss Betty as she switched her veil
aside and revealed her smiling face.
"You are very kind, Mr.. Herbert"
said she, taking the bracelet. She
turned to her companion. "Lois, this
is the gentleman of whom { was tell
ing YOU. We are discovered, you see,
in spite of all our precautions, and
that proves that the best laid plans
of mice and maids gang aft agley. Mr..
Herbert, Miss Pinkney."
Miss Pinkney was treasured by her
companions confident manner and
likewise dropped her veil. She was a
darkly beautiful girl and, although
she seemed tri1e frightened, her
gaze was steady and her lips were
rigidly firm. She bowed formally.
Miss Pinkney," resumed Miss Bet
ty, sis very dear friend of mine,
and quite as determined to assist in
winning the county seat as lam"
"You have both been very reckless"
said Guy, gravely. ''The citizens of
Concord are exceedingly wrought up
over the events of the morning, and