Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-06-13

turned sharply to the left and was
confronted by door bearing this
printed placard:
Office of the Blizzard,
Fearless Champion of the Rights OF Man,
In General
And of the Republican Party,
IN PARTICULAR.
Welcome.
EWipe your feet on the mat.
Guy scraped his shoes assiduously
and passed into the sanctum. One
would hardly have thought that in
such misty little cubby hole the
powerful mind of Archibald Keever
was wont to evolve those gems of edi-
torial wit which had made the Blizzard
venerated and feared all the way from
Fargo to Bismarck, and from Standing
Rock as far north as Turtle Mountain.
Yet such was the fact. Guy looked
about him with interest. Insurance
calendars, farming implement adver-
| tisements, cheap Autograph of Topsy
and another of Eliza pursued by blood
hounds did their little mite toward
covering the rough board walls. Two
| ten-penny nails, affixed to the board
wall by half their length, supported
white hat and cane. A window con-
tanning eight panes of dusty glass let
in a mellow light upon the great man
who sat at q desk, his profile to the
caller, and took no notice of him. Evil
IDENTIFY the editor was in the throes of
| composition.
| Guy had no desire to interrupt and
remained standing very quietly in the
center of the floor. Scratch, scratch,
scratch. bumped over that Anticipated
desk with his old steel pen, scraping
away as for dear life. What fire the
Colonel must have been throwing into
that editorial! Guy observed him curl
| ously.
| The Colonel was not tall, but rather
short. He was also very stout-s
pudgy man with an extremely pudgy
countenance. His face was red, the tip
of his nose nspicuously so. He wore
| gray and bristling and cut in the tierc-
est form compatible with high re-
| speciality. The better to show the
| Colonefs illustrious bumps, Nature had
| denuded Of hair the greater portion of
his scalp. Phrenology had been pas
time study of Guys, and he observed
how, beginning at the temples, the hir-
suite fringe bordered the ColonePs
| head, passing, at the back, no higher
than the topmost limits of philopro-
genitiveness. imperfectly developed.
Two small eyes, murky, but wide apart,
claimed Guys final attention.
The caller realized suddenly that he
had been in the office for quite con-
siderable period. If the Colonel could
not grant an interview, he might say
so, and Guy would call again. The
young man coughed. The Colonel
frowned heavily, raised his left hand
IN token of silence and scratched on.
Guy swung on his heel and started
for the door.
| Colonel" cried shrill voice.
Don't let him get away! Maybe he
wants to subscribed"
Guy was startled. He halted and
peered about the room, finally detect
ing cadaverous, ink-begrimed face
topped with a snarl of red hair The
face was peering into the sanctum from
the workroon through an unused
stovepipe hole cut in the partition.
The red haired boy grinned as he
caught Guys eye and lodged away to
escape paper-weight which the Colo
mel hurled at him. The Coloners aim
was bad, and Guy observed that the
opening was bordered with dents and
abrasions.
"By gad!" exclaimed the editor, an.
| grily. That imp has knocked the tar
out of one of the finest things have
set hand to in many Il day. If the peo-
pie ever find out what they lose on ac-
count of that grnccless cub, they'll
rise up as one man and hang him, no
doubt about it," WhirTing in his pivot
chair, he glowerel at his caller.
perhaps | had better go and come
back at some more convenient time
said Guy.
The mischief has been done, and
my inspiration is knocked into q
cooked hat answered the Colonel
softening. IF you wish to subscribe
for my excellent paper, two-fifty g
year, in advance, | shall be pleased tc
enter your name on the books"
Il presume ! am addressing Col
keever?"
You are Sir, you are"
II do not wish to subscribe, colonel
but came on other business"
The colonel looked disappointed
nevertheless he waved his hand hos
pitably toward chair.
Very well, sir, what can do TO,
your"
MY name is Herbert, Guy Herbert,
answered the young man. The othe,
acknowledged receipt of the informa
ton with a nod. You were the man
ager of the Townsite Company, were
you not?"
"Were!" cried the Colonel. II am, sir
at the present moment"
Three men owned the townsit e,
continued Guy: "Mr. Harlem Hyu xr,
--'->r~ev -