The Irish standard., 1902-04-05
CHAPTER /.

Dakota Territory, on the noon train.
AS soon as he had removed the stains
of travel and eaten his luncheon, he
made haste to inquire his way to the
Office of the Concord blizzard. The
Blizzard was reckoned Il very potential
power throughout Dakota, and not to
have hear,! of it was synonymous with
being a stranger in that part of the
country. \ man named keevcr-Col.
Archibald Keever, if you please-pre-
sided over the dcstinies of the Blizzard.
He WIS also the guiding hand that
manipulated the affairs of the Con-
cord Townsite Company in those
booming times of IS. Guy had to do
with the Colonel on matters pertain
ing to the town, weighty matters so
far as Guy was concerned.
The building that harbored the
sanctum and its accompanying "plant"
was all unsightly two-story structure
covered with tar paper held in place
by strips of lath. A flight of crazy
stairs chung to the outside, and Guy,
somewhat doubtful of their stability,
laid hold of the hand rail and assembled
cautiously. AT the landing above he
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 Re publican Party,
IN PARTICULAR
Welcome.
IT, Wipe your feet on the mat.
Guy scraped his shoes assiduously
and passed into the sanctum. One
would hardly have thought that in
such a misty little cubby hole the
powerful mind of Archibald Keever
was wont to evolve those gems of edi-
toria 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 a cane. A window con-
tanning eight panes of dusty glass let
in mellow light upon the great man
who sat at desk, his profile to the
caller, and took no notice of him. Evil
IDENTIFY the editor was in the throcs 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 antiquated
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-a
pudgy man with an extremely pudgy
countcnance. His face was red, the tip
of his nose conspicuously so. He wore
mustache and chin whskers, both
gray and bristling and cut in the fierc-
est form compatible with high re-
speciality. The better to show the
Colonies illnstrious bumps, Nature had
denuded of hair the greater portion of
his scalp. Phrenology had been a pas
time study of Guys, and he observed
how, beginning at he temples, the hir-
suite fringe bordered the Colonel's
head, passing, at the back. no higher
than the topmost limits of philopro-
trpnitjVnnpSG inf :,
Two small eyes. murky, but wide apart,
claimed Guys tinalattcntion.
The caller realized suddenly that he
had been in TIL" Office for quite Il con-
siderable period. If the Colonel could
not grant an interview. he might say
so, and Guy would call again. The
young man cou"hcd. The Colonel
frowned heavily, raised his left hand
in token of silence and scratched on.
Guy swung on his heel and started
for he door.
"Colonel!" cried II shrll 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-hegrimcd face
topped with a snarl of red hair. The
face waspeeringinto the sanctum from
the worliroom through an unused
stovepipc hole cut in the Partition
The red haired boy grinned as he
caught Guys eye and lodged away to
escape papcr-weight which the Colo.
mel hurled at him. The Coloners aim
was bad, and Guy observed that the
opening was bordcrcd 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 a day. If the PEG.
pie ever find out what they lose on ac.
count of that gracelcss cub, they'll
rise up as one man and hang him, NO
doubt about it," WhirIing in his pivot
chair, he glowercd at his caller.
"Perhars | had better go and come
back at some more convenient time
said Guy.
"Ihe mischief has been done, and
my inspiration is knocked into g
cooked hat" answered the Colonel
softening. of you wish to subscribe
for my excellent paper, two-tifty O
year, i'll advance, l shall be pleased tc
enter your name on the books"
81 presume ! am addressing Col
kcever?"
You are sir, you are"
81 do not wish to subscribe, colonel
but came on other business"
The colonel looked disappointed
nevertheless he waved his hand hos