The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-05-01
CHAPTER VI-Continued

" yesterday was WOrkln' on the Sec
ton at Harmony. But got fired yes
terday mornin''
"Ah, hal" returned the Colonel.
blinking. Here was a deserter from
the enemy, man with a grievance.
"What do you want, Mr.. Hepburn"
Il suppose can talk before him all
right" answered Hepburn, nodding his
head in Guys direction. "He was the
chap that got out of Harmony last
night by the skin of his teeth
certainly you can talk before him."
said the Colonel.
us there anyone else to hear us?"
Hepburn's gaze continued to travel
around the sanctum, and his face be-
came anxious.
There's no one else to hear u.s.
answered the Colonel impatiently.
proceed, sir; proceed"
"Well, then want to sell some in
formation"
"What is it about?" queried the
Colonel, warily.
about Harmony"
"What's it worth?''
tits worth hundreds to you, mebby
thousands, and mebby it means the
county seat-I don't know. Iwant $40
for the information. Got to have
money to get to Jimtown. Amt never
going back to Harmony no more"
The Colonel laid his cane on top of
his desk, removed his hat and placed
it carefully beside the cane, and then
began to rub his hands.
what do you say?" asked Hepburn.
The Colonel looked toward Guy as
though expecting him to foot the bill.
II say No." said Guy. II don't want
your information, Mr.. Hepburn, "and
decline to hand over the price of your
treachery."
Hepburn appeared startled and the
Colonels jaw dropped systematically.
"Are you mad?" spluttered Keever.
Let me tell you, sir, that if you try
to run this county seat fight according
to any Sunday-school notions we'll be
beaten hands down.
"All right" returned Guy cheerfully.
cts not all right, sir,'' cried the
Colonel. 'You with your 1900 lots are
not the only man interested. There
are others. In behalf of the others"-
he drew bill from his pocket and
handed it to Hepburn-"I shall paw
Mr.. Hepburn the price of his treach-
cry, if you please"
''Then look to it that the money
doesn't come out of the Townsite
fund.-" warned Guy.
Col. Keever held his head very high
and refused to take any notice of these
words.
go on said he to Hepburn.
"Well," saide Hepburn, casting a
nervous glance at Guy, lone of Wand
ingham's hired men is a friend of
mine, and he told me what am goin'
to tell you. Cap'n Blue has formed a
company of twenty men, which he calls
the Harmony Invincibles. They're
drilling nearly all the time.''
els that all?''
THAT'S only half. The other half is
the biggest part of the news. There
are two spies in this town. They are
at the hotel now disguised as Sisters
OF Charity. One of them is Vlanding-
MANS daughter an t'other one is q
Miss Pinl<ney."
A cold chill swept along Guys
nerves. Had he known what was COM
ing he would have reached out and
choked the section man into silence.
The Colonel let off a roar of DELIGHT
and grabbed up his hat and cane.
Are you done, Hepburn" he cried,
in hot
former, wickedly, his hand on the
door knob.
It'll do, it'll do. Mind you keep
this to yourself, man."
"They'd hang me if I ever went back
to Harmony and they found it out"
Hepburn departed and the Colonel
turned to Guy.
Young man." said he, severely,
your notions of right and wrong are
exaggerated and out of place. But
for me those two items of information
would never have been delivered.
Vlandingham's daughter here at our
mercy! Cad, think of that!"
The Colonel started for the door
and Guy stepped quickly in front of
him.
what do you intend to do about
it?" asked Guy, quietly.
"Do?" clustered the Colonel. ''Why.
I'm going to have Pettibone, the sher-
if, arrest 'em both. Well hold 'em
as hostages. Vlandingham will have
to bargain with US for their release.
by CAD! Well make it cost him the
county seat!''
you'll do nothing of the kind" said
Guy, CLINT of steel coming into his
eyes.
"What's this?" cried the Colonel.
"By the eternal, it looks as though
you are playing into the hands of tho
enemy and that we have three trait
ors in camp instead of two"
Its immaterial how it looks to YOU.
will deal with these ladies at the
hotel"
mo, by CAD! Stand aside! Stand
aside, I say, or I'll brain you!"
The Colonel caught his cane bv the
7o1uar an1 and Ao,,r:ebo1 41,o