Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-08-08
This is news indeed!" exclaimed


tended doing with the courthouse to-
morrow. lie will see, then, that the
building was sacrificed 10 no pur-
pose"
Wont you sit down, Mr.. Bilkins ?"
asked Miss Betty.
I'D ruther stand" returned Lem
uel, fdgiting. III it's all the same
TO you, I'd ruther go right off, too"
you are in no danger, Mr.. Bilkins,"
went on Miss Betty. II give you my
word. Stand il you like. for l will
detain YOU only few moments. The
purloining or the courthouse was my
plan. l did not intend to steal 1t,
but after Harmony had legally ac-
quired the county seat ! was going
TO have the building paid for. Had
i not done this, l hardly see how n
clash could have been avoided, for
the Invincibles were organized and
drilled, and il was their avowed in
tention TO march upon Concord and
take the records by force. had alb
solutely no power over them. By
allowing them TO work off their ar
dor in a more theatrical way their
purpose was accomplished without
violence. We bear no Ill will toward
you or your people, and l had ar
ranged TO have the courthouse hauled
back 10 its original site in the early
hours OF the morning. am very
sorry, indeed, that you have made
this impossible. II YOU will remem-
Der what | have told you, however,
and tell your fellow-citizens about il,
they may perhaps accept the inten-
ton in lieu Of the deed"
Lem Bilkns, when the squire con-
Quoted him from the house and start
ed him homeward on his bicycle, APP
peared as one stunned. AS for Guy,
this fresh proof Of Miss Betty's con-
summate ability in managing a deli
cate situation merely increased his
admiration for her.
Next day came the crucial test,
and the nerves Of the entire county
were stretched 10 tightest tension.
There was much excitement in Har-
mony, and the squire was abroad all
day, not even returning home for his
luncheon. Miss Pinkney walked over
from the town and awaited the re-
turns in company with Miss Betty
and Guy.
Great was the CONSERVATION Of the
ladies when Barney, late in the aft
ernoon, arrived with the intelligence
that Amityville had gone solidly for
Concord.
"Why," cried Miss Betty, every
one Of the Amityville people signed
the petition for this election!"
And the squire gave Mr.. Landy
six lots" walled Miss Pinkney, who
was the picture Of despair.
"The squire wasn't liberal enough"
put in Guy, looking keenly at Miss
Betty II gave MIR. Landy two en-
tire blocks and distributed Concord
real estate TO every man, woman and
child in Amityville."
"You did that?" cried Miss Betty.
you, Mr.. HERBERT"
Miss Pinkney looked daggers at
Guy when he bowed in answer TO her
friends question.
II knew all along Miss Nlanding-
ham" said the young man, Just how
would GO That was one
reason why l did not want TO come
here yesterday. | have done what |
could for Concord, and. II seems. have
earned your displeasure."
Earned my displeasure!" she re-
peated, with a ripping laugh. Not !
a bit OF il! You were a foeman wor-
thy of our steel and l am almost as
glad you have won as I would have
been had Harmony achieved the VIC
tory"
"Betty!" gasped Miss Pnkney.
YOU are certainly beside yourself. |
Do you know what this means to |
your father, 10 mine, to all Of us? |
Oh, dear, dear, dear! l can't mag
me what we are all going TO do! And |
TO think that we were all so certain |
Of Amityville!"
THAT is where the joke comes in"
exclaimed Miss Betty. What a sur
prise this will be TO my father |
You've certainly won, Mr.. Herbert.
II was very clever and ! am proud |
of your success, believe me. Allow
me 10 congratulate you!"
She gave cry her hand.
Betty" cried Miss Pinkney,
'you're IA modern Tarpeia. The
idea OF you-you Of all the others
being happy because Concord won"
Miss Pinkney began drawing on her
gloves in an angry futter.
Lois" returned Miss Betty. "you
10 not understand, dear. / am not /
happy because Concord won, but be-
'ause Mr.. Herbert has come out Of /
the east, burdened with his inexperi-
ance, and worsted clique of old |
like my father and
yours"
Are YOU proud Of me for going
INTO the open market and buying
ro:es?" asked Guy.
"Hush!" she returned, raising an
forefnger THAT is too
hard name for something which
he great political parties never scru-
pie at doing IL was n case OF dia-
uond cut diamond. You Interested
he Amityville people in your town