The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-04-17

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Vlandingham made for platform at
the farther end Of the room, nodding
to citizens on either side and speak
ing word here and there as he pro
crossed. T. "
| "1'll introduce you all around after
the meeting is over" he whispered to
Guy. you'll want some lots, / know
you will, and I'll see, that you get
them, no matter what Betty says
Guy had no time, just then, to once
more disavow any intention of pur-
chasing real estate in Harmony, for
Vlandingham was late and the impa-
tient people wasted not a moment in
having the meeting called to order.
Guy sat on the platform with Wan
bingham, Col. Dingle, Maj. Harp, Capt.
Blue and Mr.. Boomer. These five, as
Guy quickly learned, constituted a
committee of safety and ways and
means. Vlandingham was elected
chairman, and as they had no use for
secretary the business was begun
Immediately.
The first man to get the floor was
Mr.. Pinkney. Mr.. Pinlzney was ex-
cited to hysterical degree. He shook
in body and limb and during his agi-
tated delivery of the matter that op-
pressed him his voice broke often from
excess of wrath and Indignation.
Business had called him to the east
ern side of the county that day, Mr..
Chairman and fellow citizens, and in
returning he had driven boldly back
through the outskirts of that pitiful
excuse for town called Concord
| Yes, sir, and no one had dared to raise
hand against him. And what do you
think he saw, Mr.. Chairman, what do
you think he saw with his own eyes?
At this point Mr.. Pinkney gulped his
words, choked on them, and finally
managed to articulate hoarsely. Why,
on that rattle-trap of a building which
the wretched Keever is erecting for
courthouse, he actually saw a weather.
vane, monstrous thing which an
swered to no wind of heaven but
pointed ever and always in the direc-
ton of Harmony. And what was that
weather-vane, Mr.. Chairman and gen
tlemen, what was it? It was a mans
head, sir, mans head and hand, and
the hand was doing this, looking
straight toward Harmony all the time,
and doing this, doing this at their hon
orable chairman, at Col. Dingle, Mai.
Harp, Capt. Blue and Mr. Boomer!
Yes, gentlemen, doing this at all of
you!
Mr.. Pinkney made a weather-vane of
himself for purposes of illustration
| With his thumb to his nose and his
trembling fingers outspread he direct
ed the opprobrious gesture at Wan
bingham, then in turn at each men,
Der of the committee of safety and
then at the entire meeting.
Guy was consumed with a desire to
laugh, but suppressed it strenuously.
1t was not laughing matter for the
citizens in the hall, and not one de-
tected a trace of humor in the situa-
ton. A murmur of rage swept through
the assemblage and Col. Dingle sprang
to his feet with fierce cry.
"They are all hoodlums and rowdies
on the other side of the county," he
shouted, tossing his arms, land the
arch fiend who leads the rabble is that
schemer, that political trickster, that
preeminent rascal, Archibald Keever!"
In a twinkling the meeting was in
an uproar. Every citizen was talking
wildly and shaking his clenched fists.
Vlandingham pounded for order.
When a measure of quiet finally OBJ
tanned he spoke few words himself.
1--WE must be quiet. we must be calm,
we must not allow our passions to run
away with us. Let us remember that
it is the cool head and the daring hand
that wins the day. They have flung
the gage at us and we will bear with
this insolence now and return it a hun
dredfold. Col. Dingle, we will hear
from you"
Mr.. Pinkney sat down, and Col.
Dingle, calming himself with a painful
effort, declared that this gratuitous
insult could have been the work of
none other than Keever; that he came
Keever, and that he wanted the meet
ing to appoint him committee of one
to ride directly into town and slap the
aforesaid Keever's face. He would do
it, and he would abide by the conse-
quences.
Barely had this duty been laid upon
Col. Dingle's shoulders when an up
roar was heard below, at the street
entrance. The noise increased and
swept up the stairs, and the cause of
it all presently burst open the door
and dashed into the room. A Wild
eyed, strapping big fellow with his
trousers tucked into his boot tops was
among them. He was covered with
dust and his face was ominous and
eager.
IA traitor!" he shouted, waving a
scrap of paper over his head; there's
traitor in this ROOM"
During the foreboding silence that
followed Guys heart beat like trip
hammer.
"a traitor, Barney?" queried Wan
bingham, getting up and sweeping his
gaze over the people before him. His