The Lamar register., 1902-09-24
CHAPTER NV,

CHAPTER NV.
Aren't you joking. wshief' asksd
Guy, whose sfsdulity was sorsly taxed
by The Judges statement.
'sThis + altogether too serious .
matter 70 Joke about. Concord can
spare Kssvsr just - well - not, but
rs big loss 70 have ths records and
The courthouse stolen. guess we'll
have 70 tally ono for Harmony this
innnies."
'~This explains what vlAndingham
said to Pinchbeek," sAld Guy. rsAec-
lively
"What wss thaaf"
"why. that fools build courshouses
and wise men occupy them"
That's about what Il amounts 70.
Harmony has The laugh on US now.
and II you run this thing 70 earth.
I'll bet you And vlandingham's daugh-
ter at the other end of It. She's the
only one In Harmony who'd be able to
hatch up such . scheme"
Guy remembered how he had seen
Miss Betty In the courthouse, . tape
lime in her hand. jotting down some
thing In . notebook. 1t flashed over
him. just then. that she had been tax
ing msasurements with the view Of
consummsting this coup.
'@How was Il done. judge Z" querisd
Guy.
Easy enough. The Harmony folks
manufactured pair of long axlss and
low. broad-tired wheels. There was
. storm last night, II you remember.
and that was exactly what the other
aide wanted. The noise Of the thun-
der and the wind. and the rain
drowned out Me eommotion they
made. 20 Mat NO one in this. town
heard them-unless II was Keever and
they very soon took care of him. IN
guarantee. After they had lifted the
courthouse with jaakscfews. they aid
NE wAeels under II, front and rear,
and then hitched several teams of
horsss to II and hauled It away. You
can sss the tracks Of the wheels whe rs
they sank into the wet ground. Petit.
bone and several more, armed TO the
teeth. have started along the south
trail st . gallop. But they'll have
their trouble for their pains, mark
me. Here's . notice that was left
sticking on . post near the court
house site. and. its what call adding
insult TO injury with . vengeance.
The judge took from his pocket very
carefully wet and bsdraegled scrap
Of paper on which was written the fol-
lowing:
To the People Of Concord Greeting:
We needed . courthouse to go with
the weathsevane, so we thought we'd
take yours. Now II you will please
build us . coal shed to 20 with the
courthouse, you will greatly oblige,
The People of Harmony.
"How's that for blow between the
fibsf" asked WaMie - he returned
the paper to his pocket.
''It's . terrible setback" said Guv.
Notwithstanding the financial peril
with which this success Of the oppo-
sition threatened him, the humor Of
the situation appealed to the young
man and he sat down on the cot and
laughed till he choked. eff we don't
look out for those fellows, Waffle" he
observed. finally. they'll come over
here and steal the town. / wish some
one would go my bail 80 can get out
and do little looking around"
''I've come 10 let you out on your
own rscognisancs, Herbert"
slows thatT
bihty. You see. told the indignation
committss that II they kept you pris-
oner they'd have to bring you up for
TRIAL. After the way threw the law
into Aseomb they're afraid to have me
try your case, and 20 they said they'd
keep you . prisoner until after the
election. That isn't the law the way I
read IL. and a. Pettibone IL chasing
after the courthouse and as I've got
key 70 this room, I thought this would
be . good time TO let you out. The
people have got their heads so full OF
other things they won't be able to
think of you for awhile, and I'd advise
you 70 60 some placs-Jimtown, or
Rsmarck, or anywhere else you want
to-And stay for few days until the
suspssaons and hard feeling against
you have . chance 70 blow over"
"Iu do H." said Guy. and shook waf.
ns's hand gratefully. "If you hadn't
released me. though, rd have gotten
out OF here before many hours had
passsd. I'm going 70 Amityville to see
II can't WIN few votss for Concord :"
you'll taks the risk for nothing.
I'm afraid."
"Whst risk 10 tAersY"
SWELL Abs LAndy rules the roost in
AmityviiIs. and vAnding gham has made
himself 20 sohd with Landy that
they're sll rsd-hot for Harmony. II
you go there. however, take my advice
and sop with Landy. He's miser!y
oAsannse. but he's the most fair-mind.
"a Of any one In the town" -
Thanks. I'll remember the nam..