Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-08-01
CHAPTER XIV,

aren't you joking, Waffie?" asked
Guy, whose credulity was sorely taxed
by the judges statement.
This is altogether too serious a
matter to joke about. Concord can
spare Keever just as we'll as not, but
it's big loss to have the records and
the courthouse stolen. guess well
have to tally one for Harmony this
innings.
...Thls explains what Vlandingham
said to Pinchbeck," said Guy, rsflsc-
lively
What was that?s
"Why, that fools build oourthouses
and wise men occupy them"
That's about what it amounts to.
Harmony has the laugh on us now,
and II you run this thing to earth.
LII bet you find Nlandingham's daugh-
ter at the other end OF it, Shea 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
line in her hand, jotting down some
thing in notebook. 1t flashed over
him, just then, that she had been TAX
ing measurements with the view Of
concentrating this coup.
''How was it done, judge?" queried
Gf {! W.. !, 49,, =,
manufactured pair of long axles and
swung each one between couple Of
low, broadtired wheels. There was
a storm last night, if you remember,
and that was exactly what ting other
Side wanted. The noise Of the thun.
isr and the wind, and the rain
drowned out the connection they
made, so that no one in this town
heard them-unlcss it was Keever and
they very soon took care of him, I'll
guarantee. After they had lifted the
courthouse with jackscrews, they slid
the wheels under it, front and rear,
and then hitched several teams Of
horses to it and hauled it away. You
can see the tracks of the wheels where
they sank into the wet ground. Petit
bone and several more, armed to the
teeth, have started along the south
trail at 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, it's what call adding
insult to injury with a vengeance.
The judge: took from his pocket very.
carefully n wet and bedraggled SCRAP
of paper on which was written the fols
lowing:
Tp the People of Concord, Greeting:
We needed courthouse to go with
the weathervane. so we thought we'd
take yours. Now if you will please
build us coal shed to go with the
courthouse, You will greatly obige,
4he People of Harmony,
ssHow's that for blow between the
rlbs?" aRked Waffle as he returned
the paper to his pocket
Its terrible setback" said Guy.
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 SONS
one would go my bail SO can get out
and do little looking around"
'l've come to let you out on your
own recognizance, Herbert"
slows that?"
Pm doing it on my own RESPONSE
bi.ity. You see, I told the Indignation
committee that If they kept you pris-
| oner they'd have to bring you up for
trial. After the way threw the law
into Liscomb they're afraid to have me
try your case, and SO they said they'd
keep you a prisoner until after the
election. That isn't The law the way