Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-08-15

heaven knows what. Now, everv-
body is aware that the roads are all
right, the bridges in good condition
and that you have more houses than
you can use. Well, then, why have
you brought all these men here? Oh.
we know! That fertile brain. that
intellect that labored and brought
forth the Blizzard, has hidden it's
purpose well. but we have discovered
it. Haven't we, boys?"
eve have" came chorus of thick
voices.
Col. Keever wore a perpetual smile,
very childlike, very bland; and he
would wink his right eye now and
then and shake his head with a great
deal of feeling.
whats the purpose?" he inquired.
evincing tendency to run his words
together.
Its this. That special election is
called for tomorrow. These men
will have been in the county 60 days
and in the precinct 20 days; conse-
quently they can vote and, naturally,
they'll vote for Concord
"Shouldn't wonder much," re-
marked keever, with dry hiccough
Twenty men, and pay 'em two dol
lars day for 60 days-that's $4,000
that it costs us to save the county
seat. And who's to the fore in the
enterprise? Col. Archibald Keever!
l declare, gentlemen, my throat is
parched. Would it be asking too
much"
1t was not asking too much. Col.
keever was welcome to the best they
had in the shop and all there was of it.
"And this brings us back to where
we started" said Col Dingle. "Har-
mony would like the county seat and
she would like it just $4,000 worth"
Dingle gave Keever playful push.
whats that?" murmured Keever,
rolling his eyes.
just this went on Dingle. elm
stead of voting these men for Con-
cord, vote them for Harmony. You
can do it. The great mind that built
up paper like the Blizzard can do
anything"
Col. Keever relapsed into silence
and did his best to think calmly
while the four gentlemen from Har-
mony awaited his reply in soulful
expectation.
1.-TWO thousands" asked Keever,
hNskiiy.
Two thousand" came an equally
husky reply.
Cash down?"
Fifty now and 1850 when the
votes are polled."
A long period of silence ensued to
be finally broken by Keever, with
the anxious query:
"Gen'l'men, is there any left?"
There was some left and libations
were renewed all around.
What is it, Colonel, yes or no?"
asked Dingle when the gurgliag
period was over.
Through Col, Keever,s mind there
fitted hazily the following items:
Four hundred and fifty on account
OF plant twenty-eight sixty to
get that weeks issue out of pawn;
sixty seine odd for Sampson, and
there was no knowing the amount
Of Pedro Smiths bill. Why not?
He coughed looked around him a
trifie nervously and then held out
his hand
"Gi'me the 80"
A crisp bank note was rendered
him.
Here you are" said Dingfe, land
here are two eiocuments-mere mat
ters ef form, you know. one for us
and one for you = setting forth
what's to be done, what's to be paid
and when. For your protection as
well as ours. Colonel. Sign there"
unsteadily the editor took up his
pen and serawfed two awkward sig
natures, whereupon Col. Dingle
signed below him and the other
three attested the act as witnesses.
Then. after drinking the last of
the liquor, the four gentlemen from
Harmony babe Col, Keever an af-
fectionate "Goo' bye" and left. Col.
keever heard Capt. Blue fall down
the full length of the stairs, heard
Col. Dingle whoop joyously and Maj.