Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-17
rage and drive off. By this time,


two of them caught the horses
heads. Pettibone, seeing that there
was nothing for him to do but to
act in his official capacity, ordered
Barney to get down Barney obeyed
without any show of resistance and
Pettibone marched off with him,
while Mr.. Glimmer took the team
and carriage back to the livery
stable.
\ During all this time Guy had been
overlooked. He remained in the vi
entity long enough to note the out
come of the exciting little drama
and then slipped quietly away to
the hotel.
He. was there an hour later. deep
ly engaged in st. Paul paper, when
nervous little gentleman, wearing
a pair of nose glasses, was led up
to him by Pedro Smith.
/ "Mr. Herbert" said Pedro, "Mr.
Pinchbeck. Mr.. Pinchbeck has re-
Gently interested himself in our lit
tie city and he wishes to talk with
you concerning the outlook"
Guy shook hands with Mr.. Pinch
beck. and the latter seated himself
at tina young mans side while Pedro
driIred away toward the kitchen.
81 understand that you own near
ly all the vacant lots in this town,
Mr.. HERBERT" observed Mr.. Pinch
beck. catching his glasses as they
dropped from his nose.
Guy nodded.
"rIave you bought here recently?"
4 he asked.
"Qui:e recently"
Very much?"
"a block-conditionally Mr.. Pinch
beck caught his glasses again, fitted
9 them carefully to the bridge of his
rose and wrinkled his brows time or
two to So fisfy himself that they would
hold. 81 an topay S., 900 for the block,
providing this town wins the county
seat fight
"Ah, see. Your money is to be paid
back if we lose"
"Well-er-it hasn't really been paid
over, as yet. have merely contract
for deed. It's this way, Mr.. Herbert.
|
show good safe ajority for Concord
am to pay So 1000 to the workme n who
have been brought here to build roads,
bridges, ETC., and am also to pay 81, 900
for that wooden shell which is ulti-
mately to be the court house"
This was a revelation to Guy. Here
was the "tenderfoot" about whom the
| AL ~ al
however, had said nothing of condi-
tional bargain.
"In case we lose the county seat, Mr..
Pinchbeck," said Guy, "what would
happen?"
Mr.. Pinchbeck smiled. The mirthful
, wrinkles disconnected his glasses and
they eyaded his hands and dropped into
his lap. The smile faded into look
of vexation as he picked up the glasses
and jammed them back on the bridge of
his nose.
; That's all right, Mr.. Herbert.
have contract with Vlandingham for
a block at the same figurei in case his
town wins"
!. Guy was startled.
.sHas Mr.. Vlandingham also imported
some voters?" he asked.
"Um-I don't know as I ought to say
so, but he has run in a lot of fellows
from Bismarck-the same number as
Keever brought in from Jimtown.
They're working somewhere around
Harmony, and will be in evidence on
election day."
"In case Harmony wins, you are go
, ing to pay vlandingham's workmen. Is
that it?"
"That's it,
!. "Col. Keever said you were tender
foot, Mr.. Pinchbeck, but you certainly
do not act like one. No matter from
Z which direction the breeze comes, you
have an anchor to the windward."
cts Just plain business, that's all, y
: returned Mr.. Pinchbeck, dashing his
hand to his face just in time to keep his
glasses there.
3 SIS Mr.. Ylandingham also building
e courthouse?"
! "N-no. drove over from Harmony
f. this morning and saw Vlandingham be.
fore / started. He's got something VI
his sleeve. hardly knowwhat, though
He told me that fools build courthouses
! and wise men occupy them. I don't
= know as ought to tell you this, being
a non-combatant, as you might say, but
I guess it won't do any harm. Wan.
! bingham is deep one, but his daughte,
is deeper STILL"
= what do you know about Miss Wan.
dingham?" asked Guy, with sudden in.
terest. Mr.. Pinchbeck started to an.
swer, but had to pause to grab his
J, glasses again. "Why don't you get a
cord?" asked Guy, somewhat testify.
, "Eh?"
"Tie 'em on" continued Guy, point.
: ing to the glasses. eff they were mine
they'd give me nervous prostration.
don't know but they will anyhow"
: "I get so mad sometimes" admitted
Mr.. Pinchbeck, "that / feel as though
could swear" He put the glasses in his
. pocket. "Nearsighted, you know, and
can't tell "a dog from wildcat across
the street."
. ur -,,,, - y