Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-07-10
CHAPTER XIV.

L y y
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 well as not, but
it's big loss to have the records and
the courthouse stolen. I guess we'll
have to tally one for Harmony this
innings"
'sThis explains what Vlandinghan
said to Pinchbeck," said Guy, refec-
| lively
"What was that?"
"Why, that fools build courthouses
and wise men occupy them"
ssThat's about what it amounts to.
Harmony has the laugh on us now,
and if you run this thing to earth,
I'll bet you find 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
line in her hand, jotting down some
thing in a notebook. 1t flashed over
him, just then, that she had been tax
ing measurements with the view of
consummatin this coup.
'sHow was it done, judge?" queried
Guy.
easy enough. The Harmony folks
manufactured pair of long axles and
swung each one between couple of
low, broad-tired wheels. There was
storm last night, if you remember,
and that was exactly what the other
side wanted. The noise of the thun-
der, and the wind, and the rain
drowned out the commotion they
made, so that no one in this town
heard them-unless it was Keever and
they very soon took care of him, I'll
guarantee. After they had lifted the
courthouse with iackscrews, 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 a notice that was left
sticking on a post near the court
| house site, and, it's what I call adding
insult to injury with vengeance.
Tho Judge took from his pocket very
carefully wet and bedraggled scrap
Of paper on which was written the fol-
| lowing:
To the People of Concord Greeting:
| We needed a 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 oblige,
The People of Harmony.
"How's that for blow between the
ribs?" asked Waffle as he returned
the paper to his pocket.
cts a 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. I wish some
one would go my bail so can get out
and do little looking around"
'.I've come to let you out on your
own recognizance, Herbert"
"How's that?"
'I'm doing it on my own RESPONSE
bi,ity. You see, 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 prisoner until after the
election. That isn't the law the way I
read it, and as Pettibone is chasing
after the courthouse and as I've got a
/ key to this room, thought this would
be a 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, aud I'd advise
you to 60 some place-Jimtown, or
Bismarck, or anywhere else you want
to-and stay for few days until the
suspicious and hard feeling against
you have chance to blow over"
"I'll do it," said Guy, and shook Waf-
fe's hand gratefully. eff you hadn't
released me, though, I'd have gotten
out of here before many hours had
passed. I'm going to Amityville to see
if can't win a few votes for Concord"
You'll take the risk for nothing,
I'm afraid"
"What risk is there?"
swell Abe Landy rules the roost in
Amityville, and Vlandingham has made
himself so solid with Landy that
they're all red-hot for Harmony. If
you go there, however, take my advice
and stop with Landy. He's misery
old sinner, but he's the most fair-mind-
ed of any one in the town."
Thanks. I'll remember the name"
Guy followed the judge from the
room, down the stairs and out into the
street. The wild clangor Of the bell
had ceased and the excited shoutings,
the grind of carriage and wa pon wheels