Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-05-08

Pedro. The little man in the long coat
likewise entered the office and took
seat in one corner rigidly erect and not
deigning to unbutton his coat. The cit
liens halted in front of the veranda to
stare and speculate-all save Bilkins,
who was due at the post office.
"Cracky!" exclaimed Sampson, look
ing hard at Guy. The printer started
to say something more, but bit his
words off short.
whats the matter?" asked Guy,
wondering at the mystified expression
of the youths face.
"Oh, nothing" replied Sampson,
backing away.
"My dear HERBERT" cooed the famil-
lar voice of Col. Keever, as that gen.
tleman rounded the corner of the hotel
and advanced upon Guy precipitately.
"You look WE'LL" added the Colonel, sig
nifcantly, dropping a hand on the
young mans shoulder. Then he
stopped and whispered: "How did you
come out?"
Before Guy could answer the little
man in the ill-fitting coat plunged out
on the veranda and halted at the
Colonies side.
'Ha!" cried the little man, furiously.
ST have come into the jackars lair to
pay my respects to the jackal-in-chief.
Archibald Keeyer, you are an impudent
scoundrel, sir! You are an ill-man-
nered BLACKBOARD, sir! You have not
the first instinct of gentleman. You
are a coward, do you hear me? A cow
ard and knave! My hat in your teeth,
sir!"
The little man jerked off his SLOUGH
hat revealing two eyes, one of which
cleaned classify at Guy while the other
travelled up and down the full extent
of Col. Keever's anatomy; then the
blow fell across the Colonel's face.
1t all came about with paralyzing
suddenness. The crowd Of Concordians
stared and gaped as though under some
baneful spell. The little man was Col.
Dingle, of Harmony! The next instant
Guy had leaped to his feet.
A shudder of nightly passion con-
vulsed Col. Keever. His hand tight
ened convuisively at the head of his
cane.
"Sir,'' he shouted, "is it your inten-
tion to apply to me those hurting cpl
thets?"
Come to think of it afterwards, there
was little use of the Coloners que ton;
but great minds often wish to be abso-
lutely certain of both horns of a propo-
sition before tackling the conclusion.
The little man laughed mockingly.
81 have coupled the word with
blow!" he cried. "Jn order that you
may satisfy yourself have made no
mistake, i will strike again, so! The
Norther greets the Blizzard"
Again came that swishing blow with
the hat and Col. Keever, dazed for the
moment, famed imaginary flies from
before his face.
"It's Dingle!" gasped Col. Keevers
hoarsely. Hold me, some body! Hold
me, or shall kill him!"
Mr.. Glimmer hurled himself into the
breach and caught Keever about the
waist, while Pedro Smith dashed out of
the hotel and threw himself upon Din
gle. Then, struggling Intellectually to
free themselves, the two Colonies
glared at each other.
"You are a sneak, sir, and coward,
sir!" screamed the editor of the
Norther.
Hold me tight, Glimmer," Kissed the
editor of the Blizzard through his
grinding teeth. 81 am not myself
Righteous wrath is making a demon of
me! If were to swoop down on that
misguided man nothing would be left
to tell the tale.'
'Let him go!" cried Dingle, frantic
ally; 81 dare you to let him go!"
"a Harmony mani" howled the cit
liens, pushing angrily forward and
surrounding the diminutive person
with the glass eye.
'He must be spy!" roared voice.
''String him up!" echoed another.
"Lynch him! lynch him! lynch
him!" swelled the chorus.
"Stand back!" shouted Guy, shout
dering his way to Dingle's side.
sect rope!" fumed the crowd.
''Next to Vlandingham he's the worst
enemy this town has got! Make an
example of him!"
Guy halted in front of Dingle and
kept the crush back with his strong
arms.
eve must get him out of here,
Pedro" said Guy, breathlessly. IF
we don't, some of these hot-heads
will get us all into trouble. Where
can we take him?"
''I've got room upstairs that we
can lock him in," replied Pedro, and
the people, catching the last words,
voiced the fierce demands:
'Lock him up! Put him under lock
and key until we decide what to do
with him!"
81 want to help you, Dingle." said
Guy, in the little mans ear. Don't
be foolish, GO with us and We'll do
what we can for YOU"
Dingle was sullenly defiant, but he
yielded to Guy and Pedro and accom-
oon;a5 Than, into the hot n1 and IN he