Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-06-18
The Colonel began to roll up hys

The Colonel began to roll up hys
coat sleeves, and Barney, coolly eye-
Ling him, made wry grimace. Lay
ing the shotgun down on the seat,
Barney attempted to turn the car
riage and drive off. BY this time:
however, the Colonel's words had
had an effect on his followers and
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
'cinity 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 a 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 the young mans side while Pedro
drifted away toward the kitchen.
Il 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.
"Have you bought here recently?"
he asked.
"Quite recently"
every much?''
"a block-conditionally." Mr.. Pinch
beck caught his glasses again, fitted
them carefully to the bridge of his
nose and wrinkled his brows time or
two to satisfy himself that they would
hold. II am to pay 5000 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 a contract
for deed. It's this way, Mr.. Herbert.
When the ballots are counted if they
show good safe ma jority for Concord
I am to pay $4,000 to the workmen 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 revelation to Guy. Here
was the "tenderfoot" about whom the
Colonel had told him. The Colonel,
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 evaded his hands and dropped into
his lap. The smile faded into a look
of vexa ton as he picked up the glasses
and damned them back on the bridge of
his nose.
''That's all right, Mr.. Herbert. I
have contract with Vlandingham for
a block at the same figure in case his
town WINS
Guy was startled.
elias Mr.. Vlandingham also imported
some voters?'' he asked.
''Um-I don't know as ought to say
so, but he has run in 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 to"
"That's it,
"Col. Keever said you were tender
foot, Mr.. Pinchbeck, but you certainly
do not act like one. No matter from
which direction the breeze comes, you
have an anchor to the windward."
cts just plain business. that's ALL"
returned Mr.. Pinchbeck, dashing his
hand to his face just in time to keep his
glasses there.
els Mr.. Vlandingham also building
courthouse?"
"N-no. I drove over from Harmony
this morning and saw Vlandingham be-
fore I started. He's got something up
his sleeve. hardly know what, 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, a S you might say, but
I guess it won't do any harm. Wan
bingham is deep one, but his daughter
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
glasses again. "Why don't you get
cord?" asked Guy, somewhat testify.
"Eh?'
"Tie 'em on" continued Guy, point
ing to the glasses. "If they were mine
they'd give me nervous prostration. I
don't know but they will anyhow"
ITO Be Continued
KINDNESS SUPERIOR TO BLOWS