The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-08-19

and the captain will please guard the
exit
The Captain stumped away to the
door, followed by Boomer, both frown-
ing heavily. Mr.. Boomer grimly devel-
oped revolver.
81 got the information from the
broom man." said Barney, approach
ing as he had been directed to do and
presenting the folded paper. 81 would
have got here sooner but that broncho
of mine-consarn him!-got scared
and threw me, SO l had to walk half
the way"
Vlandingham unfolded the note and
read it silently. Guy, who was watch
ing him narrowly, saw his face slightly
redden and observed a twitching of
his heavy iron gray mustache. The
deep stiffness was at last broken by
the chairman.
els there hunchback man in this
room?" he demanded, sternly.
There was not, and Guy was partici-
pating in the general feeling of relief
when Barney cried out:
"Hunchback, squire? That doesn't
|
81 thought you couldn't read, Bar
ney?" returned Vlandingham, accom-
panying the words with severe look.
mo more I can't, squire. 1 can spell
out print tolerable we'll, but writin's a
point beyond me. 1 stopped at your
house, though, on the way in, and Miss
Betty read the note aloud and sent me
along here in hurry. She said
wasn't to give the note to anyone but
you"
Was it disappointment or consterna-
ton that afflicted Vlandingham. Guy
wondered as he surveyed him.
81 have been possessed with the idea,
gentlemen" continued the chairman,
addressing the meeting, "that trouble
is to be expected through the agency
of hunchback. This note doesn't de-
scribe such a person, but know who
the man is. If Mr.. Herbert" he
turned to Guy and handed him the
note-"will assist us, we will be able
to capture him without trouble or vio-
lence. Please read that, Mr. Herbert,
and inform me whether you are ac-
quainted with the individual de-
scribed.'
Guy glanced at the writing hur-
| riedly.
yes, sir" he replied, 81 know him.
"Will you go with Barney, here, ap-
prehend the fellow and see that he
stays at my house until Gomez"
Guy saw how Vladingham was try
| ing to save him. He noted also the per-
picked faces of the citizens in front,
and of those on the platform; especially
was he aware of Barrey's blank amaze.
The latter's eyes were starting from
his head, and it was evident that his
brain was violently disturbed. Guy
gave Vlandingham a square and manly
look
"On my honor, Mr.. Vlandingham,"
said he, "the man will be at your house
when you get there"
why" gasped Barney, leveling his
| finger, that there"
"Silence!" roared Vlandingham,
knocking the extended arm downward
"You are to go with Mr.. Herbert and
apprehend this man, and take him to
my house. Not word from you. If
you had been a little later in get
ting here, your information would
have been valueless. Your horse threw
you, Ell? A likely story! Itlooks very
much as though you were late pur-
posely. You will have something to
explain, Barney, when I meet you at
my house. For the present, show that
you know how to obey orders. Go
with Mr.. Herbert"
Barney faced about automatically
and started for the door. Guy followed
at his heels. Aside from their echoing
footsteps there was not sound in the
room. The captain and Mr.. Boomer
parted and allowed them to pass. Mr.
Boomer fingered his revolver nervous
ly. The guard in the passageway eyed
them l1eenly, and the man with the
rife, at the foot of the stairs, suf-
fered them to depart without a
word.
When they were well on their way
to Willowview, Barney found his
tongue.
swell, I'm dinged," he muttered
you're the spy, amt you?"
"I'm the man described in the note"
answered Guy, who did not relish the
harsher term.
AT that precise moment he was wish
ing Col. Keever at the antipodes. His
own folly in allowing the Colonel to
| influence him came in for large share
of his condemnation. Better hun
dred times that he lost every cent he
had in the world and preserved his self
respect. He was going to meet Miss
Betty now, and what would she think
of him?
"Why the dickens did the squire act
like he did," asked the confused Bar
ney.
| HE did that to save me from the
hands of the Harmony people," an
swered Guy, with dash of irritation.
They're so wrought up over this coun-
ty seat matter that they would have
acted and thought about their actions
afterwards"
you bet they would"
Mr.. Vlandingham is head and Shout
| ders above the rest of them, He's