Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-07-16
thinks I'm a treacherous hound, who

found them-along with me-"
Much bitterness of spirit was mani
tested in Guys voice. and the sheriff
gave him his earnest attention.
"You'll have plenty of chances to
explain" said he, land when Betty
Vlandingham finds out how she has
wronged you she'll think all the moro
of you. Oh, know 'em! Twas that
way with me and Matilda. Why, we
used to quarrel every few days before
we got married, and now look at US!
Hitched, by gee, and quarrelin' all the
time" Pettibone chuckled to himself
"You leave Vlandingham's girl alone
until we win this election, then waltz
over to Harmony and tell her you want
to give her a dover interest in,your
town. She'll snap you up too quick, see
if she don't"
On reaching Concord, Guy went with
Pettibone to put up his horse, and then
they made for the hotel. Passing the
Emporium, they saw Mr.. Glimmer in
side holding forth to small and select
gathering of citizens. Farther on. in
front of the drug store, was Lem Bill
kins, likewise engaged. When Guy
and Pettibone passed the second group,
Biikins hushed his discourse, and every
man to whom he had been speaking
turned glaring eye in Guys direction.
Its very evident" remarked Guy,
that I'm prophet without honor in
my own town. Before long, however,
IN To-,1rl
greatly he was mistaken"
II hope they'll see that before they
do anything to be sorry for" muttered
Pettibone.
Guy did not hear this, and perhaps it
was just as we'll.
They had supper-a late supper of
the. kind which Pedro Smith husbanded
for stra gglers-and during the meal,
and afterward as they sat smoking in
the office, the sheriff continually mani
tested the nervousness of his state OF
mind. The slightest noise would
startle him. Once, al whirr of whe els
in the street, he sprang up and ran to
the door, returning in few moments
pale and fidgety.
''What's the matter with you, Petit
bone?" inquired Guy.
''l'm expecting something and am
afraid it's going to come"
"What is it?''
"a delegation of citizens looking for
you.''
Guy laughed.
"That's giving you more concern
than it is me. Suppose we go to bed :?
If the delegation arrives after that
hardly think they will dare to disturb
u.s."
The Indignation committee, if such
it might be called, did not put in an APP
pearance that night, nor the next
morning. Late in the afternoon of the
following day, however, as Guy was
seated at the writing table in the hotel
office, struggling with letter of ex-
PLANTATION which he designed sending
to Miss Betty, five representative cit
liens presented themselves.
"Gee!" murmured Pettibone, despair
ingly; 'here they are, Herbert"
Mr.. Pinney, the druggist, was one Of
them; and Mr.. Leffingwell, proprietor
of the livery stable; and Mr.. Glimmer,
of the Emporium; and Mr.. Biggs, the
county reasurer-carrying a tin box
and, last if not least, the red oubtable
Colonel.
The redoubtabl Colonel had had "a
hours in which to recover his equipoise
and he had succeeded admirably. To
look at him now, his white hat tipped
slightly over his right eye, the tip Of
his cane planted firmly on the office
floor. one foot thrown over the other,
his frock coat caught together with the
two lower buttons and his left hand
thrust into his bosom-to look at him
thus, he gave no suggestion of his wild
struggle and eXhausting footrace of
the preceding afternoon.
Guy minced into fine fragments the
dozenth sheet on which he had tried to
write, threw the pieces into waste
basket and turned upon the gentlemen
who were grouped beside him. He
noted their grim and determined looks
and there was portentous silence.
"The VOLTS legs performed excellent
service yesterday afternoon" re-
marked Guy, by way of breaking the
ice.
"We have not come here to discuss
that particular wolf, SIR" answered
the Colonel, with an uneasy side glance
in the direction of his friends. can.
other wolf is the object of this call, a
wolf in sleeps clothing, sir! A wolf
with the outward guise of a loyal gen
tleman, but with heart Of
"softly!" interrupted Guy. "Don't
forget how bumped you against the
partition the other day. If you made
me very angry, Colonel, I might do
more than that"
The Colonel's bosom began to heave
It was the wolf, probably, seeking to
get out, and show it's white teeth, and
snap. But the wolf did no more than
shake it's chin, for the Colonel Gained
the brute after prodigious effort.
"Sir," went on the Colonel, hu4kily
"you are young and I will bear with
you. am heading this delegation, this
righteously indignant deleg;. ton,
more in sorrow than in anger. "We
have an Indictment against you and ]
will read it, count by count" Mr.
Glimmer handed the Colonel a paper
! and the later continued: "You are
charged, Mr.. Herbert, with treasopab BILE
conduct which gravely imperils tie in.
terests of this town. Specifically, the
counts are as follows:
"First; visit to Vlandingham's
house on Monday evening last. Have
you anything to say?'
Guy shook his head.