Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-06-20

But Christopher Waffle cared not for
public opinion. good or i'll. He made
IL his exclusive aim 10 please Waffle,
J. F., and thus was always sure Of be-
ing on good terms with himself. what
ever might be the state Of his feel
ings toward the rest Of mankind.
When Guy, Barney and Pettibone
entered the room, the Judge had not
set arrived. Col. Keever was there,
! however. his white hat severely set
upon his ample brows-mute testi-
mony ~ his mental condition There.
also, was Lem Bilkins, twisted about
chair in close proximity 20 the Colo
mel and watching his every movement
with an admiration that was almost
soulful. Glimmer was there-'Mrs.
| Glimmer having agreed 10 look after
the Emporium during his absence
and Pinney, the druggist. and Letting
well. proprietor of the livery stable,
and Sampson, and Mr.. Burberry, who
was supposed 10 be lawyer and who
possessed n painfully meager form,
Ratchet face. had an impeachment in his
speech and had been retained by the
defense. Others were present, but
none especially noteworthy. The
buzz Of conversation ceased abrupt
| " upon the coming Of the sheriff with
! his prisoners for il was plain that
! Guy was considered in the light of a
malefactor, spared the odium Of inn
prisonment merely because Of Petit
bone and upon the latter's RESPONSE
bility.
| Frigid looks were directed M Guy
by every one except strange as it
NAV appear the redoubta able Colonel.
! The manager Of the Townsite com
pany had slept upon the incidents %
the preceding afternoon and had come
20 the conclusion that he had been
somewhat hasty with Guy. Solely by
grace OF the young man he was di
recting the affairs OF the town. The
Office was no sinecure, but il Concord
won in the contest his paper would
"boom" and his nest would be feath-
cred in other ways. For these rea-
sons, the glances he shot in Guys d.
rection were OF the sorrowful and in
jured but forgivinR kind.
A chair. a table, glass and broken
water pitcher were awaiting the
! Judge, who finally arrived. He was
clad in overa,ls carelessly tucked
into his boot tops, was in his shirt
sleeves and carried an oil can in one
hand and bunch Of waste" in the
other. Bill Comfort, bearing q large
book, was close TO his employers
heels.
1T looks as though you people never
the Judge. Here il is, only two
months from the biggest harvest we
have had in the territory yet, and
I've got 20 leave my threshing ma
chine and come here"
Al this point his honor exchanged
his oil can and bunch Of waste for the
book
"Sit down, Bill" he commanded and
the engineer tipped Lem Bilkins out
Of his chair and seated himself
Now" continued the Judge. laying
the book down on the table and throw
ing himself into his seat. 81 was busy
yesterday afternoon and don't know
what this Is all about. Tell me, some
body"
Mr.. Burberry got mp.
IF you p-p-please, your honor,
have the p-p-pleasure 10 ap-sp-a-"
That was the extent Of Mr.. Bar
berry's utterance. for the time. He
grew red in the face. whistled.
stamped his foot and struck himself
IN the side. all TO no purpose.
Then the Colonel, suave. dignfed.
voluble, arose.
-Four honor" said ne, this Is an
I-rtion brought against one Barney
1iscomb FOR maliciously threatening
niy life with a shotgun"
81 seen him do IT," declared Lem
Silkins.
You hush. Bilkins. You. too. Keev-
er. wouldn't try 20 say anything II
It's painful, Burberry. Sit down and