The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-05-01
CHAPTER VIII,

CHAPTER VIII.
Guy had come up with the baffled
crowd just in time to witness the
ColonePs discontinue. He expert
enced sense of great relief at the
escape of Miss Betty and her friend
and kept himself as much in the
background as possible when the
irate citizens rushed forward and as
sisted Pettibone to set their leader
upright and dust him off,
I'll have the law on you, sir!"
ragged the Colonel, breaking through
the ranks that surrounded him and
shaking his fist at Barney. "Threat-
en- me. hey? Egad, it makes my
blood boil!''
Don't get excited, Colonel" shout
ed Barney from the carriage.
Excited, you impudent puppy!
Excited! Pettibone, arrest that man.
I'm surprised that you stand there
without raising a finger against the
young scalawag."
The town had only one fault to
find with Dick Pettibone. and that
was that he was too easy going, too
good natured. There were Spartan
fbers running through his makeup,
but they were in evidence only on
extreme occasions.
"Oh, wouldn't make him any
trouble, Colonel returned Petit
bone, soothingly. Hes young, you
know, and all young men are more
or less headstrong."
'He's a traitor!" fumed the
Colonel. IF it hadn't been for him
Vlandingham's daughter wouldn't
have slipped through our fingers"
II think she would, Colonel
mo, sir!" raved the Colonel. ear
rest that young rapscallion or I'll
chastise him here and now
The Colonel began to roll up his
coat sleeves, and Barney, coolly eye
ing him, made a wry grimace. Lay
ing the shotgun down on the seat,
Barney attempted to turn the car
rage 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
entity 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 St. Paul paper, when
nervous little gentleman, wearing
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.
II 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..-
IA Extraordinarily" 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 topay $4,000 for the block,
providing this town wins the county
seat fight"
"Ah, I see. Your money is to be paid
back if we lose"
'''Well- hasn't really been paid
over, as yet. I have merely a contract
for a deed, It's this way, Mr.. Herbert.
When the ballots are counted if they
show good safe majority for Concord