Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-07-04


my blood for my country. he asks
for an affectionate exchange of pow
der and ball and shall give him
heartfelt token of my esteem at the
distance specified. Herbert, 1 want
you for my second"
Guy shook his head The cane
stopped swinging with jerk and
hard, hard look came into the
Colonel's eyes.
"Do understand you to say, sir,
that you will not accommodate me?"
81 don't believe in duels, Colonel. Ma
ture has endowed every gentleman
with q pair Of fists. If these weapons
are powerless to protect his honor, his
honor is hardly worth bothering
about"
The pith of this remark escaped the
Colonel entirely.
Il am not only protecting my own
honor, Herbert" he said coldly, "but
the honor of our town as well. Your
1900 lots share in the general igno-
miny, and it is your duty to stand by
me in this little affair. Do I still I'M
derstand you to say that you won't?"
"You do. want fair and square
fight for the county seat and don't
approve of any coarse or gratuitous
filings like that of the weathervane
Claptrap of that kind merely intensi-
faes the hostile feeling which is already
too bitter and yengeful. It is only
step from our present situation to
warfare and bloodshed. Twas in grave
peril, last night"
II was going to ask you about that"
broke in the Colonel, curiosity for the
moment overcoming his resentment.
"You succeeded In getting in?"
"Yes; and succeeded in getting out
again and saving myself rough ex-
perience only through the magnanim-
lily of Mr.. Vlandingham."
"Vlandingham is knave, sir!"
MIR. Vlandingham is gentleman,
Col. Keever!"
He couldn't come of the stock he
does and be gentleman"
"Rot!' exclaimed Guy disgustedly.
I'VE won't quarrel, Herbert; it won't
do for us to quarrel. Did you discover
anything at the meeting?"
Nothing of any consequence"
AT that moment the Office door
opened and a man who looked like o
day laborer came into the room. He
had shifty eye, and unrazored face
and wore red and sweat-stained shirt.
His hands We're big and scanned with
toll
"Who are you, sir2" demanded the
Colonel.
My names Hepburn" replied the
man, rolling his eyes from the Colonel
to Guy. and then about the room. "Up
to yesterday l was workin' on the Sec
ton at Harmony. But got fired yes
terday mornin'."
"Ah, hal" returned the Colonel,
blinking. Here was a deserter from
the enemy, man with grievance.
What do you want, Mr.. Hepburn"
II suppose / can talk before him all
right" answered Hepburn, nodding his
head in Guys direction. He was the
chap that got out of Harmony last
night by the skin of his teeth"
Certainly you can talk before him, !"
said the Colonel.
us there anyone else to hear us 2"
Hepburn's gaze continued to travel
| around the sanctum, and his face be-
came anxious.
There's no one else to hear u.s.
answered the Colonel impatiently.
Proceed, sir; proceed"
''Well, then want to sell some in
formation"
"What is it about?" queried tho
Colonel, warily.
About Harmony"
| "What's it worth?"
| "It's worth hundreds to you, mebby
thousands, and mebby it means the
| county seat don't know. want $50
| for the information. Got to have
money to get to Jimtown. Amt never
| going back to Harmony no more"
The Colonel laid his cane on top of
his desk, removed his hat and placed
it carefully beside. the cane, and then
began to rub his hands.
What do you say?" asked Hepburn.
The Colonel looked toward Guy as
though expecting him to foot the bill.
| Il say No." said Guy. 81 don't want
your information, Mr.. Hepburn, land
decline to hand over the price of your
treachery."
Hepburn appeared startled and the
Colonel's jaw dropped systematically.
"Are you mad?" spluttered Keever,
aLet me tell you, sir, that if you try
to run this county seat fight according
to any Sunday-school notions we'llsbe
beaten hands down"
"All right, returned Guy cheerfully,
"It's not all right, sir" cried the
Colonel. "You with your 1900 lots are
not the only man interested. There
are others. In behalf of the others"-
he drew bill from his pocket and
handed it to Hepburn-''I shall pay
Mr.. Hepburn the price of his treach.
cry, if you please"
"Then look to it that the money
doesn't come out of the Townsite
fund.-" warned Guy.
4 Col. Keever held his head very high
and refused to take any notice of these
words.
go on" said he to Hepburn.
"Well," saide Hepburn, casting q
nervous glance at Guy, zone of Wand
ingham's hired men is a friend o.
mine, and he told me what am goin
to tell you. Cap'n Blue has formed ;
company of twenty men, which he call.
the Harmony Invincibles. They're
drilling nearly all the t;,nao