Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-07-01

see here i've OF the colonel's war1nest
friends. These friends wanted to see
and meet you. They wanted to testi-
fy to you their regard in q practical
way. That explcins the stop at Chi.
| cago and our narrow escape from the
colonel"
scotty looked around with q por-
tentous nod.
.sHarvard's right, boys" he said.
I'VE must get this out Of the way
first. Pikey toted it; let Pikey open
it up"
The third man went down on his
knees before the mysterious box and
quickly drew eff the wrappings. As
the Morocco covered lid was raised a
great and dazzling display Of small
silver came to view.
Its 1called fiat silver, ma'am,"
Scotty explained, "an It's tn biggest
box they had"
Elinor was quite dazed.
"Oh, an she cried, "for me! How
lovely" And there were tears in her
ayes as she bent over the box.
Whereat the five men from Mon
tana smilingly shook hands all
around.
Then Scotty pulled out the huge
watch again.
.sTime!" he cried. You'll have to
excuse us, miss, but there's a little
business to transact, and it must be
transacted here an now"
"Scotty,' demonstrated the second
man.
Let me alone, JIM" said the st.ut
man. Its tn first chance I've had
to talk. Harvard there,is spokes-
man, miss, an I'll tell you why. He's
a college man an handy with his
tongue. An In the second place he
stands near to tn colonel. He came
out there to Montana two years ago
to die. An the colonel got hold OF
him an braced him up an nursed him
an watched over him like a mother
an there he is, miss, worth a hun
dred dead men-ain't you Harvard?'
The youngest man smiled grave1y.
"What Scotty says is all true, Miss
Barnes" he told the girl. Il car
never hope to have a better friend
than the colonel. And because cir.
cumstances brought us close together
he has honored me with his conf:
dence. He has told me about You
Miss Barnes. I know how very deal
,, your wishes are to him. I know how
willingly he yields to your desire tt
stay in the East. I know how sacred
he holds a promise"
He paused a moment. The cir
was intently regarding him.
5 Go on" she murmured.
He glanced about at his compan
ions.
Having given you his promise,
the youngest man resumed, "the colo
4 mel wasn't the mar tc-tell you wha
he was sacrificing. That wouldn't b.
like him. He wouldn't tell you wha
a foothold he had gained out Their
and what a power fer good he ha'
e become and how we all need him
He wouldn't tell you that nature ha'
fitted him for a man of action,
pioneer, a builder, a leader Of men
He never limited hat the confines O
this. little town would be to him Xix
prison bars. And, Of course, he didn-
tell you that we wanted him for GU
2 governor, that our State needs hin
1t and that he's the only man the friend
of reform can elect!" re-
i He paused and drew a quic
breath, The girl was softly crying
II Somehow the words of this earnes
young stranger hurt her, and yet the
e. filled her with pride.
r, The stout man looked at her an
I'd then he quickly turned to the youn:
I'd est man.
D. Every wcrd you say it true, Ha,
lg vard," he muttered. but you don
need to be so dern rough about it.
1g the girl, but turned his gaze aero
the sunny fields.
!" ut was because Elmer Nor
would not tell you these things" Il
IN youngest man went on, shat we a
here. We wanted you to know tt
RS truth. We love the colonel and '
need him, lady. We have come he
to ask you to give him back to I
d. And we want you, to-"
he paused again. Int girl q:
l." turned away and was looking iowa
the roadway.
ca And then without a word she fl,
He tered down the steps and the pathw
IT. and disappeared behind the hedge
re, the roadside.
mt 1.-The colonel has come,' said Sc,
aw ty.
:" you should have talked fast
vas Harvard" said the second a
out "You saidrit beautiful" added
third man, but I dunno as twas rig
90, to make the girl cry"
wei eff you'd said another blam
emit word" put in the fourth man, tyol
TIA had me snifain', too"
Scotty looked at the younger m
anxious1y.
DO "What do you think? Harvard?'
The youngest man refused to "
lge ture any opinion.