The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1914-11-04

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aren't your" demanded Wallingford.
II thought you said you had enough
| money!
II thought we had" returned Blackie
thoughtfully. "but now want to build
church of my own back home and
hire this boy for head preacher. I'd
be a better man.
"Still plenty Of money In sight down
there. is there?" inquired Wallingford.
That's the least Of our troubles"
Blackie informed him, with an ex-
tremely worried air. 1.-The wet blanket
brigade tried to capture the conven-
ton this afternoon. They have been
hearing things since the morning serv-
ice. and they came back to the COM
mittee meeting with the idea that the
best all their fussing would do would
be to make the corrupt political thieves
IN this town pay more for their hive of
vice They were almost in favor of
passing back the contributions, but my
old pal Maikem and your Uncle Horace
hurrahed awhile and got them to come
on. boys. We quit. dippy with en-
thusiasm."
Congratulations" said Wallingford,
with a chuckle. 'Blackie. do you sup
pose this bunch of good men would
stOOp to lIttle-er-well. say, not
trickery. but diplomacy. to save Court
house square from the hands of the
wicked?'
"Well." stated Blackie slowly and
weighing his words carefully, IF
there's to be any dirty work you'd bet
ter fool them. Let me do it."
Spender Wallingford hired a touring
car and a chauffeur for a week and
put in his time entertaining Charley
Jackson and his friends Of the county
commission and the aldermanic board,
appearing as jovial. smiling, chuck
ling. pink faced host of impressive
appearance. attractive personality and
faultless garb. There was not a man
In that crowd who had not been bred
in suspicion and fostered in distrust,
yet by the end Of the week they grew
to like Wallingford rs much as he dis
liked them.
You ought to try 1t. Jim." urged
Blackie as they dressed on Saturday
morning. "Of course. I know myself
too well to think I'll stick, but 1t does
me a lot Of good while 1t lasts. I'm a.
cOntented as a deaf and dumb actor
playing leads in moving picture COM
pany."
go to it." encouraged wallingford,
tribe cOvetously. Its the one thing
l never tried. but from its effect on
you think might like it."
The gentlemen who were to turn
the courthouse into fashionable cafe
for willing workers had an early and
an earnest conference with the gen
tleman who was to own the court
house until after the election. and
Wallingford gave them a written
agreement to sell the courthouse to
them on demand at stipulated figure.
ThereupOn Wallingford gave them two
more drinks and a cigar and excused
himself. Immediately afterward hold
ing another important conference and
making visit to the bank. From
there he rushed to the county audi
tors Office. where he displayed his
certified check to Charley Jackson and
his quiveringly interested colleagues,
deposited his check with his sealed
bid and smoked quiet cigar while
he waited the few minutes between
then and II O'Clock. at which time the
bids were to be opened.
Strangely enough. WallingfOrd en-
countered no opposition from DR.. Malk-
ems church. which did not put in a
bid at all. but there were three other
offers higher than his own, 1t transpired
at I1.o3. However, mere was some
question as to the certification Of one
Of the checks, and one Of the ofrers
was not made In the exact form pre-
scrlbed. and the third one was not ad-
dressed to the proper authority, so Wal
lingh~d. not at all to his surprise, but
somewhat to his relief. for he had sus-
pected a trick of some sort even at the
last. was announced as the lucky con-
testaut
Wallingford, attended by the happy
gentlemen who intended to cater to
The city's elite and recherche millhands.
clerks and ward workers, walked across
the hall to the county recorders Office,
where Courthouse square. was duly and
formally decided and transferred to ].
Rufus WallingfOrd, his heirs, admins
traitors and assigns forever.
THE buyer buys a drink" proclaim
ed Charley jackson jovially, Shaping
the lucky purchaser with afYectionate
proprietorship upon the broad back.