The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1914-09-24
i thought we had" returned Black

II IilbtlSut we iluil, iSt vi uttl bitCAlG
thouehtft,lly. but now | want to build
church Of my own back home and
hire this boy for head preacher. I'd
be Il better man."
">till plenty of money in sight down
there. is there:" inquired Wallingford.
That's the least of our troubles"
Blackie informed him, with an eX-
trenely worried air. 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 We're 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 chuckle. "Blackie. do you sup
pose this bunch Of good men would
| SlOop W a hltAC-CA Cali say AVL
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
md oh o,,1
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 man
in that crowd who had not been bred
yet by the end of the week they grew
to like Wallingford as much as he dis
liked them.
You ought to try it. JIM" urged
Blackie as they dressed on Saturday
morning. "Of course, l know myself
too we'll to think I'll stick, but it does
me lot of good while it lasts. I'm as
| SOAlCulCO AS q uCdA Auu uuAAO uNCoA
playing leads in a moving picture COM
pany."
go to it, encouraged Wallingford.
trifle GENEROUSLY. Its the one thing
never tried, but from it's effect on
you l think might like it,
The gentlemen who We're to turn
the courthouse into a fashionable cafe
60 md
an earnest conference with the gem
tleman who was to own the court
house until after the election. and
Wallingford gave them written
agreement to sell the courthouse to
them on demand at stipulated figure.
Thereupon Wallingford gave them two
more drinks and cigar and excused
himself, Immediately afterward hold
ing another important conference and
making a 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 a quiet cigar while
he waited the few minutes between
then and IL o'clock. at which time the
bids were to be opened.
Strangely enough. Wallingford en-
countered no opposition from DR.. Maik-
ems church. which did not put in a
bid at all. but there were three other
offers higher than his own, it transpired
at II :O5. However. there was some
question as to the certitication Of one
of the checks, and one of the offers
was not made in the exact form pre-
, scribed, and the third one was not ad
2 dressed to the proper authority, so Wal
lingford, not at all to his surprise, bu
somewhat to his relief, for he had sus
;. pected trick of some sort even at thu
J last, was announced as the lucky con
' testant.
I Wallingford, attended by the happ.
] gentlemen who intended to cater t.
I the city's elite and recherche millhands
: clerks and ward workers, walked acros
the hall to the county recorders office
where Courthouse square was duly an,
: formally decided and transferred to ]
Rufus Wallingford, his heirs, admins
:. traitors and assigns forever.
'The buyer buys drink" proclaim
;, ed Charley Jackson jovially, slappin
= the lucky purchaser with affectionat
: proprietorship upon the broad bacl
: "Wallingford, bet that's the first tim
: you ever owned courthouse"
ut is" admitted Wallingford, chuck
], ling. Get off of my property An
he bundled them into his automobiI
and rushed them to a barroom tina
they We're not in the habit of patroni,
ing. He ordered and paid for gel
erous array Of bottles; then, excusin
| himself for few minutes, he rushe
| back to the courthouse, where, Will
frantic subotficals telephoned wildl.
but yainly, to all Charley Jackson
usual haunts, the courthouse fancit
1,,1x IDI