"I want you!" spoke a harsh, sudden voice, and Bart Stirling came out of
dreamland with a shock.
CHAPTER IX
COLONEL JEPTHA HARRINGTON
The young express agent recognized the tones before he saw the speaker's
face. Only one person in Pleasantville had that mixture of lofty command
and tragic emphasis, and that was Colonel Jeptha Harrington.
As Bart turned, he saw the village magnate ten feet away, planted like a
rock, and extending his big golden-headed cane as if it was a spear and
he was poising to immediately impale a victim. The colonel's brow was a
veritable thundercloud.
"Yes, sir," announced Bart promptly--"what can I do for you?"
Bart did not get excited in the least. He looked so cool and collected
that the colonel ground his teeth, stamped his foot and advanced
swinging his cane alarmingly.
"I've come to see you--" he began, and choked on the words.
"May I ask what for?" interrogated Bart.
Colonel Harrington shook, as he placed his cane under his arm and took
out his big plethoric wallet.
He selected a strip of paper and held it between his forefinger and
thumb.
"Young man," he observed, "do you know what that is?"
Bart shook his head.
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