_COI/ONBL 
 
 To D HUNTBR 
 OF MISSOURI 
 
 I^ipleyD. Saunders 
 
 MMillllRaiMiliillMi 
 
THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 Horace G, Brown 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER 
 OF MISSOURI 
 
Colonel Todhunter 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER 
 OF MISSOURI 
 
 RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS 
 
 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY 
 
 W. B. KING 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 GROSSET & DUNLAP 
 
 PUBLISHERS 
 
COPYRIGHT 191 1 
 THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY 
 

 TO 
 
 MARY 
 
 MY DEAR WIFE 
 
 THIS BOOK 
 
 IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED 
 
 889 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Chapter 
 
 I The Confederate Daughters . 
 II The Green-Eyed Monster 
 
 III Strickland of Nineveh 
 
 IV Lottie-May Weaves a Web 
 
 V In the Nineveh Blade Sanctum 
 VI The Strickland-Tucker Feud . 
 VII Sim Birdsong's Resolve 
 VIII A Financial Stringency . . 
 IX The Colonel Cuts a Wide Swath 
 X A Young Lochinvar 
 XI A Terrifying Price . 
 XII A Sentimental Crisis . 
 
 XIII In Rural Missouri 
 
 XIV The Shame of Lottie-May 
 XV The Tragedy on the Road 
 
 XVI The Woman in the Case 
 XVII A Strange Cry From Black Lips 
 XVIII Through Darkness Into Dawn . 
 XIX Missouri vs. Tom Strickland . 
 XX Chickasaw Jesse Bream 
 XXI The Colonel Confronts Defeat 
 XXII Missouri Speaks at the Polls . 
 
 Page 
 
 I 
 
 23 
 
 37 
 
 53 
 
 64 
 
 79 
 
 94 
 
 108 
 
 117 
 
 145 
 161 
 171 
 185 
 202 
 216 
 229 
 
 243 
 256 
 265 
 281 
 300 
 309 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER 
 OF MISSOURI 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 COLONEL TODHUNTER CAMPAIGNS AMONG THE CON- 
 FEDERATE DAUGHTERS 
 
 COLONEL Thurston T. Todhunter was unde- 
 niably the distinct embodiment of that pictur- 
 esque native American type, the Kentuckian born and 
 Missourian bred, as he entered old Judge Boiling's 
 law office in Nineveh and saluted its white-haired oc- 
 cupant with a cordially impressive wave of the hand 
 in friendly greeting. 
 
 It was the morning of the day preceding the re- 
 turn from St. Louis of the Honorable William J. 
 Strickland, law partner of Judge Boiling and now 
 an avowed candidate for the Democratic primary 
 nomination for governor of Missouri, and Colonel 
 Todhunter's buoyantly aggressive bearing was due 
 to his delight that his lifelong friend had at last 
 
 I 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 yielded to popular pressure and made open an- 
 nouncement of his candidacy. The scent of political 
 battle in the Strickland cause was hot in the Colonel's 
 nostrils and he sniffed its savor with militant joy. 
 
 Tall and erect, Colonel Todhunter carried his 
 spare but stalwart frame with an ease that somewhat 
 belied the grizzled gray of his hair and the white of 
 his soldierly mustache and old-fashioned "imperial.'* 
 One could not easily have failed to recognize him 
 for just what he was — a lineal descendant of that 
 colonial Virginian stock whose grandsons followed 
 the pioneer trail that led from the Old Dominion, 
 first to North Carolina, then to Kentucky and 
 Tennessee, and thence to Missouri ; a stock that has 
 remained distinctively American since the time of its 
 first taking root in American soil. 
 
 True to this type, the Colonel's dress in itself pro- 
 claimed his caste. It was that of the well-born rural 
 American of long-established landed estate, a trifle 
 quaint and out of date, yet of a certain unmistakable 
 dignity. The wide-brimmed hat of soft gray wool, 
 the full-skirted and ample-breasted dark frock-coat, 
 the waistcoat of white duck, the wide white linen 
 collar and carefully knotted black cravat, the gener- 
 
 2 
 
THE CONFEDERATE DAUGHTERS 
 
 ously shown and many pleated shirt bosom, the com- 
 fortably cut gray trousers, falling easily over low 
 shoes tied with broad ribands of black silk, the gold- 
 headed cane swung leisurely in rhythmic unison with 
 its owner's tranquil progress through life — these 
 seemed as much a part of Colonel Todhunter and the 
 class for which he stood as the Colonel's frank and 
 clear- featured countenance itself. 
 
 Colonel Todhunter laid his cane on Judge Boi- 
 ling's office table as he entered and executed his ges- 
 ture of courteous salutation. 
 
 "Well, Judge," he said jubilantly, "the fight's 
 begun, and we've got to rally around old Bill Strick- 
 land to a fare-you-well, suh! I-gad, suh, I ain't 
 a-goin' to be content with nothin' less'n whippin' 
 that-there Stephen K. Yancey outfit to a frazzle, 
 suh!" 
 
 Especially in his speech was Colonel Todhunter's 
 fidelity to type in evidence. It was a blend of the 
 softly blurred speech of the fully accredited South- 
 erner, some of which is frankly borrowed from the 
 liquid vernacular of the plantation negro. It had a 
 touch of western vigor at times, and, most curi- 
 ously distinctive of all, it revealed more than a few 
 
 3 
 

 COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 colloquial survivals of that Seventeenth Century 
 England whence came Colonel Todhunter^s first 
 American ancestor, Geoffrey Todhunter, younger 
 brother of Sir Giles of kindly and humorous Sussex 
 memory. 
 
 Old Judge Boiling smiled at the Colonel's zestful 
 hailing of the imminent combat. "You're right, 
 Colonel Todhunter," he agreed. "And the sooner 
 we get plump into the middle of the fight, the bet- 
 ter, sir. It can't begin too soon to please me 1" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter nodded. Then his gray-blue 
 eyes twinkled significantly. "Judge," he said, "the 
 Nineveh Daughters of the Confederacy are givin' 
 a picnic down at Indian Springs to-day, and they're 
 goin' to set a dinner at a dollar a head for the bene- 
 fit of the Confederate Soldiers* Home at Higgins- 
 ville, suh. I reckon all that ain't no particular news 
 to you, but I thought maybe you'd enjoy goin' down 
 there with me, suh. I'd be tickled to death to have 
 you!" 
 
 Old Judge Boiling scowled ferociously at the 
 Colonel. 'Tx)ok here, Thurs, if you think I'm going 
 to start in on this fight by working the Daughters 
 of the Confederacy as a political proposition, you're 
 
 " 4 
 
THE CONFEDERATE DAUGHTERS 
 
 very badly mistaken. You ought to be ashamed of 
 yourself, you old campaign fox!" 
 
 "Who said I was proposin' to work the Daugh- 
 ters ?" retorted Colonel Todhunter. "I'm just say in' 
 that you and me could have a mighty good time 
 down there at their picnic. Th' ain't no law com- 
 pellin' us to do any electioneerin' work among 'em, 
 suh!" 
 
 Judge Boiling's lips twitched. "You old devil, 
 you ! You couldn't any more keep from campaign- 
 ing among the Daughters than a yearling colt can 
 keep from kicking up its heels in the pasture, and 
 you know it. You can't fool me." 
 
 "What I can't do and what a yearlin' colt can't do 
 are two mighty different things. Judge," answered 
 Colonel Todhunter. "But I ain't connected with 
 old Bill Strickland's campaign in no official capacity 
 that I'm aware of, and if I see fit to turn a trick on 
 my own hook, that's nobody's blame business but 
 mine, suh. Besides, maybe it's Nineveh I'm a-work- 
 in' for, 'stead of old Bill Strickland. Maybe Nine- 
 veh ain't nothin' but a one-hoss river town, sleepy 
 and old-fashioned like some folks say, but Mizzoo- 
 rah sent a Nineveh man to the United States Senate 
 
 5 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 once, don*t you forget it, and maybe I'm just workin' 
 to get her to send another to hold down the gov- 
 ernor's job in Jefferson City, suh. And if that gov- 
 ernor happens to be my friend Bill Strickland, and 
 if it so comes about that the Nineveh Daughters of 
 the Confederacy are led, accidental like, to enthuse 
 a good deal in workin' for old Bill Strickland — ^wcll, 
 I reckon th' ain't no great harm done even then, is 
 there. Judge?" 
 
 Then the Colonel chuckled. "I'll tell you one thing, 
 and that ain't two : I'd ruther have a woman's prom- 
 ise to make her husband vote for me or my candidate 
 than to have a man's own word on a stack o' Bibles 
 a mile high, suh. It's only up to the man to keep his 
 word. But it's up to the woman to prove that she 
 can manage her husband. And she'll do that, suh, or 
 die in the attempt." 
 
 Old Judge Boiling laughed. "Well, Thurs," he 
 said, "I've just been fooling with you, anyway. 
 Mrs. Todhunter herself stopped at our house this 
 morning and took Mrs. Boiling along with her, and 
 she made me promise to come later, so it's all right. 
 They'll have no excuse for saying that we're there in 
 Colonel Strickland's interest, so you and I can go 
 
 6 
 
THE CONFEDERATE DAUGHTERS 
 
 down to Indian Springs with a perfectly easy con- 
 science." 
 
 "Th* wouldn't be nothin* on my conscience, even 
 if Mrs. Todhunter hadn't asked you, suh," avowed 
 Colonel Todhunter placidly. *T know when I'm 
 sinnin' and when I ain't, and this is one o' the few 
 times I ain't. I could face every last Daughter 
 in all Nineveh this very minute, includin' Mrs. Tod- 
 hunter herself, without turnin' a hair, suh." 
 
 An hour later old Judge Boiling and Colonel Tod- 
 hunter emerged upon the picnic grounds in company, 
 having driven down in the Colonel's buggy. Mrs. 
 Todhunter, an ardent Daughter, had gone early in 
 the day, taking the old family barouche, laden with 
 good things for the dinner. 
 
 "Mrs. Todhunter, suh," the Colonel remarked on 
 the way down, **would ruther feed other people than 
 set herself down to a good meal's vittles any day. 
 I'll be jim-swizzled if I don't believe, when she gets 
 to Heaven, it'll sorter disappoint her if folks don't 
 get hungry there, and if the Old Marster don't let 
 her fix 'em somethin' fit to eat, suh !" 
 
 Mrs. Todhunter, a white-haired old aristocrat of 
 the ante-bellum type, advanced to meet her husband 
 
 7 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 and his friend. If Mrs. Todhunter had a fault it 
 was that she tacitly regarded all Nineveh as being 
 vassal to her s ;cial suzerainty and bore herself some- 
 thing as might the ruling monarch of some little 
 principality. But this manner was not apparent in 
 her bearing toward old Judge Boiling, whom she 
 knew as being of her own caste. 
 
 "I'm very glad youVe come, Judge!" she said 
 laughingly. "And especially right now. It may 
 take you and Colonel Todhunter both to make our 
 Mary and young Tom Strickland behave themselves, 
 sir. Tom has already kidnapped Mary away some- 
 where, after I put them to work spreading table- 
 cloths, and I've been vowing all sorts of vengeance 
 on both of them. I don't approve of Tom's behavior 
 at all. Judge!" 
 
 "It pains me to disagree with a lady, madam," re- 
 plied the white-haired old judge gallantly, "but I 
 must say I approve of Tom's conduct in getting 
 Miss Mary Todhunter off to himself at every chance, 
 ma'am !" 
 
 "That's all very fine. Judge," said Mrs. Tod- 
 hunter, laughing and shaking her head, "but Mary 
 has no business permitting Tom Strickland to 
 
 8 
 
THE CONFEDERATE DAUGHTERS 
 
 monopolize her. She came out here with Stamford 
 Tucker. I wouldn't blame Stam in the least if he 
 got ugly about it." 
 
 "Neither would I, ma'am," conceded the judge. 
 "I'd be more inclined to blame him if he didn't. 
 Miss Mary is too pretty a girl for any young man to 
 lose without feeling cut up about it, and I reckon 
 Stam Tucker's no more than human. Nevertheless, 
 if I was Tom's age, I'd try to do exactly what he 
 has just done, and that's the truth !" 
 
 "You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Judge 
 Boiling!" exclaimed Mrs. Todhunter. Then she 
 laughed and pointed an accusing finger. "There 
 they are now, looking like butter wouldn't melt in 
 their mouths. Won't you go over there for me. 
 Judge, and tell Tom Strickland to behave himself, 
 and send Mary to me, right away? There's no 
 earthly use in Colonel Todhunter going, because 
 neither one of them would mind a word he says!" 
 Old Judge Boiling, laughing, moved off toward the 
 young couple. 
 
 Mrs. Todhunter turned to the Colonel. "You see 
 I know you like a book. Colonel Todhunter!" she 
 said, her eyes twinkling. "You think everything 
 
 9 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 young Tom Strickland does is just right, and you'd 
 stand up for him quicker than his own father. And 
 as for Mary, she can twist you around her finger 
 any time. Don't think I place any dependence upon 
 you where they're concerned, sir!" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter smiled calmly. "I ain't askin' 
 you to, Mary," he retorted. *ln the first place, I 
 approve of Tom's fallin' as deep in love with Mary 
 as he knows how. In the second place, interferin' 
 in these here sentimental affairs is a mighty ticklish 
 business, and I'm here at this picnic to have a good 
 time. I'm a-goin' to have it, too!" Saying which, 
 he beat a hasty retreat. 
 
 But he had hardly succeeded in placing a section 
 of the picnic crowd between himself and Mrs. Tod- 
 hunter when a young girl came running along his 
 trail, breathless, and with mischievous eyes. 
 
 "Mrs. Todhunter wants you to come right back to 
 her. Colonel," she announced. "She's short on men 
 to help her, and she's awful busy. Wants you to 
 come right away, sir!'* 
 
 Colonel Todhunter glanced whimsically at the 
 messenger. "Ain't that just like a man's wife? She 
 didn't want Judge Boiling when she saw him. Oh, 
 
 10 
 
THE CONFEDERATE DAUGHTERS 
 
 no. It's me she wants. And I'll bet she's got the 
 hardest job on the grounds picked out for me right 
 now !" 
 
 Then he turned to the amused girl. "Thank you, 
 Miss Louise," he said ruefully. "Please tell Mrs. 
 Todhunter I'll be there in two or three minutes. Oh, 
 of coursse, you got to laugh at me. There's nothin' 
 you women like better than to see a man ordered 
 around by his wife. And I'm a-goin' to obey orders, 
 too. But I'll get back there by mighty slow degrees, 
 I tell you!" With which he began a dignified re- 
 treat. 
 
 Suddenly, but a little distance ahead, he saw Tom 
 Strickland parting from Mary. They were a hand- 
 some couple, the Colonel's daughter an exquisite 
 type of the well-born southern girl, her hair and 
 eyes a rarely pure brown, her skin of almost baby 
 fairness, a proud little mouth, a joyous bearing; the 
 youth a tall and well-built young country-bred 
 gentleman, his eyes a clear blue, his hair a sun- 
 burned yellow, his mouth and chin clean-cut and 
 firm. Colonel Todhunter approved heartily of both. 
 
 As Mary left her companion and went to join her 
 mother, a second girl, with obvious intent, crossed 
 
 II 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 Tom Strickland^s path. She was of a different type, 
 a plebeian beauty, black-haired, with passionate eyes, 
 full red lips, a suggestion of rich animal life in her 
 movements. 
 
 "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Tom 
 Strickland !" she said in a low tone, a little break in 
 her voice. "You let me drop like I was somethin* 
 you despised just the minute you caught sight of 
 Mary Todhunter. I wouldn't treat a dog that way, 
 Tom!" 
 
 There was something pitiful in the utter frankness 
 of surrender with which the speaker's eyes confessed 
 her liking for Tom Strickland. Colonel Todhunter 
 knew her well. She was the granddaughter of old 
 "Rafe" Doggett, who had been a private soldier in 
 a Confederate regiment during the Civil War. The 
 family belonged to the class once known as "poor 
 whites," but old Doggett had been a good soldier, 
 and Lottie-May, his granddaughter, owed her mem- 
 bership in the Daughters of the Confederacy to the 
 esteem in which he was held. 
 
 This was even more than a concession to inferior 
 caste. The darkly beautiful country girl whom old 
 Rafe Doggett's son had married in another state 
 
 12 
 
THE CONFEDERATE DAUGHTERS 
 
 had gone away from home one day, leaving her baby 
 daughter behind, and never returned. A pictur- 
 esquely handsome "Indian herb doctor," who had 
 been peddHng his wares in Nineveh for some days, 
 and was known to have paid bold attentions to her, 
 disappeared at the same time. Lottie-May Doggett, 
 inheriting the same vital beauty of soft roundness, 
 red lips and sensuous black eyes, had grown up in 
 Nineveh, defiant, under the shadow of her mother's 
 shame. 
 
 Tom Strickland stared at the girl, plainly sur- 
 prised. "Why, Lottie-May!" he exclaimed. *T 
 won't let you think such a thing ! I only hurried to 
 say 'howdy' to Miss Mary because she had just got 
 here. Anyway" — and here he smiled teasingly — "I 
 could see with one eye that Stam Tucker was just 
 wild to have a talk with you !" 
 
 Lottie-May's eyes flashed. "Stam Tucker — 
 shucks !" she cried scornfully. "I wouldn't wipe my 
 feet on him, Tom, when you're around, and you 
 know it ! But I can tell you one thing" — and here 
 a note of proud vanity sounded in her voice — "tryin' 
 hard as he is to git Miss Mary Todhunter to marry 
 him, just like you are, Stam Tucker loves me more 
 
 13 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 in one minute than he will love her in his whole life- 
 time!" 
 
 "Lottie-May!" ejaculated Tom angrily, "you 
 mustn't talk like that! You ought to be ashamed. 
 You've got no right to couple Miss Mary Tod- 
 hunter's name — " 
 
 "No, no, that's it!" interrupted the girl hotly. 
 "I mustn't mention Mary Todhunter's name in the 
 same breath with mine. It ain't right, you think! 
 Well, I will— and I hate her! I hate her!" 
 
 "I didn't mean that, Lottie-May," protested Tom. 
 "You know I didn't mean that — " 
 
 But the girl was gone. Hagar-like, she moved 
 with a sort of outcast pride, her pretty head held 
 high, her eyes flashing. In a moment she had disap- 
 peared in the crowd. 
 
 "Tom," said Colonel Todhunter, advancing, 
 "you'd better be hurryin' to where Mrs. Todhunter 
 is, and make your peace for stealin' Mary away. 
 You're in hot water, young man!" 
 
 Tom Strickland flushed consciously. "Colonel, 
 I reckon you heard what Lottie-May Doggett was 
 saying to me?" 
 
 "I couldn't very well help it, Tom." 
 14 
 
THE CONFEDERATE DAUGHTERS 
 
 "Well, sir, you mustn't draw any wrong con- 
 clusions from what she said. Colonel Todhunter. 
 Lottie-May's a good girl, so far as I know, and I've 
 always felt sorry for her. But she's been brought up 
 under a cloud and it's made her sorter reckless and 
 full of the devil. I don't believe she cares how 
 black she paints herself, and I think too much of her 
 to take her at her word about knowing that Stam 
 Tucker loves her and makes love to her without 
 thinking of marrying her. That's just her wild talk, 
 sir." 
 
 "She's certainly grown up to be a mighty pretty 
 girl, Tom," said Colonel Todhunter. "And now 
 that you've broached the subject, and I've heard 
 what I have, will you let me give you a word of 
 advice?" 
 
 "Certainly, Colonel," replied Tom. 
 
 "Well, Tom, speakin' plainly, it's this. You bet- 
 ter fight mighty shy of Lottie-May hereafter, sub. 
 I don't mean anything against the girl. But she 
 thinks a lot of you, and she don't mind lettin* you 
 know it, and that makes a mighty dangerous situa- 
 tion. It ain't safe to play with fire, Tom, 'specially 
 when a girl like Lottie-May is blowin' the flame." 
 
 15 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "Oh, pshaw. Colonel!"— but Tom Strickland 
 laughed uneasily. "Lottie-May can't harm me any. 
 And I don't want to hurt her feelings, sir." 
 
 "That's all right, Tom. But you just take my 
 word for it. The best way not to hurt her feelin's 
 after this is to keep away from her, suh. I'm a good 
 deal older'n you, and I know what I'm talkin' about." 
 
 Then, seeing that the young man was ill at ease 
 and, maybe, inwardly resentful. Colonel Todhunter 
 left him, to his obvious relief. 
 
 But the Colonel himself shook his head doubtfully. 
 "There ain't no bigger fool on earth, suh," he com- 
 muned with himself, "than a healthy young chap in 
 his twenties, with a head fuller of women than a 
 squash is of seeds — and just about as soft as that 
 there squash, too, suh. / I don't like to think of 
 Tom Strickland, with Mary on one side of him, and 
 him lovin' the very ground she walks on, and Lottie- 
 May Doggett on the other side of him, and her lovin' 
 him the way she does love him. Old Solomon him- 
 self 'd have his hands full with such a proposition. 
 And old Solomon has forgot more about women 
 than Tom Strickland'll ever know if he lives to be 
 a hundred." 
 
 i6 
 
THE CONFEDERATE DAUGHTERS 
 
 Even as he thus mused an approaching figure 
 brought a humorous grin to Colonel Todhunter's 
 lips. It was the martial figure of Captain Sim Bird- 
 song of the Nineveh Light Infantry, but without the 
 aggressive support of his regimentals, and with 
 dejection in his every line. Sim's face was the tragic 
 mask itself. 
 
 "Great name above, Cap'n!" vociferated the Colo- 
 nel, mock apprehension in his tone, "what in thun- 
 deration is the matter, suh? You look like you'd 
 lost your last friend on earth !" 
 
 "Colonel Todhunter," said Sim solemnly, "you're 
 the very man I wanted to see, suh. I'm in a peck of 
 trouble, and I'm a-goin' to ask you to tell me the best 
 way out of it, if you'll be so kind, suh — ^you havin' 
 more experience in the world than me." 
 
 "Sim," replied Colonel Todhunter, "I don't know 
 whether I can or not, but I'll do my level best, suh. 
 Specify your trouble." 
 
 "Colonel," responded Sim wearily, "it's Miss 
 Angelica Exall's ma, that's what it is. I can't shake 
 her off, suh. That old woman's worse'n the seven- 
 year itch. I can't get rid of her for a minute, 
 Colonel Todhunter!" 
 
 17 
 
y COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "My good Lord, man! Are you tellin' me that 
 Mrs. Exall's fastened herself on to you and can't 
 be shook off, suh ?" 
 
 "It's worse'n that. Colonel. I wish that was it, 
 'cause then I'd stand some chance of gettin' in a 
 word edgewise with Miss Angelica, anyway. But 
 ^t's her she's fastened herself on to. Yes, suh, that 
 old lady's a-campin' right at Miss Angelica's side, 
 and won't let me come within a mile of her, suh. 
 I've been hoppin' around all day, like grease on a 
 hot skillet, and I ain't spoke to Miss Angelica yet. 
 Colonel." 
 
 "What do you want me to do, Sim ?" 
 
 "I want you to see if you can't toll Miss An- 
 gelica's ma away from her for a little while. Colonel, 
 that's what I want. The old lady hates me worse'n 
 poison, so I dasn't come right out and face her, suh. 
 I can see right now, plain as the nose on my face, 
 that I've got to leave this picnic without sayin' a 
 blessed word to Miss Angelica, 'less'n somebody 
 helps me out o' the fix I'm in. Couldn't you figure 
 out some way of doin' it, suh? Miss Angelica's ma 
 thinks a heap o' you." 
 
 Colonel Todhunter smiled grimly. "Sim, there 
 i8 
 
THE CONFEDERATE DAUGHTERS 
 
 ain't but one way, and that's by draggin' Mrs. Tod- 
 hunter into it. I ain't got no business doin' that, but 
 I'll try if I can make the riffle. I'll see if I can't fool 
 Mrs. Todhunter into sendin' word to old Mrs. Exall 
 that she needs her to help with the dinner. But you 
 got to hide out when that word is delivered, suh. 
 From what you say, Miss Angelica'll have to go 
 right along with her ma if there's any sign o' you 
 bein' in the neighborhood, Sim." 
 
 "Colonel Todhunter, that's a mighty fine idea, 
 and I believe it'll work like a charm, suh. If I get 
 any kind of a talk with Miss Angelica, Colonel, I'll 
 be grateful to you all the rest of my born days!" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter chuckled, but made no reply. 
 The next moment he was headed for the spot where 
 his wife ruled the arrangements for dinner. 
 
 "Well, well. Colonel Todhunter!" that lady cried. 
 "I'm certainly surprised to see you, honey. But I 
 reckon you must have heard that all the work's done 
 and dinner's about ready, and you're too hungry to 
 wait any longer!" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter laughed into Mrs. Todhunter*s 
 bantering eyes. "Mary," he said, "I want you to do 
 a good turn for poor Sim Birdsong." 
 
 19 
 
COLONEL' TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "Why, what in the world's the matter with Sim ? 
 That boy hasn't gone and hurt himself, has he?" 
 
 "Mary," said Colonel Todhunter, "Sim's havin' 
 the very old scratch of a time. He's try in' to get 
 just a minute's chance to court Miss Angelica Exall 
 and her ma won't let him have it. We got to help 
 him. Don't you need old Mrs. Exall over here for 
 a minute, Mary ?" 
 
 Mrs. Todhunter contemplated her husband sternly. 
 
 "Well, I do declare. Colonel Todhunter!" she 
 ejaculated. "If I was such a dyed-in-the-wool 
 matchmaker as you, I'd be afraid to go out among 
 young folks at all! You ought to be ashamed of 
 yourself !" 
 
 But Colonel Todhunter held his ground manfully 
 t— he knew Mrs. Todhunter. Not in all Nineveh 
 was there another happily married woman who cher- 
 ished a deeper sympathy for young people sweet- 
 hearting under difficulties than did Mrs. Todhunter. 
 Her bosom yearned even now to succor Sim Bird- 
 song in his sentimental plight. Her eyes took on 
 a pensive look. Then she surrendered uncondition- 
 ally. 
 
 "You go and tell Mrs. Exall to hurry over here !" 
 20 
 
THE CONFEDERATE DAUGHTERS 
 
 she said. "It so happens that I do need her to help 
 dish up the dinner. If I didn't I wouldn't send for 
 her to save Sim Birdsong's life!" But Colonel 
 Todhunter knew better. 
 
 Half an hour later Sim waylaid him in a grate- 
 ful ambuscade. "Colonel Todhunter," he said, "it 
 worked. And I've said some words to Miss Angel- 
 ica Exall that I've been trying to say for a month, 
 suh. I'll never forget you and Mrs. Todhunter the 
 longest day I live, Colonel!" 
 
 Whereupon, rejoicing, Colonel Todhunter thence- 
 forward devoted himself to a zealous prosecution 
 of the Strickland campaign. 
 
 "Judge," he said to old Judge Boiling late that 
 same afternoon, "it don't never pay to miss a chance 
 of makin' a friend in politics. A man never knows 
 till election day just how bad he'll need 'em, and then 
 it's too late to act on his knowledge. Yes, suh — old 
 *Lost Opportunities' has beat more candidates for 
 office than all the men that ever ran on the opposi- 
 tion ticket, suh!" 
 
 A moment later he laughed to himself. 
 
 "I'll tell you, suh," he concluded, "if old Bill 
 Strickland ain't solid with the Daughters of the Con- 
 
 21 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 federacy here in Nineveh, it ain't my fault. I ain't 
 never worked so hard with the women since I 
 courted Mrs. Todhunter — and she shore did make 
 me work overtime and no mistake, suh !" 
 
 ^2 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 MARY TODHUNTER ENTERTAINS THE GREEN-EYED 
 MONSTER 
 
 COLONEL TODHUNTER was seated in his 
 favorite cane-bottomed arm-chair at the far 
 end of the wide "gallery" extending across the en- 
 tire front of his home, an old-fashioned colonial 
 house of hospitable aspect. With Mrs. Todhunter 
 he had just returned from the Daughters of the 
 Confederacy picnic, and they were awaiting the 
 arrival of Mary and her escort, Stam Tucker, before 
 having supper. 
 
 The Todhunter residence stood on the crest of a 
 gentle slope overlooking the pleasing sweep of Mis- 
 souri countryside that intervened between the town 
 of Nineveh and the Colonel's own peaceful fields of 
 growing corn. Mrs. Todhunter sat close to her hus- 
 band, her hands folded in her lap, her happiness- 
 sweetened eyes contemplating the pastoral picture 
 that had come to seem a vital part of her own life. 
 
 "They'd better be almighty quick about gettin' 
 23 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI ^ 
 
 here, if they know what's good for 'em," grumbled 
 Colonel Todhunter wistfully. "I'm as hungry as 
 a young hound-dog this very minute. I'll be shot 
 full of holes if my stomach don't feel like my throat's 
 cut, Mary. I could eat a grindstone right now, if 
 somebody'd bust it up and pass it to me on a plate 
 for real vittles!" 
 
 "You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Colonel 
 Todhunter," smiled Mrs. Todhunter, "after that 
 dinner you ate at the Daughters' picnic ! I declare to 
 goodness, I was afraid they'd all think you never 
 got anything fit to eat at home !" 
 
 "When I'm ashamed of having a good appetite, 
 Mary," replied Colonel Todhunter, "and 'specially 
 if I ever come to that day when I ain't got it, I'll 
 ask the Old Marster up above to call me to my 
 heavenly home. Th' ain't no man got a right to turn 
 away from wholesome vittles when the good Lord's 
 been bountiful enough to pervide 'em for that man's 
 eatin'. Nature don't never give a man such a right. 
 If he gets so he can't relish his food, it's one of her 
 punishments for his playin' Tom Fool with himself, 
 sinnin' and skylarkin' around. And I ain't never 
 
 24 
 
THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER 
 
 seen no piddler at meal times that was fit to do a 
 man's work!" 
 
 Mrs. Todhunter laughed outright. "I£ you're eat- 
 ing to get ready for hard work. Colonel Todhunter, 
 I'm certainly glad to see you eat hearty, because 
 you're likely to be kept mighty busy nominatin' 
 Colonel Strickland for governor of Missouri. You 
 could nominate yourself a heap easier." 
 
 "Maybe I could, honey," replied Colonel Tod- 
 hunter, "but Bill Strickland's a mighty popular man 
 all the same, and he deserves to be. I reckon I could 
 be elected easier'n him, too, knowin' blame nigh 
 every Democrat in Mizzoorah, but I'd make a 
 mighty poor governor. You got to handle some all- 
 fired measly customers in politics, and I ain't got 
 patience enough to handle 'em right. That's exactly 
 where old Bill Strickland's got me beat. He can 
 use all sorts o' men, crooked and straight, to gain 
 honest ends — ^he proved it when he was chairman of 
 the state committee — and that's what a governor's 
 got to do to accomplish anything worth while. 
 That's why I'm workin' for Bill Strickland. He 
 ain't only my friend — ^he's far and away the best 
 
 25 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 man for governor of Mizzoorah visible to the naked 
 eye at the present writin'." 
 
 Mrs. Todhunter's comprehending eyes rested 
 softly on the Colonel's grizzled visage. "Thurston," 
 she said, "I know better than that. I know better 
 than you do why you'd rather have Colonel Strick- 
 land run for governor than to run yourself. It's be- 
 cause they couldn't pull you away from Nineveh and 
 this old home of ours with a yoke of oxen." 
 
 Something of incredulous surprise flashed into 
 Colonel Todhunter's face. Then his eyes swept 
 lovingly across the familiar Missouri landscape 
 spread out before him. He looked at Mrs. Tod- 
 hunter and smiled. 
 
 'T reckon you've guessed it, honey," he spoke at 
 last, almost wonderingly. "But I'll be tarred and 
 feathered if I ever realized it until you told me. The 
 good Lord above us, Mary — if I was elected gov- 
 ernor and knew I had to live up yonder in Jeff City 
 for four years, I'd die of homesickness the first dash 
 out o' the box. Th' ain't no money and no fame 
 could pay me for doin' it, suh !" 
 
 Mrs. Todhunter's eyes gleamed with laughter. 
 "That's you all over, Thurston, and I wouldn't have 
 
 26 
 
THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER 
 
 you changed a speck, not for anything in the world. 
 No, not even if the dear Lord Himself told me He 
 was willin' to do it !" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter contemplated his wife gravely. 
 "That's a mighty lucky thing, Mary," he replied 
 then, his eyes twinkling just a trifle. "Lucky for 
 you and a blamed sight luckier for me, 'cause I 
 reckon I got to stay just like I am to the end o' the 
 chapter, honey." 
 
 At that moment the sound of young voices was 
 heard from the twilight-shadowed avenue leading 
 up to the house. Then a buggy drawn by a high- 
 stepping bay mare came into view. 
 
 "That's Mary and Stam Tucker, now," said Mrs. 
 Todhunter. "And I'm glad Mary's home. I don't 
 like that skittish horse Stam Tucker drives." 
 
 "That there mare o' Stam's ain't a bit more skit- 
 tish than Mary Todhunter herself," Colonel Tod- 
 hunter responded, chuckling. "And they're both a- 
 goin' to give Stam the surprise of his life one o' these 
 days. Just look at Mary, honey! You'd think she 
 was a kitten set right down by a saucer o' cream, 
 she's so tickled. She's havin' as good a time with 
 Stam Tucker as if they wan't no such young man as 
 
 27 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 Tom Strickland in all the world. And right this min- 
 ute she wouldn't give Tom Strickland's little finger 
 for Stam Tucker's whole body and soul and all old 
 Eph Tucker's money thrown in to boot !" 
 
 Mrs. Todhunter laughed lightly. "Mary's just 
 beginning to receive company, Colonel Todhunter," 
 she expounded. ''And like all girls, she wants to 
 have a good time with her beaux. If it don't happen 
 to be Tom Strickland that's handy, it'll be Stam 
 Tucker. And if it isn't Stam, it'll be somebody 
 else." 
 
 "Mrs. Todhunter," returned the Colonel, "you're 
 wastin' your breath tellin' me things like that. I 
 know Mary Todhunter, and I knew you when you 
 was Mary Todhunter's age. If she ain't the livin' 
 likeness of what you was then, I'll eat my hat, so 
 what can you tell me that I don't know already? 
 Tom Strickland will have his hands full bringin' her 
 to a standstill, I tell you!" 
 
 By this time Mary and her escort had reached the 
 house and Stam Tucker was assisting her from the 
 buggy. Mrs. Todhunter and the Colonel advanced 
 to meet them. 
 
 "You've got to stay to supper, Stam," said Mrs. 
 28 
 
THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER 
 
 Todhunter. "I know you must be good and hungry, 
 and Colonel Todhunter will have old Jupiter take 
 your horse around to the stable. You and Mary 
 come right in now." 
 
 Stam Tucker gladly accepted the invitation, the 
 Colonel calling to old Uncle Jupiter, the faithful 
 family retainer, to take charge of the bay mare, and 
 then the Todhunters and their guest went in to 
 supper. 
 
 But, hungry though he had declared himself, and 
 grateful as was the Missouri supper of fried chicken, 
 egg-bread, butterbeans and corn on the ear, with 
 coffee made under Mrs. Todhunter's own super- 
 vision. Colonel Todhunter found time to divert 
 himself vastly with the two young people. 
 
 "You boys and girls these days are a mighty low- 
 spirited lot," he announced gravely. "I was a-study- 
 in' all of you at the Daughters* picnic, and I never in 
 all my born days saw young folks miss so many 
 chances for havin' fun !" 
 
 "Why, father !" indignantly cried Mary. "I think 
 we had the nicest kind of a time ! I know I did, any- 
 way. Didn't you, Mr. Tucker?" 
 
 "Indeed I did. Miss Mary!" promptly replied 
 29 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 Stam Tucker, but with a discomfiting recollection of 
 Tom Strickland in his mind. **And it certainly was 
 a big success for the Daughters, too. They must 
 have made a lot for the soldiers' home, I should 
 think." 
 
 "They'd ha' made a lot more," said Colonel Tod- 
 hunter, "if you young people had been more'n half 
 alive. What the Daughters ought to ha' done was 
 to have a good old-fashioned fiddler out there and 
 got up a big barn-dance, chargin' everybody extra 
 for dancin'." 
 
 "A barn-dance — oh!" mocked Mary, her pretty 
 nose uptilted. "I'd like to see myself taking part in 
 a barn-dance — ^just like we were living in the back- 
 woods !" 
 
 "You'd see yourself enjoyin' a mighty fine frolic 
 if you did, young lady!" declared the Colonel val- 
 iantly. "Good old Virginia reels and cotillions, and 
 a mazurka and schottische or two sandwiched in be- 
 tween 'em, ain't to be sneezed at, let me tell you !" 
 
 The speaker glared at the scornful young couple. 
 Then he chuckled. "And you ought to ha' played 
 kissin' games, too," he resumed. " *Spin the Plate,' 
 and Tleased or Displeased,' and 'Heavy, Heavy, 
 
 30 
 
THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER 
 
 Hangs Over Your Head.' Great name above, th' 
 ain't nothin' like them there old games for makin' 
 young people real sociable!" 
 
 i Mary tossed her head disdainfully. "Kissing 
 games, indeed !" she cried. "If that ain't old-fash- 
 ioned, I'd like to know !" 
 
 " 'Course it's old-fashioned," agreed Colonel Tod- 
 hunter, the light of relish ful teasing in his eyes. "So 
 is kissin' itself, for that matter. But I won't trust 
 none of you Nineveh girls behind the door when 
 there's any kissin' goin' on, old-fashioned or no old- 
 fashioned. Miss Mary Todhunter!" 
 
 "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, father!" 
 cried Mary, mightily indignant. "What in the 
 world will Mr. Tucker think?" 
 ' "I don't care what Stam thinks, it's true all the 
 same," returned Colonel Todhunter gravely. "And 
 what's in it to be ashamed of? The trouble with 
 you young folks nowadays is that you're skeered to 
 death o' bein' natural. You know you've got to play 
 the old game, but you think you're smart enough to 
 play it in a new way, and you ain't. All you do is 
 to spoil the game, like to-day. I didn't see ary single 
 one o' you do a real natural thing from beginnin' to 
 
 31 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 end — and I had my eyes peeled every last blessed 
 minute !" 
 
 "I can vouch for that !" laughed Mrs. Todhunter. 
 "You can't keep yourself out of young people's 
 affairs to save your life, Thurston." 
 
 "I want to help 'em along, that's why," chuckled 
 Colonel Todhunter. "But I must say I had mighty 
 hard sleddin' on that there job this day !" At this 
 every one laughed. 
 
 "Anyway," continued Colonel Todhunter, as they 
 left the supper table and returned to the front 
 gallery, "it's more the fault o' the young men than 
 it is of the girls, I'll be flam-jiggered if it ain't. I 
 never saw such a lot of I'11-run-if-you-touch-me 
 beaux since the good Lord made me. Ain't that so, 
 Stam?" 
 
 "I hope not. Colonel," replied Stam Tucker, laugh- 
 ing. "I certainly did my best to give Miss Mary and 
 the other young ladies a good time." He looked a bit 
 reproachfully at Mary as he spoke. 
 
 "Indeed you did, Stam!" said Mary quickly, re- 
 membering Tom Strickland's better treatment by 
 her. "You're just as nice an escort as any girl 
 could ask." 
 
 32 
 
THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER 
 
 Colonel Todhunter snorted. "Long-sufferin' pa- 
 tience!" he mocked. "That's just the trouble, Stam 
 Tucker! All you Nineveh boys are good enough 
 when it comes to fetchin' and carry in' for the girls, 
 but that don't count for shucks. The sort o' man 
 they like is the man that bosses 'em around, that 
 throws his handkerchief at 'em and makes 'em come 
 when he calls, and none of you Nineveh sparks seems 
 to have sand enough for that. You needn't tell me 
 you've got it, Stam Tucker, and not even Tom 
 Strickland—" 
 
 "Speak of the angels. Colonel," Tom Strickland's 
 own voice interposed from the lowest step of the 
 gallery, "and you hear the flutter of their wings!" 
 
 "No, I don't, not by a jugful," retorted Colonel 
 Todhunter, unruffled. "When any of you Strick- 
 lands begin sproutin' wings, the world's comin' to an 
 end. How are you, Tom ? I didn't know you were 
 there!" 
 
 "Why didn't you come in to supper, Tom ?" asked 
 Mrs. Todhunter. 
 
 "I had supper at home, thank you, Mrs. Tod- 
 hunter," answered the young man, ascending to join 
 the little group as he spoke. "Howdy, Miss Mary. 
 
 33 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 Hope you're not feeling tired after the picnic. How 
 are you, Stam?" 
 
 The jealous antagonism between the two young 
 men made itself instantly felt. Stam Tucker plainly 
 resented Tom's entrance upon the scene. The latter 
 as plainly showed that he had come purposely to be in 
 his rival's way. The situation was greatly to Colonel 
 Todhunter's humorous liking. 
 
 "Well, well!" he exclaimed innocently. "Great 
 Scott and Maria, you must have hot- footed it away 
 from your vittles, young man! If your daddy '11 
 only get such a move ,on for governor we'll win 
 hands down !" 
 
 Tom Strickland laughed. "It all depends, 
 Colonel," he made pointed answer, "on how badly 
 my father wants to be governor. If he wants it 
 half as bad as I wanted to call on Miss Mary this 
 evening, I'll back him for a winner against all 
 comers!" 
 
 The note of challenge was unmistakable. Stam 
 Tucker's face darkened with anger. Mary Tod- 
 hunter blushed to the roots of her hair. The 
 Colonel's grim lips twitched with amused approval, 
 his eyes twinkling under their shaggy gray brows. 
 
 34 
 
THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER 
 
 But Mrs. Todhunter came to the rescue with some 
 placid remark that eased the momentary strain. 
 
 A little later she and Colonel Todhunter withdrew 
 to their own end of the gallery, leaving Mary to 
 entertain her callers. Colonel Todhunter was vastly 
 tickled. 
 
 "Lord, Mary,*' he confided to his wife, "them two 
 young rascals wouldn't like nothin' better'n to get at 
 each other, hammer and tongs, this very minute ! I 
 declare, honey, this here old world of our'n don't 
 change a bit. It's percisely like our own young days, 
 I'll be eternally whipsawed if it ain't, and it's been 
 that way for all time — as it was in the beginnin', is 
 now, and ever shall be, world without end, amen !" 
 
 And so profoundly interested was the Colonel that 
 he would gladly have lingered to see which of the 
 two young men "sat the other out" had not Mrs. 
 Todhunter fairly compelled him to accompany her 
 into the house at last. It was with a sigh of genuine 
 disappointment that he arose to do her bidding. 
 
 "Bless my soul, it's as good as a show !" he said. 
 "But I don't wonder you pull me away from seein' 
 it, Mrs. Todhunter. Your daughter Mary's playin* 
 every one o' your old tricks over again. You've got 
 
 35 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 good reason for not wantin' me to keep tab on 'em 
 at this late day, madam!" 
 
 The moon had just moved majestically out from 
 behind a little silver-edged cloud. Colonel Tod- 
 hunter's eyes swept across the softly mellowed Mis- 
 souri night-picture. Then he nodded his head as if 
 communing with himself. 
 
 "You're right, honey," he spoke finally. "Good 
 Lord above us ! I'm just as much a part of all this 
 as our old house here, or the trees and the grass 
 and them there cornfields 'way across the pike yon- 
 der. Go away from Nineveh? Why, they'd have 
 to pull me up by the roots to make me do it, suh !" 
 
 36 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 **FOR GOVERNOR — WILLIAM J. STRICKLAND OF 
 
 COLONEL TODHUNTER'S heart swelled 
 with an unselfish pride fulness. 
 
 The favorite old Mississippi steamer. Gray Eagle, 
 now in full view from where he stood at the Nineveh 
 landing, was bringing homeward the Honorable 
 William J. Strickland of Nineveh, at last an avowed 
 candidate for the Democratic nomination for gov- 
 ernor of Missouri. 
 
 Colonel Todhunter himself had organized the 
 public reception at this very moment awaiting the 
 most distinguished of Nineveh's citizens. "I'll be 
 shot full o' holes, suh," he said to Dick Cantrill, 
 editor and proprietor of the Nineveh Weekly Blade, 
 "if we don't show the people of this here state what 
 old Bill Strickland's home-folks think of him, any- 
 way. Th' ain't nothin' more helpful to a candidate 
 than provin' that them as knows the most about him 
 has the least against him, suh." 
 
 37 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "What about Squire Tucker's opposition. Colo- 
 nel ?" asked Dick Cantrill. 
 
 "That's better'n his indorsement, suh!" retorted 
 Colonel Todhunter. "Long as IVe known Bill 
 Strickland, if I knew old Eph Tucker was supportin' 
 him I'd be against him on suspicion, suh, blamed if 
 I wouldn't!" 
 
 Knowing the speaker better than he knew himself, 
 Dick Cantrill laughed. Colonel Todhunter and 
 Colonel Strickland were friends from boyhood. 
 Friendship was something in the nature of a religion 
 with Colonel Todhunter. In his simple creed he did 
 not simply "like" his friends. He loved them with 
 a trustful steadfastness that knew no limitations of 
 loyalty or of potential sacrifice. 
 
 "Barrin' his wife and children, suh," Colonel 
 Todhunter was wont to say, "a man's friends is all 
 that's worth while in this here world of our'n. And 
 his old friends, them that was young with him when 
 he was makin' as many different kinds of a fool of 
 himself as the law allows — well, suh, th' ain't no 
 price can be set on 'em, neither gold nor rubies nor 
 jasper nor frankincense and myrrh, as the Good 
 Book says, suh !" 
 
 38 
 
STRICKLAND OF NINEVEH 
 
 Colonel Todhunter had been vastly impatient for 
 the return of the Honorable William J. Strickland. 
 When the Gray Eagle rounded the bend in the 
 river two miles below Nineveh and waked the Mis- 
 souri echoes with the mellow tunefulness of her 
 famous baritone whistle, the Colonel's face became 
 splendidly illumined. 
 
 "There he comes, folks!" he cried. "There 
 comes old Bill Strickland, the man we're a-goin' to 
 nominate and elect governor of Mizzoorah! All 
 ready, now? Hip! Hip! Hooray!" 
 
 A mighty cheer rose from the crowd assembled 
 on the Nineveh wharf-boat and smote afar the ears 
 of Colonel Bill Strickland, where he stood beside 
 Captain Beverly Leigh, on the Gray Eagle's upper 
 deck. The candidate's eyes twinkled as they met 
 those of the weather-beaten river-man. 
 
 "That's old Thurs T. Todhunter's doing, Bev," he 
 spoke. "I'll bet he's got nigh about all the male 
 population of Nineveh rally in' around him at that 
 landing. The old rascal !" 
 
 Once more the cheering from Nineveh throats 
 rose as the Gray Eagle neared the landing and the' 
 Honorable William J. Strickland waved his hand 
 
 39 
 
' COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 toward the waiting multitude. It increased in vol- 
 ume as he made his way downward until he stood 
 pictorially framed in at the farther end of the low- 
 ered gang-plank. It was a great moment for Nine- 
 veh. 
 
 Already the Nineveh brass band was playing 
 Hail to the Chief with tremendous fervor. The 
 gorgeously uniformed Nineveh Light Infantry stood 
 in company front at parade rest behind the band. 
 All Nineveh, it seemed, was assembled back of them 
 on the wharf-boat and along the immediate river 
 front. The ardent gathering split the air with 
 shouts of high acclaim as the well-known figure of 
 Colonel Bill Strickland crossed the steamer's gang- 
 plank. The next moment Colonel Thurs T. Tod- 
 hunter, advancing, was seen to grasp his hand. 
 
 Each man accomplished a splendid cavalier sweep 
 of his wide-brimmed soft hat. Then they stood fac- 
 ing each other in a fine attitude of cordial dignity. 
 They were prime types of two of the four strains of 
 pioneer blood that are blended in the Missouri type 
 itself. Colonel Todhunter coming of Kentucky stock 
 and Colonel Strickland of Tennessee. Virginia and 
 New England were the other contributors to the 
 
 40 
 
STRICKLAND OF NINEVEH 
 
 blend. The three southern states named are respon- 
 sible for the emotional endowment that has made 
 Missouri **spell-binders" long famous on the stump. 
 The eastern states have supplied that cooler, steadier 
 and more practical strain that constitutes Missouri's 
 balance-wheel in character adjustment. 
 
 Linking arms. Colonel Todhunter and the Hon- 
 orable William J. Strickland moved through the ap- 
 plauding hosts to an open carriage. 
 
 "After you, suh!" said Colonel Todhunter cere- 
 moniously, waving his companion to the seat of 
 honor- "And, suh, I beg to notify you that this is 
 the beginnin* of your triumphal progress to the 
 executive mansion at Jefferson City, suh !" 
 
 Renewed cheering greeted this imposing an- 
 nouncement. The Honorable William J. Strickland 
 took his place in the carriage. Colonel Todhunter 
 followed him. The mayor of Nineveh, the editor 
 of the Blade and other local celebrities occupied the 
 remaining vehicles. 
 
 Captain Sim Birdsong of the Nineveh Light In- 
 fantry, a veteran of the Spanish War, now stiffened 
 until his spine was as straight and rigid as a ramrod. 
 Ordinarily Sim was rather an awkward young Mis- 
 
 41 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 sourian, sandy-haired, freckle- faced and easily 
 abashed. But he became fiercely martial the mo- 
 ment he donned his regimentals. 
 
 "Cump'ny — 'Tenshun-n-n !" roared Captain Sim. 
 "Carry — humps! Shoulder — ^humps! Right fo'- 
 ward — fo's right — ^march! Col'm right — march!" 
 
 Even as the thrilling commands were given and 
 the Nineveh Light Infantry, in column of fours, 
 came swinging on and took its station in front of 
 the Strickland carriage, the Nineveh brass band at 
 the head of the column struck up Stars and Stripes 
 Forever and the first parade of the Strickland cam- 
 paign for the governorship of Missouri was under 
 way. 
 
 "Seems to me. Bill," said Colonel Todhunter as 
 the carriage moved off, "that you came out for the 
 nomination at exactly the right minute in that St. 
 Louis announcement of your'n. The old machine 
 crowd's a-backin' Steve Yancey to a fare-you-well, 
 and the people's sick and tired of the whole outfit, 
 suh. I miss my guess if th' ain't a stampede in your 
 direction." 
 
 Colonel Bill Strickland smiled doubtfully. "Our 
 side seems to think that I'm the best man to make the 
 
 42 
 
. STRICKLAND OF NINEVEH 
 
 race, Thurs," he spoke, "but you're 'way off if you 
 think there ain't going to be a fight. It'll be hot and 
 heavy straight down the line. Whoever wins will 
 win after the toughest scrabble you and me ever saw 
 in Missouri politics, my friend." 
 
 "I ain't objectin' none to a fight," said Colonel 
 Todhunter. "But this is the fust time in the history 
 of Mizzoorah that the Democrats nominate their 
 candidate for governor at the polls, 'stead of in a 
 nominatin' convention, and I b'lieve they're a-goin' 
 to make sure of an honest man. It looks good to me, 
 suh." 
 
 Pausing for just a moment, he resumed. "Here's 
 the way I size up the situation. Mizzoorah Demo- 
 crats know now that the old gang is crookeder'n a 
 dog's hind leg, suh. They know you've been frozen 
 out of the state committee chairmanship because 
 that bunch ain't got no more use for you'n a hoss- 
 thief's got for a square sheriff. You stand for a 
 return to straight politics, in their eyes. And now 
 the voters don't have to leave the nominatin' busi- 
 ness to a convention that's fuller of tricks'n a cur 
 dog is of fleas, suh. That's why I'm a-countin' on 
 your bein' nominated." 
 
 43 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "Maybe so," replied the other. "But the ma- 
 chine's going to fight me all it knows how, from 
 start to finish. The fight'll begin right here in my 
 own town. Old Eph Tucker, the richest man in 
 Nineveh, is Stephen K. Yancey's personal repre- 
 sentative in this neck o' the woods, and old Eph 
 Tucker hates me so hard it keeps him awake at 
 nights." 
 
 "Well, suh," chuckled Colonel Todhunter, "if the 
 old gang waits for Eph Tucker to spend any of his 
 money in politics, they'll wait a mighty long time, 
 suh. He squeezes ev'y dollar o' his'n till the eagle 
 screams and flies back into his own pocket, and you 
 know it." 
 
 Colonel Strickland laughed. Suddenly he held up 
 one finger. "What's that ?" 
 
 A sound of strident music, punctuated by terrific 
 and hollow thumpings at rhythmic intervals, came 
 from the little strip of Nineveh lying between them 
 and the town hall. 
 
 The light of battle leaped into Colonel Todhun- 
 ter's eyes. "I'll be eternally flimflammed," he cried, 
 "if it ain't that-there Nineveh bugle and drum corps 
 that's been cavortin' 'round here at the head of the 
 
 44 
 
STRICKLAND OF NINEVEH 
 
 Stephen K. Yancey Campaign Club! You look-a- 
 here. Bill Strickland! If them fellows has had the 
 impudence to turn out on parade when we're a-wel- 
 comin' you home to Nineveh, I'll sick our boys on to 
 'em as sure as my name's Thurs T. Todhunter, 
 suh!" 
 
 Colonel Strickland was laughing outright. 
 *'What did I tell you?" he said. 'They haven't lost 
 any time declaring war, and somebody's paying 
 good money for it, too !" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter leaned out of the carriage and 
 spoke to the nearest Strickland partizan. "You 
 run up yonder at the head of that-there band," he 
 said, "and tell Samson Meek to come back here a 
 minute. I want to see him." 
 
 Samson Meek, leader of the Nineveh brass band, 
 hurried back. He was so buttoned up and padded 
 in his gorgeous drum-major's uniform, topped off 
 with a gigantic fur shako, that the sweat poured 
 down his lank and honest Missouri face like rain. 
 
 "Samson," spoke Colonel Todhunter ominously, 
 "if we run across that Stephen K. Yancey bugle and 
 drum corps, I want you to drown 'em out and keep 
 'em drowned out, suh. Do you understand?" 
 
 45 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 Samson Meek brought his baton to a present. 
 "Colonel Todhunter, we'll smother 'em, suh. I just 
 been waiting for the chance." 
 
 "Then you go back and tell your horn-tooters 
 what's expected of 'em, suh," commanded Colonel 
 Todhunter. " 'Specially that little fat fellow with 
 the horn bigger'n he is. Tell him to blow himself 
 inside out. This-here Strickland parade ain't a-goin' 
 to be interrupted by no Steve Yancey and Eph 
 Tucker foolishness as long as I'm in charge of the 
 ceremonies, suh !" 
 
 Then he turned to Colonel Bill Strickland. 
 "That settles it, suh !" he snorted. "I'll be shot full 
 o' holes if I don't take the stump for you myself. 
 Bill Strickland, if they're startin' the fight right in 
 your own town, suh, the fust minute you come 
 home, suh. I'll make imperial Mizzoorah howl for 
 William J. Strickland, too, suh ; hang my picture if 
 I don't!" 
 
 In full view of the parading crowd Colonel Bill 
 Strickland grasped Colonel Todhunter's hand. 
 "You old war-horse!" he cried. "I'd rather have 
 you stumping Missouri for me than all the state 
 committee spellbinders that ever breathed the breath 
 
 46 
 
STRICKLAND OF NINEVEH 
 
 of life! Bully for you, Thurs! We'll fight 'em to 
 the last ditch !" Great was the cheering at this inci- 
 dent. 
 
 But the Strickland parade did not encounter the 
 Nineveh bugle and drum corps and the Stephen K. 
 Yancey Campaign Club at this juncture. 
 
 The encounter came later. 
 
 It came at that tremendous moment when Colonel 
 Thurston T. Todhunter, majestic on the town hall 
 stage, was just reaching the fervid peroration of a 
 speech that was to close with the inspiring mention 
 of the name of the Honorable William J. Strick- 
 land as Missouri Democracy's sure choice for gov- 
 ernor. 
 
 It was a premeditated blow at the glory of the 
 Todhunter brand of oratory, the cherished pride of 
 Colonel Thurs T. Todhunter's ardent soul. 
 
 Entering the town hall and defiantly marching up 
 the main corridor to the wide double doors that gave 
 a view of the Strickland meeting, the Nineveh bugle 
 and drum corps, heading the Stephen K. Yancey 
 Campaign Club, awoke the resounding echoes. 
 
 Never, it would seem, had earth heard such 
 clamor of trumpet and tambour. 
 
 47 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 It crashed into and through the town hall assem- 
 bly room. It rose to the roof and came thundering 
 back into the aisles. It smote the ears as with cata- 
 clysmic bolts of sound. It stilled the eloquence of 
 Colonel Thurs T. Todhunter as if that mighty 
 speaker were an infant lifting voice against the 
 voice of elemental chaos. 
 
 And Colonel Todhunter paused, crestfallen. 
 
 Then the lust of righteous battle flamed from 
 his indignant eyes. He waved his right hand with 
 a Jovian gesture. "Drive 'em away, Samson!" he 
 shouted. "You and Sim Birdsong. I ain't done 
 yet!" 
 
 And the gallant Samson Meek rose to the occa- 
 sion. With a mighty wave of his baton he rallied his 
 bandsmen in close order behind him. Captain Sim 
 Birdsong, no less dependable, formed the Nineveh 
 Light Infantry in line behind the band. There was 
 a magnificent flourish of Samson Meek's silver- 
 knobbed rod of office, a quick command from Cap- 
 tain Sim Birdsong, and then — 
 
 The Nineveh brass band and the Nineveh Light 
 Infantry deployed into the corridor and charged 
 the enemy. 
 
 48 
 
STRICKLAND OF NINEVEH 
 
 It was an assault sonorous and irresistible. Its 
 slogan was "Hail Columbia!" This gave the big 
 horns an almost unearthly opportunity. The "little 
 fat fellow with the horn bigger'n him" seemed re- 
 solved to obey Colonel Todhunter's injunction andi 
 "blow himself inside out." His fellows followed 
 his example. The resultant cyclone of wind-clamor 
 wiped out the Nineveh bugle and drum corps as if 
 it had not been. Triumph shone on the face of 
 Drum-Major Samson Meek, truculently waving his 
 glittering baton. 
 
 But an ominous cry rose from his front. "Rush 
 'em, boys ! Make a rough-house !" 
 
 Even as the Strickland forces leaned forward for 
 a countering rush into combat, however, a resolute 
 figure sprang in between the battle lines. It was the 
 figure of Constable Pete Fanshaw, embodying the 
 law of Nineveh. It waved a sternly forbidding 
 hand. 
 
 "None o' that, you boys !" he shouted. "I ain't 
 takin' no sides, but this-here's a public meetin' and 
 it's my sworn duty to see that there ain't no dis- 
 turbin* of the peace. Stam Tucker, you turn your 
 men right around and march 'em out o' here double- 
 
 49 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 quick ! And you, Tom Strickland, quit your edgin* 
 up to git a lick at Stam ! There ain't goin' to be no 
 fightin' here this load o' poles !" 
 
 Every young chap in Nineveh knew Pete Fan- 
 shaw's fiber. He stood restrainingly between the 
 lines. He was not to be trifled with. If necessary, 
 he could enlist either faction under the standard of 
 the law, to punish the aggressor if battle were pre- 
 cipitated. 
 
 Stamford Tucker glowered at him for a moment. 
 Then his eyes narrowed in a venomous flash at Tom 
 Strickland. At last, sullenly, he gave the order that 
 set the Yancey clan in motion to abandon the field. 
 
 War had been averted. 
 
 And fiYQ minutes later, again getting up steam. 
 Colonel Todhunter completed his speech. The Hon- 
 orable William J. Strickland advanced to the front 
 of the stage and began his own address. Soon the 
 first rally of the Strickland campaign for the gov- 
 ernorship of Missouri peacefully reached its ap- 
 pointed finish. 
 
 "What did I tell you, Thurs?" asked Colonel Bill 
 Strickland. "Didn't I say the fight would begin here 
 in my own town ?" 
 
 SO 
 
STRICKLAND OF NINEVEH 
 
 Colonel Todhunter nodded his head, defiant. "Let 
 'er begin, suh ! We'll stay with 'em till hell freezes 
 over! And old Eph Tucker'll get more'n he bar- 
 gained for, too. That was his son Stamford a-lead- 
 in' them rapscallions that tried to break up our 
 meetin', suh!" 
 
 Colonel Bill Strickland grinned. "Well," he said, 
 "my son Tom was makin' a rush for Stam Tucker 
 from our side, so we're about even, I reckon !" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter laughed outright. "Bill," he 
 said, "I'll be shot full o' holes if this-here campaign 
 ain't openin' the way I like, suh !" 
 
 Colonel Bill Strickland's eyes twinkled. "That's 
 you all over !" he retorted. "Don't you know I'm go- 
 ing to be put to my paces for all I know how, and 
 that it's pull Dick, pull devil, from now till the last 
 Democratic vote's counted on election day ?'* 
 
 Colonel Todhunter gazed at his friend almost 
 pensively. "Bill," he said, "man that is born of 
 woman is of few days and fearfully and wonder- 
 fully made, as the Good Book tells us, suh. I want 
 you to win. I'll move Heaven and earth to make 
 you win. But I'll be eternally condemned, suh, if 
 I'd care the snap of a whip for a winnin' that wasn't 
 
 51 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 the result of the hottest fight we knew how to put 
 up, suh. I reckon we*re constructed that way on pur- 
 pose. We'd be a mighty scrubby lot if we wasn't 
 always ready to wrastle our blamedest for whatev- 
 er's worth havin' in this-here world, suh !" 
 
 52 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 LOTTIE-MAY DOGGETT WEAVES A WEB FOR TOM 
 STRICKLAND 
 
 LOTTIE-MAY DOGGETT, her dark and eager 
 iface alight with excitement, had attended the 
 poHtical meeting which followed the Strickland 
 parade. Nearly all Nineveh, indeed, ordinarily so 
 quiet, was in public evidence this night, grateful for 
 a little diversion. 
 
 The girl was a witness, therefore, to the dire in- 
 terruption of Colonel Todhunter's speech, and had 
 also seen the clash of the rival factions headed by 
 Tom Strickland and Stam Tucker. Her eyes shone 
 with expectancy of a personal encounter between the 
 two young men. 
 
 "Lord, I'd like to see 'em clench !" she exclaimed, 
 pushing a bit forward as she spoke. "They'd make a 
 good fight, too, seein' as how there ain't been no love 
 lost between 'em for some time. I bet they'll get at 
 it!" 
 
 Her companion, a girl who envied Lottie-May 
 
 53 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 that partial acceptance by Nineveh's good famihes 
 which was due to her grandfather's honorable Con- 
 federate record, laughed a bit significantly. **It 
 won't be your fault if they don't fight some day, 
 Lottie-May Doggett!" she charged. "I hear you've 
 been settin' your cap at both of 'em in a mighty 
 dangerous way." 
 
 "I ain't been doin' nothin' of the sort!" indig- 
 nantly denied Lottie-May, resentment in her face. 
 "It ain't my fault if Stam Tucker sets up to me, is 
 it? And I reckon Tom Strickland's got the same 
 right, ain't he ? You better mind your own business 
 and let my affairs alone !" 
 
 "Land alive, what a spit-cat about nothin' !" pro- 
 tested the other. "But Tom Strickland better leave 
 Stam Tucker alone. My brother says Stam always 
 carries a pistol and is a dangerous man when his 
 blood's up." 
 
 Lottie-May's eyes flashed instant disdain. "I 
 reckon Tom Strickland can take care of himself," 
 she retorted hotly. "I wouldn't be afeared for him 
 in a difficulty with Stam Tucker!" 
 
 Her companion laughed triumphantly. "I caught 
 you that time, Lottie-May!" she cried. "I just 
 
 54 
 
LOTTIE-MAY WEAVES A WEB 
 
 wanted to see which you liked the best, Stam or 
 Tom. And it's Tom, that's who it is !" 
 
 "You think you're smart, don't you?" coun- 
 tered Lottie-May, but blushing angrily. "Well, you 
 ain't. Neither one of 'em is makin' me lay awake 
 of nights, I can tell you." 
 
 "It'll be Tom does it, if anybody does," calmly re- 
 turned the other. "But they ain't a-goin' to clench 
 this time, at any rate. Pete Fanshaw's just called 
 'em down and put a stop to their foolishness." 
 
 Lottie-May was still fuming with resentment of 
 this open bantering concerning Tom Strickland and 
 Stam Tucker when she started homeward. Not at 
 all unwilling to accept the secret wooing of either, 
 she intuitively shrank from the open coupling of 
 their name with hers. The shadow of her mother's 
 shame oppressed her, and it was only in moments 
 of sudden anger or other excitement that she sur- 
 rendered to a mood of reckless defiance of her dark 
 inheritance. 
 
 Even now, however, it gave Lottie-May a thrill 
 of vainful triumph to remember that Stam Tucker 
 was awaiting her somewhat farther along her lonely 
 homeward way through the ni^ht and that he would 
 
 55 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 accompany her as near to her suspicious old grand- 
 father's house as she dared permit. But Tom Strick- 
 land himself intervened before her meeting with 
 Stam Tucker this night. He, too, was homeward 
 bound, encountering the girl at a secluded crossing 
 of their respective roads. Lottie-May's heart gave 
 a great leap as she recognized him in the darkness. 
 A sudden impulse of passionate enticement pos- 
 sessed her soul. 
 
 "Goodness me, Tom Strickland !" she cried. "You 
 skeered me 'most to death! I took you for one of 
 them Black Bottoms men from the trappin' camp." 
 
 Emphasizing her claim of panic she stood very 
 close to Tom. A loose strand of her hair blew 
 against his face. Her dark eyes were velvety with 
 unconcealed tempting, her voice vibrant with the 
 appeal of sex. 
 
 "You oughtn't to be going home by yourself at 
 this time of night, Lottie-May," said Tom. "It ain't 
 safe — for as young and — and as pretty a girl as you 
 are." His voice shook just a little. 
 
 Lottie-May laughed. "There, Tom, you've actu- 
 ally paid me a compliment !" she exclaimed, a peril- 
 ous exultation curving her red lips. "It's the first 
 
 S6 
 
LOTTIE-MAY WEAVES A WEB 
 
 one, too. Maybe you ain't so hard-hearted in the 
 night-time as you are in the daytime, Tom !" 
 
 There was the frankest wooing in the girl's man- 
 ner. She moved until her softly rounded young 
 shoulder touched Tom's arm. The young man 
 breathed quickly, his eyes suddenly glowing. 
 
 "I never saw the day I was afraid to tell you how 
 pretty you are !" he said. "But that's just the trou- 
 ble right now. I don't like to see you going home 
 alone so late at night." 
 
 Lottie-May Doggett felt a hot glow of love for 
 Tom Strickland thrill her young body through and 
 through. At the same instant, though remembering, 
 she recklessly ignored the fact that Stam Tucker 
 was waiting for her farther along the way. 
 
 "Maybe you better come home with me then, 
 Tom," she said softly. All the lure of sexual sur- 
 render sounded in her speech. Tom Strickland 
 laughed. 
 
 "That's what I'm going to do, Lottie-May," he 
 responded. "I'd never forgive myself if anything 
 happened to you, with me knowing you had to go 
 home alone. You — you're sure you're willing for 
 me to come with you ?" 
 
 57 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 The girl's eyes were liquid soft. "Willin'?" she 
 repeated. "You know I'm willin' — and more than 
 willing Tom. I just asked you — and I ain't never 
 goin' to forget this night as long as I live !" 
 
 Again Tom Strickland laughed. "You'll have me 
 making love to you, first thing you know !" he said. 
 "You'd better be careful, Lottie-May, if you ain't 
 willing!" 
 
 "I dare you to, Tom!" the girl replied in a low 
 voice. "I dare you to ! And no real man ever took 
 such a dare from a girl !" 
 
 They were moving side by side along the road. 
 The girl's free carriage seemed that of some wild 
 and beautiful young animal of the woods and the 
 passionate night. Tom Strickland bent toward her, 
 passing his arm about her soft little waist. 
 
 "You don't have to dare me," he said, drawing 
 her closely to him. "I can love you to death !" 
 
 "Kiss me !" whispered Lottie-May in reply. "Kiss 
 me, Tom! I love you so!" 
 
 Even as she spoke Tom Strickland had taken her 
 in his arms, pressing his lips to hers, crushing her 
 body against his own. The girl's red mouth seemed 
 as honey to him. 
 
 58 
 
LOTTIE-MAY WEAVES A WEB 
 
 And at that moment Stam Tucker, waiting to 
 meet Lottie-May by appointment, stepped out of the 
 shadow at the road's edge. His face was black with 
 jealous rage. 
 
 Lottie-May Doggett gave a little cry of dismay. 
 "Why, Stam!" she cried, releasing herself from 
 Tom's arms and essaying to laugh. "You are wait- 
 ing for me after all, ain't you? I was af eared you'd 
 gone home, so Tom Strickland here was goin' with 
 me instead." 
 
 An ugly sneer was on Stam Tucker's face. "So I 
 see," he replied, glancing venomously from one to 
 the other. "And you seem to be having a good time, 
 both of you." 
 
 "Oh, shucks, now, Stam, it's nothin' but foolin', 
 that's all !" cried the girl, a note of pleading in her 
 voice. "I was teasin' Tom for bein' bashful, and I 
 dared him to kiss me, and he wouldn't take a dare 
 —and that's the whole truth !" 
 
 "I reckon it's all the truth you intend to tell," re- 
 plied Stam. "But I'll tell you what it looks like to 
 me. It looks like — " 
 
 "Stop right there, Stam!" interrupted Tom Strick- 
 land. "If you've seen anything you don't like, I'm 
 
 59 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 the responsible party. Say whatever you've got to 
 say to me, not to a woman !*' 
 
 "I don't ask anything better, Mr. Tom Strick- 
 'land!" instantly retorted Stam, turning swiftly from 
 the girl. "And I won't mince any words saying it, 
 either. You're a — " 
 
 "Stam!" cried Lottie-May, running to the speaker 
 and placing a restraining hand on his, that had sud- 
 denly been thrust back to his hip pocket. "You 
 shan't do it! You mustn't do it, Stam! It'd ruin 
 me in Nineveh for ever and ever!" 
 
 "Let him alone, Lottie-May," said Tom Strick- 
 land. "He won't shoot. Just you stand aside and 
 let him crack his whip." 
 
 Stam Tucker made a movement to throw Lottie- 
 May off, but the girl clung to him desperately. Tom 
 Strickland's eyes hardened, as they watched Stam 
 Tucker, with an ominous alertness. 
 
 A farm-horse drawing a ramshackle spring- 
 wagon emerged into view around a bend in the road 
 some distance away and came lumbering along to- 
 ward the three. 
 
 "Good Lord, it's granddaddy!" cried Lottie- 
 May Doggett. "For my sake, please— -please, Stam, 
 
 60 
 
LOTTIE-MAY WEAVES A WEB 
 
 YOU and Tom both — don't let him see there's been 
 any trouble !" 
 
 Old Rafe Daggett, white-haired and stern of vis- , 
 age, scowled suspiciously at Lottie-May and her com- 
 panions as he brought his horse to a halt. 
 
 "Where in the world have you been till this hour 
 of the night, Lottie-May ?" he asked. *T was on my 
 way to town after you. What have you been doin', 
 girl?^' 
 
 Lottie-May stood shamefaced. "Why, grand- 
 daddy," she replied nervously, "I just stayed to the 
 political meetin', that's all. There was to be a brass 
 band there, and speakin', and all that, and I just 
 couldn't come away till it was over !" 
 
 The old man kept his accusing eyes on the girl's 
 face for a moment. Then he turned and looked 
 searchingly first at Stam Tucker and then at Tom 
 Strickland. Tom felt a sudden and overwhelming 
 sense of shame and self-reproach and pity for the 
 good old man whose dread-harried eyes were so 
 somberly bent on him. 
 
 There was a moment of silence. "Well, seein' all 
 there was to see," old Rafe Doggett resumed then, 
 "what did you do after that, girl? How comes 
 
 6i 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 it that you're here on the road with Stam Tucker, 
 facin' Tom Strickland like there'd been a quarrel? 
 Tell me the truth!" 
 
 Lottie-May Doggett flashed a quick appeal of her 
 eyes at Tom Strickland. It was plainly a mute and 
 desperate entreaty for his forbearance with whatever 
 she was about to say. 
 
 Then — "Why, granddaddy," she made answer, 
 "Stam offered to escort me home, and we met Tom 
 on the way, and we just all three stopped to talk 
 for a minute — that's all. Quarrelin'? Stam and 
 Tom wasn't thinkin' of such a thing, that's the truth, 
 I cross my heart, please, sir !" 
 
 The girl's voice trembled with fear of her grim 
 old grandfather, to whom her mother's memory re- 
 mained but as meaning a lifelong disgrace and 
 humiliation. The old man seemed not entirely satis- 
 fied with her explanation. He sat silent, still study- 
 ing the group confronting him. Then he sighed. 
 
 "Well, Lottie-May," he spoke at last, "since Stam 
 wants to escort you home, he can still do it, I reckon. 
 But you both better come along with me in the 
 wagon. There ain't no sense in your walkin', now." 
 
 Lottie-May's frightened eyes were pleading with 
 62 
 
LOTTIE-MAY WEAVES A WEB 
 
 Stam and Tom to abide by her story and comply 
 with her grandfather's wishes. 
 
 "All right, Mr. Doggett," spoke Stam finally. "I'll 
 be specially glad for Lottie-May to ride. I reckon 
 she's pretty tired by now, so I'll just see her home 
 that way, along with you." 
 
 Tom Strickland stood silent as Lottie-May was 
 lifted into the wagon by Stam Tucker, who mounted 
 to the seat beside her. Old Raf e Doggett clucked 
 to his horse. 
 
 "Good night, Tom !" cried the girl. 
 
 "Good night, Lottie-May," replied Tom. "Good 
 night, Mr. Doggett." 
 
 The next moment they were gone. 
 
 And Tom Strickland, shamed to the soul at 
 thought of what he had seen in old Rafe Doggett 's 
 worn and wasted face, made his own way homeward. 
 
 63 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 A LIVELY SESSION IN THE NINEVEH "bLADE" 
 SANCTUM 
 
 THE Honorable William J. Strickland and 
 Colonel Todhunter were parting company 
 for a few days, after a final conference concerning 
 preliminary campaign plans. 
 
 "I'll have to get back to St. Louis and see how 
 things are starting off at my headquarters there," 
 said Colonel Strickland. "Then it'll be necessary to 
 take a run across the state and establish headquar- 
 ters in Kansas City, right under Steve Yancey's nose. 
 I'll want you to make a few speeches for me in St. 
 Louis about next week, Thurs, old fellow. And 
 don't forget — I'm going to hold you to your prom- 
 ise to stump the state for me." 
 
 "I ain't forgettin'," responded Colonel Todhunter. 
 "I'm cocked and primed for a campaign that'll bring 
 every old-time Democrat in Mizzoorah out o' the 
 brush and set 'em to whoopin' things up for you to 
 beat the band, suh. The almighty dollar ain't the 
 
 64 
 
. IN THE NINEVEH BLADE SANCTUM 
 
 only thing that talks in this here state yet, not by a 
 jugful, and I'm a-goin' to prove it, Bill." 
 
 "It's what we've got to beat, though," commented 
 the candidate. "Things ain't like they used to be 
 in Missouri politics, my friend." 
 
 "That's why we got so many o' them professional 
 politicians and so few real statesmen nowadays," 
 replied the other. "But all the same, the people of 
 Mizzoorah's honest, if the politicians ain't, and 
 this-here new primary law's a-goin' to give 'em their 
 best chance to name their own choice for governor, 
 suh." 
 
 "It will — if there's no crooked work at the polls," 
 said Colonel Strickland. "I'm afraid of the cities 
 for that reason. It's the city crooks that beat the 
 country vote in anything like a close race, Thurs." 
 
 Colonel Todhunter nodded his head emphatically. 
 "I'll just be jig- whiffled if all the corruption in 
 American politics don't seem to come from the big 
 towns, suh. It looks like it's plumb natural for cities 
 to be sinful. It's been that way ever since Sodom 
 and Gomorrah, suh. Do you reckon the Old Marster 
 up above couldn't ha' found ten honest men among 
 the shepherds watchin' their flocks and the husband- 
 
 6s 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 men tillin' their fields in the country? He couldnH 
 ha' missed findin' 'em — 'less'n He'd struck a bunch 
 of 'em Hke old Eph Tucker here in Nineveh, suh!" 
 
 Then, after a reflective pause : "The trouble with 
 old Eph Tucker, suh, is that he's got so he can't see 
 anything but money. I ain't talkin' against money 
 in its rightful proportion to the rest of life. I like 
 to have it as well as the next man, and sometimes I 
 need it mighty bad, too, but I'll be struck limber- 
 jawed if it ain't plumb foolish to plug up your eyes 
 with it, suh. It don't cost a cent to see the beauty 
 and goodness o' this-here world, suh, not a cent, and 
 if you miss seein' it, you miss seein' the whole show. 
 That's too big a price to pay for the privilege of 
 lookin' at a dollar instead, suh." 
 
 The Honorable William J. Strickland contem- 
 plated Colonel Todhunter with a smile on his grim 
 lips. 
 
 "Thurs," he said, "I don't know anything sounder 
 than your faith in the good of life and your enthusi- 
 asm for livin' it on that basis V 
 
 "Faith in the good of life ain't nothin' more or 
 less'n common sense, suh," spoke Colonel Tod- 
 hunter. "It's justified by the facts, as every blessed 
 
 66 
 
IN THE NINEVEH BLADE SANCTUM 
 
 last one of us realizes when he begins to see the fin- 
 ish and size up the whole thing. And enthusiasm 
 ain't nothin' more or lessen interest in the game, suh. 
 Just the minute mine's all gone, I'll be willin' to lay 
 down my cards and quit. I don't know nothin' more 
 triflin' and insignificant than a bottle o' soda-pop that 
 won't fizz, suh." 
 
 It was shortly after this that the two old friends 
 parted. Colonel Todhunter went direct to the office 
 of the Nineveh Blade when he had seen Colonel 
 Bill Strickland off for St. Louis. 
 
 Dick Cantrill, editor of the Blade, was a red- 
 headed young Democrat who cherished old-fash- 
 ioned principles. There was no thought in his clean 
 mind of devious ways to make politics pecuniarily 
 profitable. One could no more have "bought" him 
 than one could have "bought" Patrick Henry or 
 "Old Hickory" Jackson, and he was just about as 
 fiery and fearless as those two earlier Americans. 
 Consequently, many politicians spoke of him as 
 "that stubborn young fool, Dick Cantrill of the 
 Nineveh Blade.'' 
 
 As Colonel Todhunter entered the Blade office a 
 fuming little man almost extinguished under a big 
 
 67 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 and very rusty silk hat was terminating what had 
 plainly been a stormy interview with Dick Cantrill. 
 
 "Hello, Eph !" said Colonel Todhunter, surprised. 
 "It ain't often I find you hobnobbin' with Dick Can- 
 trill. Go right ahead — don't let me interrupt you!" 
 
 There was a wicked smile on young Cantrill's 
 mouth. "We're just about done now, Colonel," he 
 interposed. "Squire Tucker was trying to induce me 
 to support Yancey in this campaign, but I had to de- 
 cline. The Blade's for Colonel Strickland, tooth and 
 nail, now that he's out for the nomination." 
 
 "And you and the Blade are both durned fools, 
 sir — that's all I've got to say !" snapped the little old 
 man under the big hat. "You don't know which 
 side your bread's buttered on, Dick Cantrill !" 
 
 "Squire," said Dick, grinning coolly, "that ain't 
 the only viewpoint from which I look at the matter. 
 I know Colonel Strickland and I know Steve Yan- 
 cey, and I know Strickland's the best man. That 
 makes it my duty to support him. Squire !" 
 
 "It's to your interest to support the winner, you 
 young idiot, and I was talking to you for your own 
 good !" cried old Tucker. "Stephen K. Yancey has 
 got all the money influence behind him in this cam- 
 
 68 
 
IN THE NINEVEH BLADE SANCTUM 
 
 paign, and he'll be nominated by an overwhelming 
 majority. You'll put up a mighty poor mouth then, 
 Dick Cantrill, begging for the public printing in the 
 Blade — and I'll see to it that nothing comes your 
 way!" 
 
 "Go right ahead — crack your whip, Squire!" re- 
 torted Dick Cantrill calmly. "I reckon you and I 
 have different ideas about politics, but there needn't 
 be any hard feelings unless you insist on it. Anyway, 
 we might as well get the whole thing threshed out 
 right now, as long as we've got started." 
 
 "I'll see if I can't make you change your tune be- 
 fore I'm done with you, sir!" — and old Tucker's 
 cold little eyes narrowed venomously. "You're talk- 
 ing mighty big now, Dick Cantrill, but the Yancey 
 administration'll have the last say, my young game- 
 cock!" 
 
 "The Yancey administration be damned !" replied 
 Dick Cantrill — and then he laughed and settled back 
 in his chair. "But, shucks, Squire, I can't talk to you 
 like I could to a younger man! Let's go easy. 
 You're for Yancey, and I'm for Strickland, and 
 that's all there is to it. Every man's got a right to 
 his own opinion in a free country. Squire." 
 
 69 
 
COLONEC TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "Very well, sir, very well, if you will have it that 
 way," retorted old Eph Tucker. "But you're back- 
 ing a loser, Dick Cantrill, and you're going to suffer 
 for it. Stephen K. Yancey will snow Bill Strickland 
 under so deep that Bill's friends'll never be able to 
 dig him out, sir !" 
 
 Dick Cantrill stretched his arms above his head. 
 "Such being the case, Squire," he replied, "it don't 
 make any difference to you Yancey people what me 
 and the Blade see fit to do, so you can just keep 
 your shirt on. There certainly can't be any occasion 
 for your worrying if you've got us beat from the 
 jump." 
 
 Old Tucker glared at the amused speaker. 
 
 At this moment a fourth figure was added to the 
 group. It was that of Lycurgus Quivey, the school- 
 master of Nineveh, a gaunt and homely representa- 
 tive of rustic learning, with a face pathetic in its 
 meek wist fulness. 
 
 "Well, well, Lycurgus!" cried Dick Cantrill cor- 
 dially, "I'm glad to see you! Blest if I hadn't be- 
 gun to fear the Blade wasn't going to have a poem 
 from you this week. And that would never do, sir !" 
 
 The shy schoolmaster colored at the greeting. 
 70 
 
riiA'r-**' 
 ^^Bflr^ 
 
 'You're backing a loser, Dick Cantrill" Page 70 
 
IN THE NINEVEH BLADE SANCTUM 
 
 *Tt*s mighty good of you to say so, Mr. Cantrill," 
 he replied. "I reckon my poems don't amount to as 
 much as that, but I try my best to keep 'em up to a 
 high standard. The world don't seem to care much 
 for poetry now, though." 
 
 "It's always been that way, Lycurgus," — and a 
 whimsical smile came on Dick Cantrill's lips. "The 
 only time the world has ever loved and honored its 
 poets is after they've been starved to death, sir. But 
 what have you got now ?" 
 
 Lycurgus Quivey cleared his throat nervously. "I 
 reckon you'll be surprised, Mr. Cantrill," he said at 
 last, "but the truth is, I've written a political poem 
 this time. I know Colonel Strickland so well, sir, 
 and I like him so much, that I thought I'd write 
 a Strickland campaign song. It might do some good 
 at mass-meetings and barbecues and such things, it 
 seemed to me." 
 
 Old Eph Tucker snorted and glared at the em- 
 barrassed speaker. Colonel Todhunter beamed his 
 approval. Dick Cantrill's sense of humor reveled in 
 the situation. 
 
 "Bully for you, Lycurgus!" he exclaimed. 
 "That's just fine ! You bet the Blade will print your 
 
 7ii 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 campaign song. And, by George, sir, come to think 
 of it, here's Squire Tucker doing his level best to 
 convert me to the Yancey cause — I'll just read your 
 poem to him and see if it won't bring him over to 
 the Strickland side!" 
 
 At this old Eph Tucker's wrath exploded. 
 
 "You won't do anything of the sort !" he ejacu- 
 lated. "You and your fool poets can go it alone sup- 
 porting Bill Strickland. It's about all the support 
 he'll get!" 
 
 Then he turned on Lycurgus Quivey. "As for 
 you, Mr. School-teacher," he snarled, "if writin' 
 campaign poetry for Bill Strickland is the best you 
 can do I'll see if we can't get you more time for it 
 by getting you out of the Nineveh school, sir. I can 
 do it, too. I'm chairman of the school board, and 
 I'll h'ist you out of your job without letting any 
 grass grow under my feet !" 
 
 "No, you won't. Squire," spoke Dick Cantrill 
 quietly. His steady eyes held those of old Eph 
 Tucker with a distinct menace. 
 
 "Squire," Dick continued, "I know you just well 
 enough to know that you're willing to make that 
 threat good. Don't you dare do it, sir. This man is 
 
 72 
 
IN THE NINEVEH BLADE SANCTUM 
 
 a worthy man in his place, and, outside of his work- 
 ing hours, he's privileged to write poetry to whom- 
 ever and whatever he damn pleases, and to make his 
 own choice in politics, sir. I give you a piece of ad- 
 vice, Squire Tucker. Don't you lift a finger to get 
 Lycurgus Quivey fired, sir. If you do, it'll be the 
 worse for you." 
 
 Old Eph Tucker glared at the speaker. "Whatll 
 you do, Dick Cantrill? That's mighty big talk to 
 come off of such a little stomach, sir. What'll you 
 do if I see fit to teach Lycurgus Quivey to mind his 
 own business ?" 
 
 "What'll I do?" repeated Dick Cantrill, his eyes 
 flashing. "I'll skin you alive. Squire Tucker, that's 
 what I'll do. I'll flay you from head to heels, sir, and 
 then I'll hang your hide out here in front of the 
 Blade office, so the people of Nineveh can see just 
 what a miserable skunk you are, sir. If you''re going 
 to make a personal fight on this man because he 
 backs William J. Strickland for governor of Mis- 
 souri, I'll make the same sort of a fight from the 
 Strickland side of that proposition. And you'll be 
 the first man I'll make it on. Squire. I've got the 
 material to do it with, and you know it. You know 
 
 7?> 
 
COLONEL' TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 your own record. You won't last a minute if the 
 Blade goes out after your scalp, Squire Tucker. 
 You'll shrivel up quicker than a dry oak-leaf in hell, 
 sir!" 
 
 A grim silence followed these words. Then old 
 Eph Tucker spoke. 
 
 "Well," he said slowly, "it strikes me you're go- 
 ing off half-cocked, Dick. We've both lost our tem- 
 pers a little and probably said more'n we meant. 
 Anyway I haven't done anything against Lycurgus 
 Quivey yet. Maybe you better just keep cool and 
 wait till I do before you start in to tear up things the 
 way you've been threatening, sir." 
 
 Dick Cantrill laughed. "Sure, Squire," he replied. 
 "I can wait just as long as you can, I reckon. But 
 not a minute longer. Keep that in mind. Squire. 
 Not a minute longer !" 
 
 A few moments later Colonel Todhunter was 
 alone with Dick Cantrill. "That was a right lively 
 session while it lasted, Dick," he chuckled. "You 
 called old Eph down almighty hard, suh." 
 
 "The old scoundrel!" exclaimed Dick. Then he 
 added : "I don't like to talk to a man of his age that 
 way, Colonel, but that cold-blooded threat against 
 
 74 
 
IN THE NINEVEH BLADE SANCTUM 
 
 Lycurgus Quivey, as defenseless a man as ever lived,, 
 sir, flung me off my balance." 
 
 *T reckon you ain't done no harm, Dick," said 
 Colonel Todhunter. Then his eyes twinkled. "Th' 
 ain't none of us old sinners, I reckon, but what's all 
 the better for bein' brought to a conviction of sin 
 every now and then, suh. Anyway it worked fine 
 with old Eph." At this Dick Cant rill's laugh was 
 good to hear. 
 
 "Dick," asked the Colonel then, "are we gettin'^ 
 any news of how the other side regards Bill Strick- 
 land's candidacy ?" 
 
 "Well, Colonel," grinned the Blade's editor, 
 "there's some mighty amusing surface indications. 
 They haven't lost any time springing one old moss- 
 grown political trick on us, at any rate, sir." 
 
 "What trick is that?" quickly asked the other. 
 
 "Why, sir, they've induced Hamp Judson, of 
 Carthage, and Judge Sanford, of Bowling Green, 
 to come out, both of *em, in the race for the nomina- 
 tion. Each of 'em will take votes away from Colonel 
 Strickland. It's an old move, but a shrewd one. 
 Colonel. They know Yancey will get the solid vote 
 always controlled by the machine, and they're work- 
 
 75 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 ing to divide the rest between Strickland, Judson 
 and Sanford, sir." 
 
 "I'll be eternally condemned, Dick," vociferated 
 Colonel Todhunter, "if I'd ha' believed either Hamp 
 Judson or Jim Sanford would lend themselves to 
 such a game, suh. I hate to think it of 'em now, even 
 on your say-so." 
 
 "It isn't my say-so, Colonel; it's the cold facts," 
 replied Dick Cantrill. "Judson and Sanford both 
 entered the race within twenty-four hours after 
 Colonel Strickland announced his candidacy down 
 there in St. Louis. They know they haven't got the 
 ghost of a show for the nomination. All they're 
 working for is to get solid with the old Jefferson 
 City ring by helping to defeat Colonel Strickland. 
 I'd be willing to bet that their campaign expenses, 
 down to the last dollar on the last day, will be paid 
 by Yancey's campaign managers, sir." 
 
 Colonel Todhunter looked at the speaker indig- 
 nantly. "And you're a-settin' there ca'mly, suh," 
 he inquired, "knowin' these things and not movin' a 
 finger to expose their game ?" 
 
 "Colonel," replied Dick Cantrill, laughter in his 
 eyes, "don't you be uneasy. I've got my end of the 
 
 76 
 
IN THE NINEVEH BLADE SANCTUM 
 
 fight started. At the proper moment, and that mo- 
 ment isn't far off, you'll see Hamp Judson and 
 Judge Sanford jumping and howling at every crack 
 of the Blade's whip, sir. I'll make 'em the two sick- 
 est men in Missouri before I'm through with 'em !" 
 
 "That sounds like business!" cried Colonel Tod- 
 hunter, much relieved. "Give it to 'em good and 
 hard, Dick. Th' ain't nothin' on God's green foot- 
 stool that I hate worse'n a renegade that goes back 
 on a friend when his help's most needed. And I 
 don't know whether it's the treachery of it that I 
 hate most or the yellow streak that always goes with 
 it, suh!" 
 
 "Colonel," said Dick Cantrill, "don't you worry 
 about their not getting what's coming to them. 
 They'll get it good and plenty." 
 
 A little later, crossing the town square. Colonel 
 Todhunter held counsel with himself. 
 
 "Well, suh," he said, "the owner of a newspaper 
 ought to flop down on his marrowbones every night 
 and pray 'Our Father, deliver us from temptation !' 
 He can help or hurt crooked men more'n any other 
 one influence, and they know it. He sure must have 
 a hard fight to keep straight — the longer he stays 
 
 77 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 virtuous, the more they're willin' to pay for him. 
 I'm glad I ain't in the business, suh — old Satan's got 
 :grip-holds enough on me as it is !" 
 
 78 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 THE STRICKLAND-TUCKER FEUD HAS ITS OMINOUS 
 BEGINNING 
 
 THE colonel was still deep in philosophic mus- 
 ings, not more than half-way across the town 
 square, when he was interrupted by a genial hail. 
 
 "Howdy, Kunnl Todhunter; howdy, suh! You 
 sho'ly ain't gwine walk right pointedly pas* me 
 'thout sayin' howdy to you' ole A'nt Mirandy, is you, 
 suh?" 
 
 The speaker was a fat, gray-wooled black wom- 
 an, festively arrayed in a gaudy calico dress, a 
 bandanna handkerchief knotted around her head 
 like a turban, a big market-basket on her arm. She 
 emphasized her greeting by lifting her disengaged 
 hand with an almost ecstatic gesture. 
 
 "Well, well. Aunt Mirandy !" returned the Colo- 
 nel. *T ain't seen you for so long that I reckon I 
 wouldn't ha' known you anyway — you're lookin' so 
 peart and gaily. How are you, Mirandy, and how's 
 that no-'count husband of your'n ?" 
 
 The ancient negress cackled joyously. "I tell you 
 79 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 de gospel trufe, Kunn'l Todhunter, and I sho' ain't 
 tellin' you no lies — dat-ar wufless ole man o' mine 
 am sutt'nly mighty triflin', suh. He gittin' wuss'n 
 wuss ever' day, too, Kunn'l. Whut you reckon done 
 happ'n to him now, suh? Well, I jes' gwine tell you 
 — dat ole Jed been out fishin' an' come traipsin' back 
 home wid de roomatis', suh, an' layin' flat on he 
 back gruntin' an' groanin' lak he gwine die ever' 
 minit, suh ! I 'clar to goodness, Kunn'l Todhunter, 
 dat nigger gwine drive me 'stracted yit, suh !" 
 
 "You're too easy on him, Mirandy; that's the 
 trouble !" laughed the Colonel. "You ought to take 
 a broomstick and wallop him till he ain't too proud 
 to work, the old rascal ! Quit cookin' such good vit- 
 tles for him, Mirandy, and let him go hungry for a 
 while!" 
 
 Old Mirandy rolled her eyes heavenward. 
 "Kunn'l Todhunter," she gurgled, "I jes' nachully 
 kain't do dat, suh. 'Tain't dat ole Jed don't 'serve 
 it, kase he do, but he sho' kin put up sich a po' mouf, 
 suh! He's de mos' mizzabul nigger on a em'ty 
 stummuck, suh, dat I ain't got de heart to 'fuse him 
 when he say he hungry. Dass de fac', Kunn'l — I 
 jes' ain't got de heart, suh." 
 
 80 
 
THE STRICKLAND-TUCKER FEUD 
 
 "Well, but, good Lord, Mirandy, you must be put 
 to it mighty hard to 'tend to your washin' and look 
 after that triflin' old scoundrel at the same time !" 
 
 "I sho' is, Kunn'l — I ain't nebber had no baby 
 what's mo' trubble'n dat-ar old Jed ! Whuss I doin' 
 now, suh, but rubbin' dat ole fool's j'ints wid lini- 
 ment whilst I oughter be right at my wash-tub all 
 my time, suh ? I tell you, suh, I got to scrabble f o' 
 a libbin' wuss'n a scratchin' hen dese-heah days, 
 suh!" 
 
 "Where are you livin' now, Mirandy ?" 
 
 "Whah I libbin'? Whah I libbin'? Well, now, 
 suh, I mos' shame fo' to tell you, suh, but me'n ole 
 Jed is jes' a-squattin' down yander in a 'serted cabin 
 whut wuz em'ty on de Black Bottoms road, suh, 
 'twell me'n him jes' sorter moved into it, suh. Yass, 
 suh, hit's ercross f 'um whah ole Mister Rafe Dog- 
 gett an' he young granddaughter, Miss Lottie-May, 
 libbin', suh. An' hit sho' am a lonesome place — ef 
 hit wan't fo' some skylarkin' young man a-comin' 
 out f 'um Nineveh to cote Miss Lottie-May when her 
 ole granddaddy ain't home, I tell you p'intedly, 
 Kunn'l Todhunter, hit'd be jes' lak a graveyard, 
 suh!" 
 
 8i 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "I reckon so," said the Colonel. "And who are 
 the young scamps that come out to see Miss Lottie- 
 May, Mirandy?" 
 
 **Lawd bless you, sub, dey's two three uv *em, 
 suh — Mister Stam Tucker's one, an* Miss Lottie- 
 May sho* am a pow'ful han'some young g'yel, suh. 
 An* her ole granddad, he sutt'nly do 'pear to be 
 mighty skeered 'case she so gay an' flirtatious-like, 
 suh!" 
 
 "Well, Mirandy, I reckon that's only natural for 
 a pretty girl. I saw Lottie-May talkin' to young 
 Tom Strickland at the picnic down at Indian 
 Springs yistiddy — ^you ain't never seen Tom callin' 
 on her out there, have you?" 
 
 "No, suh, not to reckemize him, Kunn'l Todhun- 
 ter, but dat ain't sayin' he ain't been dar whilst I 
 been away so much o' de time, Kunn'l. Huccome 
 young Mister Tom Strickland talkin' to anybody 
 but Miss Mary Todhunter, yo' own daughter, suh ? 
 Ain't he jes' p'intedly head over heels in lub wid 
 Miss Mary, suh?" 
 
 "He ain't tellin' me so, Mirandy," laughed the 
 Colonel. "But I reckon Lottie-May ain't no more to 
 
 82 
 
THE STRICKLAND-TUCKER FEUD 
 
 him than any other of a dozen pretty girls — I was 
 just wonderin', that*s all." 
 
 Then he put his hand in his pocket and drew out a 
 bill. 
 
 "Here, Mirandy," he said. "I wouldn't be sur- 
 prised but what this might come in handy while 
 you're a-wrastlin' with that old scamp Jed and his 
 rheumatism. And if you'll stop by and see Mrs. 
 Todhunter next time you come to town, I'll ask her 
 if she can't give you a basketful of vittles she don't 
 need." 
 
 "Glory hallelooyah !" cried old Mirandy. "Dat- 
 ar money looks big as de side of a house to me, suh 
 — it sho' do! Yass, suh, an' I gwine drop by you- 
 all's house, too, suh. An' I ain't nebber gwine fer- 
 git you fo' it, Kunn'l; I sho' ain't. Some o' dese 
 bright days I gwine pay you back more'n dat-ar 
 money ; you see if I don't, suh !" Sudden tears had 
 come into the brave old woman's eyes. 
 
 "That's all right, Mirandy," said Colonel Tod- 
 hunter. "If you want to tickle me the most, you 
 just wallop the stuffin' out of old Jed the first good 
 chance you get !" 
 
 83 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 An amused guffaw from Mirandy greeted this re- 
 quest, and then, pouring out a flood of thanks, she 
 hobbled happily away. 
 
 Colonel Todhunter looked after her almost sadly. 
 "Them old niggers," he said. "I love 'em just like 
 they was kin to me, and they love us, too. But the 
 new breed — they hate us, and I ain't got no more 
 use for 'em than I have for a snake. It's curious, 
 and it's somethin' of a tragedy, too, suh. I'll be 
 dadblamed if I know what's goin' to come of it all, 
 some day !" 
 
 Half an hour later, as Colonel Todhunter emerged 
 from the law office of Judge Boiling, he heard a sud- 
 den hurrying of footsteps and Sim Birdsong joined 
 him, breathless and much perturbed. 
 
 "What's on your mind now, Sim?" asked the 
 Colonel. " 'Tain't often you go gallopin' aroun' 
 with your tongue hangin' out o' your mouth like a 
 young dog's in his first rabbit chase. What's the 
 trouble?" 
 
 "I was jes' startin' out to look you up, Colonel," 
 replied Sim. "There's trouble enough, suh. Tom 
 Strickland's got to drinkin' and picked a quarrel 
 with Stam Tucker in the hotel bar-room, and you 
 
 84 
 
THE STRICKLAND-TUCKER FEUD 
 
 better come quick, suh, and prevent its bein* a 
 mighty serious difficulty." 
 
 "I ain't got no patience with you young fellows 
 here in Nineveh, Sim Birdsong," commented the 
 Colonel. "When Tom Strickland gets two or three 
 drinks under his belt and wants to pick a fuss, why 
 don't some of you turn in and lick the stuffin' out'n 
 him? That's one of the best cures for the whisky- 
 quarrelin' habit that ever was invented, suh." 
 
 The Colonel chuckled as he spoke. "The most 
 quarrelsome man in his cups I ever knew, Sim, was 
 old Bob Prewitt, in my regiment durin' the late un- 
 pleasantness, and he was cured just that way, suh. 
 Sam Fossbrooke made a point of campin' on Bob's 
 trail ever' time Bob got to naggin' any o' the other 
 fellows, and Sam'd thrash Bob till his own mother 
 wouldn't ha' known him, suh. And, suh, before 
 the war was over, I'll be double hamstrung if Bob 
 Prewitt wasn't a teetotaler, suh — and he never got 
 fightin' drunk after the war, neither, till he'd put 
 two whole counties between him and Sam Foss- 
 brooke. Some of you boys ought to try that plan 
 on Tom Strickland, Sim." 
 
 "Colonel," answered Sim solemnly, "it's a sort o' 
 8s 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 curse on the Stricklands, that fierce temper o* 
 their'n when they get under the influence of licker, 
 suh. You mustn^t forget that Tom's own uncle killed 
 his best friend, Lawrence Tolliver, durin' a spree, 
 and then drank himself to death afterwards, tryin' 
 to forget it, suh. It's a curse, suh, that's what it 
 is!" 
 
 "It ain't no curse that can't be lifted easy as rais- 
 in' your little finger, Sim Birdsong," said the Colo- 
 nel. "All in the world Tom Strickland's got to do is 
 to leave whisky alone — he ain't a hard drinker now, 
 and maybe he never will be, but he's got to leave it 
 alone altogether. It don't agree with him. The 
 Todhunters has got that same kind of a curse in 
 their family, only it's cucumbers 'stead of whisky. 
 Th' ain't none of us Todhunters can eat cucumbers 
 without bein' doubled up with cramp colic. Well, 
 suh^ I lifted that curse by cuttin' cucumbers out o' 
 my list of vittles same as if such a thing never 
 growed, and Tom Strickland or any other man can 
 do the same thing with whisky, suh." 
 
 Then the Colonel tapped Sim on the shoulder. 
 "And let me tell you one thing, my boy," he con- 
 tinued. "All this-here talk about the turrible hard 
 
 86 
 
THE STRICKLAND-TUCKER FEUD 
 
 fight necessary to break off from a bad habit makes 
 me tired, suh. A man don't never have to fight but 
 one day's fight at a time, and there's always a night's 
 rest comin' in between if he don't lay awake pity in' 
 himself, suh. I know what I'm a-talkin' about. It 
 ain't but a twelve hours' fight no time, and a man 
 who can't fight that long is a mighty measly speci- 
 men of a man, suh !" 
 
 "That's all very well, Colonel," spoke Sim un- 
 easily, "but Tom has egged Stam Tucker on till 
 Stam's hurried out o' the bar-room, white in the 
 face, hollerin' over his shoulder that he'll be back 
 in a minute — and you know just what that means, 
 suh!" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter's face grew instantly grave. 
 "He's gone to get his shootin'-iron — ^the damned lit- 
 tle fool!" he exclaimed. "Tell me, Sim — is Tom 
 Strickland armed?" 
 
 "I don't think he is, suh, but he's a-waitin' for 
 Stam Tucker in that-there bar-room, and he's just 
 feelin' reckless enough to give Stam every chance 
 in the world for shootin' him after he himself picked 
 the fuss and forced the personal difficulty, Colonel." 
 
 "You come along with me, Sim!" said the Colonel. 
 
 87 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "Why the blue blazes and Sam Hill didn't you tell 
 me all this at the start, suh ?" 
 
 Swiftly they crossed the town square and entered 
 the bar-room of the Nineveh Hotel. Tom Strickland, 
 alone now but for the bartender, stood with one el- 
 bow resting on the bar. 
 
 "Howdy, Colonel!" he cried. "You and Sim are 
 just in time to join me in a drink, sir. What'll you 
 have?" 
 
 "Tom," replied the Colonel, "ordinarily I'd be glad 
 to accept your invitation, but not to-day, my boy. I 
 want you to go home, Tom." 
 
 Young Strickland smiled. "I'm sorry to disoblige 
 you. Colonel," he replied, "but I don't feel like go- 
 ing home right away." 
 
 "You've got to go, Tom," replied the Colonel. 
 
 "Well, now, sir," suggested the other, "that's 
 fairly open to argument, in spite. of your being so 
 positive about it. I've got a special reason for stay- 
 ing, Colonel." 
 
 "Yes, I know, Tom. You're waitin' to have a per- 
 sonal difficulty with Stam Tucker, suh." 
 
 Tom Strickland laughed. "You've called the turn, 
 sir! And, under the circumstances, you'll have to 
 
 88 
 
THE STRICKLAND-TUCKER FEUD 
 
 agree yourself that I can't go now — not for a few 
 minutes, anyway." 
 
 *T don't agree to no such thing, you blamed young 
 fool!" ejaculated Colonel Todhunter. *'Do you 
 reckon I'm a-goin' to let you and Stam Tucker shoot 
 each other full o' holes, or let you wait, unarmed, 
 for him to get a crack at you, just because you've 
 seen fit to come into town and begin drinkin', suh ?" 
 
 "We're both free white and twenty-one. Colonel," 
 said Tom Strickland. "How are you goin' to pre- 
 vent it?" 
 
 At this Colonel Todhunter lost his temper. "I'll 
 prevent it by thrashin' you within an inch of your 
 life, suh, if you don't turn right around and get out 
 o' this-here bar-room — that's how!" he announced 
 resolutely. "I ain't a-goin' to stand no foolishness, 
 Tom!" 
 
 "That ain't fair. Colonel Todhunter," protested 
 Tom Strickland. "You're Miss Mary's father, and 
 you're my father's oldest and best friend, sir. I 
 wouldn't lift my hand against you for the world — 
 but I've got to wait here till Stam Tucker gets back !" 
 
 "Tom," said Colonel Todhunter, "you've either 
 got to go home right now, suh, or thrash me, or take 
 
 89 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 the best thrashin' from me you ever got in all your 
 life, suh!" 
 
 Tom Strickland looked into Colonel Todhuntelr's 
 eyes. They shone with the light of righteous battle. 
 It was a preposterous situation. The humor of it 
 suddenly struck the younger man and he laughed 
 outright. Then, suddenly, looking beyond Colonel 
 Todhunter, his own eyes hardened into a dangerous 
 anger. 
 
 "It's too late, Colonel!" he exclaimed exultantly. 
 "Here comes the very man we're talking about !" 
 
 As he spoke, Stamford Tucker entered the bar- 
 room, advancing directly toward him. 
 
 "I reckon you still insist on a personal difficulty 
 with me, Tom Strickland?" he asked. "You ain't 
 changed your mind none since the last few minutes?" 
 
 "I don't change my mind that easy," replied Tom 
 Strickland, smiling. "Especially when a damned lit- 
 tle upstart like you gets to talking too freely about 
 my father. You've got to stop it or else make up 
 you mind to take the consequences." 
 
 "It ain't what I've said about your father that's 
 rubbing you the wrong way," retorted Stam Tucker. 
 "It's because you've found out that I'm standin' too 
 
 90 
 
THE STRICKLAND-TUCKER FEUD 
 
 good a chance with Miss Mary Todhunter to suit 
 you—" 
 
 Tom Strickland sprang at the speaker. As he did 
 so, Stam Tucker whipped out a pistol. It was quickly 
 done, but not quick enough to give an opportunity 
 to fire before the other struck. Tom's fist smashed 
 into his face and felled him to the floor. The pistol 
 flew ten feet away. 
 
 There was a moment's silence. 
 
 "Get up," said Tom. "And come at me like a 
 man. I'll thrash you within an inch of your life !" 
 
 Stam Tucker staggered to his feet, wiping the 
 blood from his face. But he made no move toward 
 the man who had struck him. 
 
 Tom Strickland stepped coolly to where the pis- 
 tol lay, picked it up deliberately and put it into his 
 own pocket. 
 
 "I'll get even with you for this, Strickland !" cried 
 young Tucker. "I'll even up things before I'm done 
 with you !" 
 
 "You'll never have a better time than right now," 
 replied Tom. "But if you ain't in the humor, I'll 
 leave your pistol with the bartender here in a little 
 while and you can get it later. But I give you fair 
 
 91 
 
COLONEi: TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 warning, Stam Tucker. The next time you make a 
 move for a weapon, you're going to get badly hurt. 
 I'll be ready for you since you insist on it." 
 
 Stam Tucker moved toward the door. His little 
 ey^s were venomous with hate. 
 
 "I'll get even with you!" he repeated. "You'll 
 suffer for this yet !" And then he disappeared. 
 
 "You've played the wild on your watch, Tom,*' 
 said Colonel Todhunter sternly. " This ain't no time 
 for you to be pickin' fights with old Eph Tucker's 
 son. It don't look right, and it won't help your 
 father none in his political fight, either." 
 
 "I didn't bring it on. Colonel," replied Tom 
 Strickland. "Stamford Tucker's seen fit to say 
 things about my father that no man can say and not 
 get a licking from me, if I'm man enough to lick 
 him. That's all there is to it, sir." 
 
 To save his life, Colonel Todhunter could not 
 continue his rebuke. But he managed to part from 
 Tom Strickland with something like an expression 
 of disapproval on his countenance. 
 
 "I reckon I ain't cut out to preach to other people 
 what they should do and what they shouldn't," he 
 ^confessed to himself later. "I ought to have given 
 
 Q2 
 
THE STRICKLAND-TUCKER FEUD 
 
 that blamed young fool a lecture as long as my arm,, 
 but it just wasn't in me to do it under the circum- 
 stances. And that's wrong, because the only good 
 excuse an old man's got for livin' is to sorter act as 
 a guide-post to keep young men from followin' the 
 roads that lead to trouble. Bein' mighty little good 
 in that line myself, I'm a-goin' to unload my respon- 
 sibility on old Bill Strickland and let him straighten 
 Tom out his own way, suh. And then I'll ask the 
 old Marster up above to make me better fitt'n for my 
 duty than I seem to be at this precise moment, suh,. 
 judgin' from the way I weakened on Tom!'* 
 
 93 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 SIM BIRDSONG RESOLVES UPON PLAYING YOUNG 
 LOCHINVAR 
 
 EVER since Sim Birdsong's return from blood- 
 less service in the war with Spain, Colonel 
 Todhunter had found delight in badgering that 
 young hero with comments upon his military career. 
 The Colonel liked Sim tremendously — and enjoyed 
 him even more. 
 
 On a certain morning before his departure for St. 
 Louis in the campaign interests of Colonel Bill 
 Strickland, Colonel Todhunter's lips twitched with 
 a wicked smile when Sim Birdsong came to him 
 with the announcement that the local camp of Sons 
 of Confederate Veterans had completed its plans 
 for a grand reception and ball at the Nineveh Hotel, 
 the subscription fees for admission and refresh- 
 ments, paid by the Sons and other bachelors of the 
 town's society, to be for the benefit of the Confeder- 
 ate Soldiers' Home, the beneficiary of the Daugh- 
 ters' picnic of an earlier date. 
 
 94 
 
SIM BIRDSONG'S RESOLVE 
 
 "I'll just be jim-swizzled, Sim," said the Colonel, 
 "if I can see what business you've got with the Sons 
 o' Veterans now, anyway. It's true, your father 
 fought on our side, and I used to think you was 
 proud of it, but now, you blamed little renegade, 
 you've switched over from the gray to the blue, and 
 if I had any say-so in the matter I'd have you fired 
 out of the Sons so quick it'd make your head swim. 
 I ain't got no use for a turncoat, Sim Birdsong !" 
 
 "Colonel," replied Sim indignantly, a quick flash 
 springing into his freckled face, "if any other man 
 in this world called me a turncoat, I'd knock him 
 down, suh!" 
 
 "Maybe you would, Sim, maybe you would," 
 spoke the Colonel. "Th' ain't never no tellin' what a 
 man'll do, and it depends a good deal on the size of 
 the other fellow, but even if you did knock him 
 down, that wouldn't alter the facts in the case. And 
 that ain't all, suh. You not only turned your coat 
 from gray to blue, Sim Birdsong, but you was so 
 dog-gone proud of the blue coat that you went and 
 had yourself photographed in it in about a million 
 different terrifyin' attitudes, more or less. And that 
 sticks in my craw mightily, I can tell you, suh !" 
 
 95 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 For a moment Sim Birdsong gazed at 'Colonel 
 Todhunter in mute protest. Then a sudden grin 
 came upon his lips. 
 
 "That's all right, Colonel Todhunter," he said. 
 "And I'm willin' to abide by your argument if you'll 
 <io the same, suh. Because, accordin' to your own 
 logic. Colonel, I'm a good deal less of a turncoat'n 
 you are yourself, suh!" 
 
 "You impudent little simlin'-headed runt, you!" 
 cried the Colonel. "If you stand up there and call 
 me a turncoat, you little spindle-shanked imitation 
 soldier, I'll break your neck for you !" 
 
 "It's a mighty poor rule that won't work both 
 ways, Colonel," replied Sim calmly. "And facts is 
 facts and logic is logic. Ain't I heard you more'n a 
 thousand times braggin' that your great-grandfather 
 fought in the Revolutionary War, suh ?" 
 
 "You've heard me say that — yes, suh, certainly." 
 
 "And that your grandfather fought in the War of 
 1812?" 
 
 "Yes, suh, that's true, too." 
 
 "And that your own father fought in the Mexican 
 War?" 
 
 "He did, suh — ^under old Zachary Taylor !" 
 96 
 
SIM BIRDSONG'S RESOLVE 
 
 "Well, Colonel, accordin' to them facts, and ac- 
 cordin' to your own argument, then, the only differ- 
 ence between you'n me on this turncoat proposition 
 is that you turned your coat from blue to gray and 
 I've turned mine back from gray to blue — that's all, , 
 suh!" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter's grizzled face darkened. 
 "Sim," he said sternly, "I never expected that I'd 
 live to hear the son of a confederate soldier make 
 such an argument, suh." 
 
 "I ain't makin' the argument. Colonel Tod- 
 hunter!" exclaimed Sim Birdsong quickly. "The 
 only thing I'm doin' is followin' out your own ar- 
 gument to prove that it ain't fair to me, suh. By 
 rights, your turncoat charge don't stick to me, Colo- 
 nel, and you know it, and mine don't stick to you, 
 and I know it, but one's just as plausible as the other 
 on the surface, suh. And it hurts, suh, to have that 
 word throw'd around promiscous — I'd lick the man 
 that used it to you, Colonel Todhunter, if it was the 
 last thing I done in this world !" 
 
 There was a little pause, then Sim laughed. "Be- 
 sides, suh," he continued, "they ain't neither one of 
 us consistent. I can't keep from hollerin' when I 
 
 97 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 hear Dixie, not to save my life, and I heard you 
 holler for Yankee Doodle to beat the band, suh, 
 the day us Spanish War volunteers took the train 
 for Chickamauga. And not only that, suh. You 
 yourself made us a rip-snortin' speech that very day, 
 sayin' how proud you felt when we answered the 
 president's call, and that we was goin' out to fight 
 under the best flag in the world, suh. And you meant 
 every word you said, Colonel !'* 
 
 Colonel Todhunter chuckled. "You infernal 
 young scamp ! Anyway, I done some fightin' in my 
 case to prove I was in earnest, and that's more'n 
 you can say, suh. Why, Sim Birdsong, you wouldn't 
 know a Spanish soldier if he come right up to you 
 this minute and stuck his nose in your face! You 
 never got in a thousand miles of one of *em, for all 
 your 'heppin' and *hay-foot' and *straw-foot' drillin', 
 and you know it, you little fo'-card flusher, you !" 
 
 Now it was Sim's face that showed the hurt. 
 Colonel Todhunter put a swift hand on his shoul-i 
 der. "That's all right, Sim," he spoke heartily. "I 
 was just gettin' back at you for makin' fun of me. 
 It wa'n't your fault. You tried your level best to get 
 at the Spaniards, and if Uncle Sam had needed you 
 
 98 
 
SIM BIRDSONG'S RESOLVE 
 
 he knew right where he could put his hands on you. 
 And about this blue and gray business — the old sol- 
 diers on both sides fought it out back there in the 
 sixties, and they ain't got no quarrel now. A good 
 fight ought to make a good peace afterward, is the 
 way they look at it. The only men that's still a-quar- 
 relin' is the men that didn't wear either the blue or 
 the gray when they was any fightin' to be done — and 
 they didn't get mad till the war was all over, suh !" 
 
 "You're shoutin' now. Colonel," agreed Sim, to 
 whose homely countenance its customary expression 
 of honest good-nature had returned with the touch 
 of the older man's hand on his shoulder. "And it's 
 true, as you say, that us Spanish War fellows didn't 
 see any real fightin', but even the rough-and-tumble 
 fist fights a boy has to run into at school taught me 
 that a good set-to is the best way in the world to put 
 a stop to quarrelin*. It just wipes the whole thing 
 off the map — and I reckon that's precisely what the 
 Civil War done for the men that really fought it, 
 suh." 
 
 Colonel Todhunter nodded emphatically. A mo- 
 ment of silence intervened. Then, suddenly, a look 
 of apprehension crept into Sim Birdsong's face. 
 
 99 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "Colonel," he spoke, a somewhat sheepish grin on 
 his lips, "talkin' about fightin' and bein* skeered 
 and all that, I got to tell you, suh, that I'm facin' a 
 proposition in that line right now that's got any or- 
 dinary war skinned a mile, suh." 
 
 "What's the difficulty, Sim?" asked the Colonel in- 
 terestedly. 
 
 "Why, suh, it's Miss Angelica Exall's ma, that's 
 what it is, suh. Things is takin' a mighty serious 
 shape. Colonel Todhunter. That dod-rotted old lady 
 is a-movin' Heaven and earth to make a match be- 
 tween Miss Angelica and Pohter Scruggs, suh, for 
 the simple reason that he owns a good farm an's got 
 a few thousand dollars in bank, and she wants Miss 
 Angelica to sell herself for them things, suh. And 
 her first move to'ards catchin' Pohter Scruggs, Colo- 
 nel, is to make Miss Angelica get rid of me, know- 
 in' I ain't as well off as him, suh." 
 
 "That's pretty bad, Sim. But you shorely ain't 
 thinkin' of leavin' the field, are you?" 
 
 "I'll be dog-goned if I know just what to do, suh. 
 It looks mighty poor-spirited for a man to let him- 
 self be bullyragged out of his rights by a woman, 
 but the cold truth is. Colonel, that Miss Angelica's 
 
 100 
 
SIM BIRDSONG'S RESOLVE 
 
 ma is an all-fired terrifyin' lady, suh. The case loolcs 
 mighty serious to me, Colonel Todhunter." 
 
 "It is serious, Sim. The reason why it's serious is 
 that you've let that old brigadier of a Mrs. Exall 
 bluff you till you're skeered half to death of her." 
 
 "I'm skeered all right, there's no two ways about 
 that, suh. I'm so skeered that I get weak and trembly 
 in my shank-bones ever' time I have to face her, 
 and that's the Lord's truth." 
 
 "And that's right where you're going to lose out, 
 Sim. You've let that old catamaran see that you're 
 skeered of her, and she ain't a-goin' to show you no 
 more mercy'n a rabbit. It's all right for a man to 
 feel shaky before the girl herself, suh, but if the 
 girl's got such a cantankerous mother as Miss An- 
 gelica Exall's got, his only play is to bluff the girl's 
 mother to a standstill. You ought to be like a roar- 
 in' lion to that oid lady, Sim Birdsong — it's the only 
 chance you've got of winnin' Miss Angelica." 
 
 "That's all very well, Colonel. It's mighty easy 
 for you to r'ar back and advise me along them lines, 
 but I'd like to see you try any roarin' lion business 
 with Miss Angelica Exall's ma, suh, brave man 
 though I well know you to be. You begin roarin' 
 
 lOI 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 'round her, suh, and she'll give you a jolt that'll make 
 your back teeth come loose. Colonel." 
 
 "How come you to know all this beyond the per- 
 adventure of a doubt, Sim ? Have you ever had sand 
 enough to stand up to old Mrs. Exall and fight it out 
 with her, suh ?" 
 
 "See here, now. Colonel !" cried Sim, aghast. "I'm 
 havin' trials and tribulations enough, holdin' on to 
 Miss Angelica Exall, without cuttin' off my nose to 
 spite my face that-a-way, suh. I wouldn't last in 
 that house any longer'n you can say 'Jack Robinson' 
 if I didn't behave mighty mealy-mouthed when old 
 Mrs. Exall's around, suh. I" know what I'm talkin' 
 about." 
 
 "Sim," said Colonel Todhunter, "if that's the way 
 you feel about it, you ain't no more goin' to get Miss 
 Angelica Exall than you're goin' to fly. Your goose 
 is cooked right now, suh." 
 
 "What do you mean. Colonel ?" 
 
 "I mean just what I say, Sim. That old female 
 war-hoss knows that she's got you and Miss Angelica 
 skeered to a frazzle, suh. And she's got her head 
 set on marryin' her daughter to Pohter Scruggs for 
 his farm and bank account, suh. She'll shoo you out 
 
 102 
 
SIM BIRDSONG'S RESOLVE 
 
 of the way just like you was a fly, Sim — and the first 
 thing you know your Miss Angelica Exall will be 
 Mrs. Pohter Scruggs, suh, and old Mrs. Exall, she'll 
 be a-settin' in their fine house a-laughin' at you for a 
 sway-backed fool that didn't know he held a win- 
 nin' hand if he'd only had the grit to play his cards 
 straight, suh." 
 
 Sim seemed unable to make reply to this. 
 
 "Look here, Sim Birdsong," asked the Colonel 
 indignantly, "have you ever come right out flat- 
 footed and told Miss Angelica Exall that you loved 
 her?" 
 
 Sim nodded. "Yes, suh," he spoke meekly. 
 
 "And has Miss Angelica ever revealed the state 
 of her feelin's to'ards you, suh?" 
 
 A glint of pride came into Sim's eyes. "Yes, suh," 
 he announced. "She done that, suh." 
 
 "And it's all right between you two ?" 
 
 "It's all right between us. Colonel," said Sim fer- 
 vently. "Though what that sweet girl can see in me, 
 when she's got all mankind to choose from, is one 
 of Gk)d's mysteries that's more'n I can fathom, suh." 
 
 "You're right about that, Sim" — and the Colo- 
 nel's eyes twinkled. "But you're sure about it, too, 
 
 103 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 ain't you? She ain't doin' no Injun-givin' in your 
 case ?" 
 
 "Colonel Todhunter," said Sim, "I'd stake my 
 life on it, suh. Miss Angelica Exall loves me, suh, 
 and says she'll keep on lovin' me all the rest of her 
 born days." 
 
 Colonel Todhunter gazed at the speaker severely. 
 "And do you mean to tell me, Sim Birdsong, that 
 you didn't go straight to old Mrs. Exall that very 
 minute and tell her you and Miss Angelica was a-go- 
 in' to get married ?" 
 
 Dismay crept into Sim Birdsong's face. "Well — 
 er — Colonel," he stammered, "the truth is, suh, that 
 I did go to Miss Angelica's ma right then and there, 
 suh, and ask her if I couldn't have Miss Angelica." 
 
 There was an ominous pause. 
 
 "Colonel," said Sim Birdsong, gulping, "she come 
 mighty nigh bitin' my head off. It was terrible, suh. 
 I didn't know a woman of her age could get so mad, 
 suh. There ain't no other word for it. Colonel Tod- 
 hunter. It was terrible." 
 
 "And you haven't broached the subject since 
 then?" 
 
 "No, suh, I have not" — and Sim shivered a little. 
 104 
 
SIM BIRDSONG'S RESOLVE 
 
 "But I'm a-goin' to, suh, just the minute I feel able — 
 spite 'n the fact that she threatened to throw me ouf n 
 her house if I ever opened my mouth to her about 
 Miss Angelica again, suh." 
 
 "YouVe got to, Sim," said the Colonel. Then he 
 chuckled. "Do you know what she's a-goin' to do 
 to you," he asked, "when you come back at her that 
 next time ?" 
 
 "No, suh," said Sim. "What is it?" 
 
 "She'll snatch you bald-headed, Sim, that's what 
 she'll do." 
 
 "Colonel Todhunter," asked Sim, "I got to ask 
 her, ain't I?" 
 
 The Colonel nodded forebodingly. "Just once 
 more, anyway, and may the Lord have mercy on 
 your soul !" Sim made no reply. 
 
 The Colonel contemplated him meditatively. 
 "Sim," he spoke at last, "things used to be mighty 
 different in this-here country. The young men in my 
 days was a heap more enterprisin' than they seem 
 to be now, suh." 
 
 "What do you mean. Colonel ?" 
 
 "Well, suh," answered Colonel Todhunter, "I 
 don't want to say more'n I ought to, but my experi- 
 
 105 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 ence teaches me one thing, certain. It's this, Sim. 
 Love is either the biggest and best thing in life, and 
 therefore entitled to the right-of-way over every- 
 thing else, or it ain't — and then this life of our'n 
 ain't worth the livin', sub. What do you think about 
 it, Sim?" 
 
 The younger man gazed into the elder's face per- 
 plexed. "I'll be dog-goned. Colonel," he said, "if I 
 catch what you're a-drivin' at, suh." 
 
 "I don't say I'm a-drivin' at anything in particu- 
 lar, Sim," spoke the Colonel. "But there used to be a 
 lot of runaway weddin's in my young days, suh. 
 And them weddin's used to turn out mighty happy, 
 too." 
 
 Sim Birdsong caught his breath. "Do you advise. 
 Colonel Todhunter," he inquired, "that me and Miss 
 Angelica Exall run away and get married ?" 
 
 "I don't advise nothin', Sim," replied the Colonel. 
 "But I do say this. There ain't goin' to be no more'n 
 a grease-spot left of you if you keep on pester in' old 
 Mrs. Exall for her daughter after this one more 
 time, suh." 
 
 The light of a desperate resolve leaped into Sim's 
 eyes. "Colonel Todhunter," he said then, "sometime 
 
 io6 
 
SIM BIRDSONG'S RESOLVE 
 
 in the near future, suh, I may have to ask a very 
 great personal favor of you, suh." 
 
 "Sim," replied the Colonel, "I'll do most anything 
 in the world for a young man I esteem as highly as 
 I do you, suh." 
 
 "I thank you, suh," responded Sim Birdsong. "It 
 won't be nothin' that a gentleman couldn't honor- 
 ably do for a friend, suh, but if everything turns 
 out right, two grateful hearts will be pray in' for 
 you all the rest of their lives, suh." With which as- 
 surance Sim bade the Colonel farewell. 
 
 And the Colonel fortified himself with philosophic 
 argument. "It'll be the proper thing to do," he re- 
 flected. "And I'll be jig-whiffled if I don't hope Sim 
 Birdsong's got manhood enough to do it. It's all 
 mighty fine to talk about the rights of parents over 
 their children. They've got 'em to a mighty far 
 point, and they ought to have 'em. But what right 
 has a mother got that she don't surrender when she's 
 willin' to marry her daughter off for money, knowin' 
 the girl loves another man ? Talk about the natural 
 human affections — I'll be shot full o' holes if I be- 
 lieve even a she wild-cat would be capable of doin' 
 such a thing as that, suh !" 
 
 107 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 COLONEL TODHUNTER ENCOUNTERS A FINANCIAL 
 STRINGENCY 
 
 SUDDENLY, one day, the Honorable William 
 J. Strickland returned from St. Louis. An ex- 
 pression of acute worriment so contrary to its cus- 
 tomary cheerfulness rested on his face that Colonel 
 Todhunter, entering the candidate's Nineveh law 
 office, could not but remark the change. 
 
 "What on earth's the matter. Bill?" he asked. 
 "You look like the last of pea-times." 
 
 Colonel Strickland attempted a smile. "Oh, noth- 
 ing particular, Thurs," he replied. "I reckon I was 
 just meditating on the vanity of human life." 
 
 "Well, it must have been Hark from the Tombs 
 a Dolefid Sound all right," laughed Colonel Tod- 
 hunter. Then he took a second look at his friend. 
 
 "You're lyin' to me. Bill Strickland," he said. 
 "There's somethin' gone wrong and it's on your 
 mind. What is it?" 
 
 "Thurs," responded the other, "it ain't anything 
 io8 
 
A FINANCIAL STRINGENCY 
 
 you can help. There's no good in my unloading my 
 troubles on you just because you've got broad shoul- 
 ders." 
 
 "Unload 'em anyhow," returned Colonel Tod- 
 hunter. "You ought to know folks can shed other 
 folks' troubles off'n their shoulders like water from 
 a duck's back." 
 
 But Colonel Strickland shook his head. "There's 
 been a backset somewhere along the line," announced 
 Colonel Todhunter stubbornly. "And you've got to 
 tell me what it is. Quit settin' there lookin' like a 
 poor man at a cash sale, Bill Strickland, dumb 'cause 
 money's all that talks." 
 
 At this Colonel Strickland laughed drearily. 
 "That's where you hit the nail on the head," he said. 
 "Money, the mean and dirty thing that can whip the 
 best man in the world — that's the trouble, Thurs." 
 
 "It's generally the other man's money that looks 
 dirty. Bill," Colonel Todhunter commented, chuck- 
 ling. "I got to acknowledge the corn myself. I never 
 had a dollar of my own that didn't look mighty clean 
 and good to me. But what's this particular money 
 trouble?" 
 
 "AVell, if you will have it, Thurs, it's this," re- 
 109 
 
, COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 plied Colonel Strickland. "I'm up a tree in the mat- 
 ter of campaign expenses. Old Governor Leslie was 
 sure he could raise a Strickland campaign fund by 
 asking the right men and telling them what he pro- 
 posed to do with it, they knowing that Steve Yan- 
 cey ain't fit to be governor of Missouri. But so far 
 he's met with mighty poor success. He told me all 
 about it in St. Louis yesterday. I ain't got a dollar 
 in the world — and we've established headquarters in 
 St. Louis and Kansas City that's got to be kept up. 
 How we're going to do it is what I can't figure out." 
 
 The two old friends faced each other silently. 
 
 "That certainly is a serious situation. Bill," spoke 
 Colonel Todhunter at last. 
 
 "It's so almighty serious, Thurs," returned the 
 other, "that I can't see my way out of it." 
 
 But at this Colonel Todhunter snorted. "That's 
 where you're wrong, Bill Strickland," he exclaimed. 
 "I've been in tighter places'n anybody on earth, 
 'ceptin' the fellow who come out of a spree with hot 
 coppers in hades, but I'll be jim-swizzled if I ever 
 got into one I couldn't get out of. And we ain't in 
 that kind of a one now. How much money do you 
 need?" 
 
 no 
 
A FINANCIAL STRINGENCY 
 
 Colonel Strickland shook his head. "There's no 
 good you and me figuring along that line, old fellow. 
 iWe need at least three thousand dollars, and while 
 it's pretty certain old Leslie will raise that amount 
 eventually, that doesn't cut any ice now. We need 
 the money right here at the start." 
 
 "And you can't raise it?" asked Colonel Tod- 
 hunter. 
 
 "No, I can't," answered Colonel Strickland. "And 
 I get what a man deserves for thinking he knows 
 how to save the country when he don't even know 
 how to take care of himself." 
 
 "That ain't so. Bill," answered Colonel Tod- 
 hunter sturdily. "And anybody that thinks they can 
 keep you from bein' governor of Mizzoorah simply 
 because you're a poor man has got another think 
 comin', suh. You draw your personal note for three 
 thousand dollars in my favor. I'll indorse it right 
 here — and if I don't get that money it's because the 
 Nineveh National Bank don't know a good thing 
 when it sees it." 
 
 "What do you mean, Todhunter ?" asked Colonel 
 Strickland, instant protest in his eyes. 
 
 "I mean this. Bill Strickland," replied Colonel 
 III 
 
COLONEU TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 Todhunter. "In the first place, old Governor Leslie 
 is dead sure to raise that-there campaign fund. In 
 the second place, all Heaven and hell hates a quitter, 
 and you ain't a-goin' to be one. In the third place, 
 the Todhunter farm is as pretty a piece of collateral 
 for a three-thousand-dollar loan as old Shylock him- 
 self would have the heart to ask." 
 
 "That's exactly what I thought you were going to 
 say," quietly commented Colonel Strickland. "But 
 it don't go for a minute. I ain't going to tie you up 
 on this proposition." 
 
 "Th' ain't nobody goin' to tie me up," said Colonel 
 Todhunter. "And I ain't goin' to tie myself up, 
 either. I'm goin' to tie the other fellow up. I'll tie 
 up them-there tricksters in St. Louis that's queerin' 
 old Governor Leslie's game. They're the ones that's 
 puttin' a frost on the Strickland campaign fund. If 
 they can do that successfully, they've got you 
 whipped right here and now. But I'm a-goin' to fool 
 em. 
 
 "No, Thurs, I won't do it," protested Colonel 
 Strickland. "Putting up a good fight is one thing, 
 but ruining your friends is something entirely dif- 
 ferent. I haven't fallen that low, yet." 
 
 112 
 
A FINANCIAL STRINGENCY 
 
 "You haven't fallen anywhere," said Colonel Tod- 
 hunter. "But youVe got my fightin' blood up, and 
 by the Lord Harry, if you ain't man enough to fight 
 alongside o' me, I'll fight by myself !" 
 
 "Todhunter," said Colonel Strickland, "it's all 
 wrong. You haven't got any call to do a thing like 
 that for me.'* 
 
 "The man that ain't got no call to help a friend 
 that needs help," replied Colonel Todhunter, "ain't 
 got no call to keep on livin'. You set down there 
 and make out that-there note." 
 
 Reluctantly, Colonel Strickland obeyed. But he 
 smiled cynically as he passed the paper to Colonel 
 Todhunter. 
 
 "You forget, Thurs," he said, "that old Eph 
 Tucker is president of the Nineveh National Bank. 
 Is he likely to finance our campaign against Steve 
 Yancey?" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter laughed. "I ain't forgettin' 
 nothin'," he responded. "And don't you forget that 
 old Eph Tucker was a note-shaver long before he 
 was a politician, and he's got note-shavin' in his 
 blood bigger'n a mule. He couldn't no more let a 
 good piece of paper get away from his bank than he 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 could fly — and angels'll have to be mighty scarce be- 
 fore old Eph Tucker does any flyin' !" 
 
 Nevertheless, when Colonel Todhunter presented 
 the Strickland note, indorsed by him and with his 
 unincumbered farm as collateral, for discount, he 
 found old Eph Tucker solicitously inquisitive. 
 
 "What's it all about. Colonel Todhunter?" the 
 banker asked. "You and Bill Strickland going in 
 together on some business deal? What's the con- 
 sideration for the note?" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter looked old Tucker square in 
 the eyes. "Eph," he replied, "Fm a-goin' to play my 
 cards face up on the table. Bill Strickland needs 
 money to pay his campaign expenses. That's why 
 I'm indorsin' his note and askin' this bank to dis- 
 count it." 
 
 Old Tucker's little eyes narrowed. "And you're 
 gettin' no good out of it yourself?" he asked, study- 
 ing Colonel Todhunter curiously. "You're lending 
 your credit and risking your farm just to help Bill 
 Strickland along in politics?" 
 
 "That's what I'm doin', Eph," replied Colonel 
 Todhunter. 
 
 "Then," said the banker, "you're a bigger fool 
 114 
 
A financial; stringency 
 
 than I took you for. Bill Strickland ain't good for 
 a hundred dollars with this bank." 
 
 "He's good for any amount with me, Eph," re- 
 turned Colonel Todhunter, a sudden menace in his 
 tone. "But that ain't the question. Is this note 
 good, as it stands now ?" 
 
 "Bill Strickland don*t stand no more show for the 
 nomination than a rabbit," spoke old Tucker. "He'll 
 never get his hands on the governor's salary, if 
 that's what you're counting on. Colonel Todhunter." 
 
 "Eph," said Colonel Todhunter, "I'll look out for 
 that end of the business. All I want you to do is to 
 pass on this-here note." 
 
 "Colonel Todhunter," replied the banker, "the in- 
 dorsement and the collateral make this note good, 
 and it's a banker's business to buy good paper. We'll 
 discount the note. It's your funeral, not ours." 
 
 "That finishes the business then," said Colonel 
 Todhunter. "I ain't worryin' about any funerals. 
 But if you're a-countin' on either Bill Strickland or 
 me furnishin' the corpse, Eph, you're goin' to see 
 one of the liveliest corpses you ever seen in all your 
 born days, suh !" 
 
 The old banker made no reply. 
 115 
 
COLONEL' TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 Colonel Todhunter was chuckling when he re- 
 ported to Colonel Strickland. "It's all right, Bill, 
 and you can get back to St. Louis right away," he 
 said. "I got the money from old Eph Tucker. But 
 great Scott and Maria, it was worse'n pullin' eye- 
 teeth! All the same, we got it — and now we'll per- 
 ceed to lick old Eph with his own money !" 
 
 But Colonel Todhunter would not have spoken so 
 confidently if he had heard the gloating speech of 
 President Tucker, of the Nineveh National Bank, 
 a moment or two after his own departure from that 
 institution. 
 
 "The two helpless fools!" muttered old Eph 
 Tucker to himself. "I've got 'em both where I want 
 'em now. We'll ruin Bill Strickland for good and 
 all this time. We'll wipe him off the political map 
 of Missouri. And as for old Thurston Todhunter, 
 I'll make such a lame duck out of him yet that the 
 only Todhunter who can ever live on that farm of 
 his again will have to marry a Tucker to do it — 
 like I'll make Mary Todhunter marry my son Stam 
 before I'm through with her I" 
 
 ii6 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 colonel todhunter cuts a wide swath in 
 Missouri's metropolis 
 
 TO Colonel Todhunter, a countryman born and 
 bred, and of an innate rusticity of soul that 
 was an essential part of his being, contact with the 
 throbbing life of a big city was so rare and foreign 
 that it never failed to emphasize his picturesque un- 
 likeness to the urban type. He stalked into the busy 
 St. Louis headquarters of the Honorable William 
 J. Strickland on the parlor floor of the Laclede H.Q0m^^ 
 tel, the living embodiment of that political figure r 
 dear to the amused metropolitan imagination, "the 
 delegate from the rural districts." It was a brave 
 and honest face that showed itself in Colonel Bill 
 Strickland's private office, but somewhat dismayed at 
 thought of an impending ordeal. 
 
 "I'll just be eternally whipsawed if you ain't a-try- 
 in' to make a round peg fit into a square hole. Bill !" 
 he protested earnestly, something like awe of his sur- 
 roundings stamped upon his sunburned features. 
 
 117 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "I'm willin' to do 'most anything in the world for 
 you, and you know it. But when you turn me loose 
 in a big town like this and expect me to behave like 
 anything more'n a wall-eyed plow-horse with his 
 tail full o' cuckle-burs, I'll be everlastin'ly con- 
 demned if you ain't makin' a mighty serious mistake, 
 suh!" 
 
 "Nonsense, Thurs!" laughed Colonel Strickland. 
 "I'm counting on you for some St. Louis speeches 
 that'll be worth their weight in gold, my friend. We 
 need you here, sir, a man that talks old-fashioned 
 American Democracy straight from the shoulder. 
 City politicians have forgotten what the real Demo- 
 cratic doctrine is, Thurs, and we've got to revive 
 it in the people's hearts if we expect 'em to vote 
 right. That's why I want you to help me open my 
 St. Louis campaign. You've got to do it, Thurs !" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter gazed at his friend pensively. 
 "Bill," he said, "I'm a-goin' to do it, as you well 
 know. I'd strip the shirt off'n my back and head 
 a percession wavin' it for a Strickland banner if you 
 asked me to, whether I thought it was the best thing 
 to do under the circumstances or not. But I bid you 
 remember, Bill, that I warned you in time. It'll be 
 
 ii8 
 
THE COLONEL CUTS A WIDE SWATH 
 
 your fault if you have occasion to regret havin* 
 brought me in from the pasture and stacked me up 
 against these-here bang-tailed city thoroughbreds, 
 suh!" 
 
 *T'll take the chances, old fellow !" said the can- 
 didate, his eyes twinkling. "You just oblige me now 
 for old friendship's sake and I'll be responsible for 
 everything that happens afterward. I ain't the least 
 bit afraid." 
 
 "I'll eat my hat if I don't wish I could say the 
 same, suh!" ejaculated Colonel Todhunter, a vehe- 
 ment panic in his tone. "I'm skeered to the marrow, 
 suh, because I'm out o' my bailiwick and up against 
 a proposition that I don't know any more about'n a 
 hog knows about a holiday, suh. And you're a-goin' 
 to discover, suh, before we get through with this 
 piece of foolishness, that I had mighty good reasons 
 for bein' skeered, too !" 
 
 "Shucks, you old war-horse!" laughed Colonel 
 Bill Strickland. "Once you get into the fight you'll 
 warm up like a two-year-old and show these St. 
 Louis folks what a real Missouri Democrat is. 
 You're going to make the hit of your life, sir!" 
 
 "Maybe I am and maybe I ain't. Bill Strickland," 
 119 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 quoth Colonel Todhunter moodily. "But all I ask 
 at the finish is that you'll remember it wa'n't me that 
 made the prediction, suh. I'm a natural born op- 
 timist, suh, but that don't necessarily mean that I'm 
 a natural born jackass at all times and under all cir- 
 cumstances and on all subjects, as some folks seem 
 to think, suh !" 
 
 And in this frame of mind Colonel Todhunter 
 returned into the general headquarters offices and 
 was introduced to his Nineveh friend's St. Louis 
 backers and campaign staff. 
 
 A quiet young newspaper man who happened to 
 be drifting through the rooms seemed instantly im- 
 pressed by .Colonel Todhunter's picturesque person- 
 ality. He studied the Colonel intently, a growing ap- 
 preciation in his thoughtful and latently humorous 
 eyes. 
 
 After exchanging a few words with this new ad- 
 dition to the Strickland forces the journalist went 
 into one of the private telephone booths at the end 
 of the reception-room and called up his paper. Then 
 he came back to Colonel Todhunter, engaging him in 
 conversation. A few minutes later a second man 
 casually appeared and unobtrusively stationed him- 
 
 I20 
 
THE COLONEL CUTS A WIDE SWATH 
 
 self where he had a good front view of the Colonel, 
 who was being deftly led into political dissertation 
 by his new acquaintance. 
 
 Colonel Bill Strickland, passing through the 
 main room at one moment, saw the two with their 
 heads together. Something like a gleam of laughter 
 leaped into his eyes and he nodded, almost imper- 
 ceptibly, an approving signal to Colonel Todhunter's 
 companion. Then, for an hour or more, the two 
 were left undisturbed. 
 
 They chatted pleasantly on many topics. The 
 Colonel himself was led to talk discursively on the 
 political situation in Missouri, the distinctive types 
 of party leaders in the country districts, his own 
 personal views and ample reminiscences of past cam- 
 paigns in the state, his quaint valuation of Dem- 
 ocracy's great historic figures. He was in reality 
 being trapped into a self -revelation. Behind his talk, 
 animating it and shining through its unsuspecting 
 frankness and utter naturalness, appeared the child- 
 like and simple soul of the speaker, presented with 
 absolute unreserve. The Colonel's companion was 
 the most appreciative of listeners, and, as he listened, 
 a light of whimsical regard deepened in his eyes. 
 
 121 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "But I'm a-takin' up a heap of your time, suh !" 
 exclaimed the Colonel finally. "I reckon you city 
 newspaper men have to trot around after news till 
 your tongue's a-hangin' out of your mouth a yard 
 long. You mustn't let me keep you from other 
 things, suh." 
 
 "Not at all, Colonel Todhunter!" came the quick 
 response. "It's been well worth while, sir. I intend 
 using some of your talk, if you have no objection, 
 so you're really helping me out, you know." 
 
 The Colonel looked at his companion pityingly. 
 "You're wastin' your powder, young man. I can talk 
 by the hour, but what I say ain't got no more busi- 
 ness bein' printed in a great city newspaper'n a whiff 
 o' wind a-rustlin' the dry leaves in the woods, suh. 
 You better be mighty careful, try in' to make some- 
 thin' worth while out o' them-there observations of 
 mine — your folks at the paper'll think you're worse'n 
 a old huntin'-dog that goes sky-hootin' off lickety- 
 split after a rabbit when it's pa'tridges they was 
 a-countin' on him to p'int, suh." 
 
 The newspaper man leaned back and laughed zest- 
 fully. "Colonel, I'm willing to take the chances on 
 that, if you are. And I'll leave it to you, to-morn?w 
 
 122 
 
THE COLONEL CUTS A WIDE SWATH 
 
 afternoon, if I don't know what's worth while when 
 I see it, sir. You've given me a cracker- jack talk on 
 Missouri politics, and I'm very much obliged to you, 
 Colonel." 
 
 "You're mighty welcome," replied Colonel Tod- 
 hunter, genial but doubtful. "I'll be shot full o' 
 holes if I see how you're a-goin' to write a piece 
 from what I've been sayin', suh." 
 
 Then, suddenly, he nodded to his front. "What 
 in blue blazes and Sam Hifl is that man a-doin' 
 there ?" he asked. "The one with that placard in his 
 hand, squintin' at me every two seconds and then 
 jabbin' down somethin' with his pencil ? That's the 
 confoundedest most singular proceedin' I ever laid 
 my two eyes on, suh !" 
 
 The young newspaper man shook with laughter. 
 "Colonel," he said, his humorous lips twitching, 
 "don't you worry about that man. He's perfectly 
 harmless. I know him. He's got a bug on political 
 celebrities, sir. It's a case of bats in his belfry on 
 that one subject. He goes around recording his 
 impressions at close range during every campaign, 
 just the way you see him now. Most remarkable 
 character, Colonel. I've known him for a long time." 
 
 123 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "Well, suh," replied Colonel Todhunter, "I'll be 
 eternally condemned if he mustn't ha' wrote a whole 
 book about me, then. He's been jabbin' that-there 
 pencil o' his'n up and down for the last twenty min- 
 utes or so worse'n a little girl play in' tit-tat-to be- 
 hind her jogaphy endurin' school time, suh!" 
 
 The newspaper man wiped tears of laughter from 
 his eyes. "I'll take him away now. Colonel," he said 
 at last, rising. "I've got to go back to the office, and 
 it always tickles him to talk to somebody about his 
 impressions. I expect he'll have a lot to say about 
 you, sir." 
 
 "Well, you keep it dark, suh, if he does," replied 
 Colonel Todhunter. "I got enough to stand up un- 
 der, here in St. Louis, without no comments from 
 such an almighty curious specimen o' humanity as 
 that, suh!" 
 
 And at this the newspaper man fairly exploded. 
 He was still shaking with laughter when he joined 
 the mysterious stranger. The latter promptly pock- 
 eted his pencil, stuck his bit of cardboard under his 
 arm, and then, together, the two departed. 
 
 "It's this-here crazy-like city life that makes such 
 wrecks as that poor simple Simon," mused the Colo- 
 
 124 
 
THE COLONEL CUTS A WIDE SWATH 
 
 nel. "I-gad, it beats me why any human bein' is 
 willin* to live it, let alone pay such a price as that 
 for it! But it takes all sorts o' people to make a 
 world, 1*11 just be jim-swizzled if it don*t, suh!" 
 
 The next afternoon when Colonel Todhunter's 
 eyes fell on the front page of the leading Indepen- 
 dent Democratic paper of St. Louis, he fairly gasped 
 with horror. Then followed an almost tragic pause 
 as he absorbed the full meaning of what had so sud- 
 denly stricken him with dismay. The next moment 
 he handed the newspaper to Colonel Strickland. 
 
 "What did I tell you. Bill?" he groaned. "Fm 
 a-goin' back to Nineveh just as fast as the good 
 Lord'llletme, suh!" 
 
 Colonel Strickland's gaze rested upon the news- 
 paper page. He saw Colonel Todhunter's name 
 boldly typed in the flaring head-line that extended 
 across three columns. A full-length "character-car- 
 toon" of the Colonel surrounded by "thumb-nail" 
 impressions of his face and bodily pose at various in- 
 teresting moments of his talk of the preceding day 
 surrounded the larger portrait. 
 
 Colonel Strickland began a reading of the article. 
 A smile crept upon his face. Slowly his eyes went 
 
 125 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 down the printed page. The smile broadened. Soon 
 it became a chuckle. Later, absorbed in the reading, 
 the candidate's shoulders shook as he read. Finally, 
 with one big fist pinning the newspaper to the table 
 in front of him. Colonel Bill Strickland leaned back 
 in his chair and roared with laughter. 
 
 "Lord have mercy on us, Thurs!" he gasped. 
 "It's the best and truest thing I ever saw in my life! 
 They've got you finished off to the queen's taste !" 
 
 "I don't know nothin' about the queen's taste, 
 suh," spoke Colonel Todhunter grimly, "but I know 
 one thing almighty well. I'm a-goin' to dust that 
 newspaper man's jacket for him the next time he 
 comes in reach o' me. Great name above, suh, th' 
 ain't no man can handle Colonel Thurs T. Tod- 
 hunter like that and not get it well taken out of his 
 hide, suh!" 
 
 Again Colonel Strickland shouted with laughter. 
 "You old fool!" he sputtered. "That newspaper 
 man knows you better than you know yourself — it's 
 wonderful, Thurs! He's made a character study 
 of you that's nothing more or less than a miracle, 
 my friend!" 
 
 It was the truth. Colonel Todhunter had come 
 126 
 
THE COLONEL CUTS A WIDE SWATH 
 
 under the vision o£ a masterfully gifted newspaper 
 expert in "character values." The young fellow 
 with whom he had chatted so freely and at such 
 ease on the preceding afternoon had temperamen- 
 tally "absorbed" him, body and soul. Then he had^ 
 gone to his newspaper desk and written a descriptive 
 interview that was sheerly the Colonel himself in the 
 flesh. It was a feat of psychological wizardry. The 
 man achieving it seemed to have put aside his own 
 being for the moment and taken on that of Colonel 
 Todhunter instead. As a result of this exercise of 
 the strangest of literary powers, Colonel Todhunter 
 himself, the typical figure of a Missouri Democrat 
 of the old school, talked in his proper person, a liv- 
 ing, breathing, almost palpable entity, from the 
 printed page. 
 
 And the keenly humorous, appreciative and well- 
 nigh loving quality that signalized the writer*s per- 
 formance of his task was finely reinforced by the 
 work of the cartoonist. The sketches themselves 
 were lifelike, bringing out the Colonel's every salient 
 characteristic in facial expression, bodily pose and 
 gesture. 
 
 But this amazing projection of himself in print- 
 127 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 er's ink on the publicity "screen" of a newspaper's 
 front page appalled Colonel Todhunter. He shrank 
 from it, shocked, with all a countryman's dismay 
 at sudden prominence before the world. 
 
 "It's all right for you. Bill — you can afford to 
 laugh !" he said indignantly. "But I'm the one that's 
 holdin' the bag, suh ! It's me that's put on that-there 
 infernal circus-poster like the Wild Man o' Borneo, 
 not you. And I'll be shot full o' holes if it ain't me 
 that's a-goin' to hold them-there two young rascals 
 to an account in' for it, you mark my words, suh !" 
 
 Colonel Strickland wiped the tears from his eyes. 
 
 "You're all wrong, Thurs — honest, you are!" he 
 protested. "There ain't a line in that story that don't 
 speak good of you, and what you say there is as 
 sound as a dollar. It's you talking, to the life, old 
 fellow, and you're talking for me, and every word 
 you say helps us more than a column of ordinary 
 newspaper stuff. I wouldn't take a thousand dollars 
 for it, right now !" 
 
 "I'd sell it for a blamed sight less'n that, suh!" 
 hotly replied Colonel Todhunter. "And didn't I 
 warn you — didn't I tell you beforehand that they'd 
 shorely size me up as a country- jake from the very 
 
 128 
 
THE COLONEL CUTS A WIDE SWATH 
 
 beginnin', and that I'd bungle you all up here in St. 
 Louis, suh? Didn't I say that as sure as I came to 
 these here city headquarters o' your'n Fd play the 
 very old blue blazes and Sam Hill 'fore I got 
 through, suh? Yes, suh — and I'm a-headin' straight 
 back for Nineveh this very day, suh!" 
 
 "No,. you ain't — not by a jugful!" retorted Colo- 
 nel Strickland, manfully striving to straighten his 
 face into gravity. "No, sir. You'll speak at the 
 Coliseum this very night, just as we've planned, 
 Thurs, and I'll tell you another thing. You'll speak 
 to the biggest and most enthusiastic audience the 
 Coliseum ever held, or else I don't know the signs 
 of a man's popularity when I see 'em, sir !" 
 
 "You've got some powerful funny ideas of popu- 
 larity, then, that's all I got to say. Bill Strickland!" 
 snorted Colonel Todhunter. "Popular be durned! 
 What I ought to do by rights is to sue that-there 
 St. Louis paper for criminal libel, suh. Them car- 
 toons o' me is the confoundedest most terrible look- 
 in' things I ever saw in all my born days, suh !" 
 
 In spite of himself Colonel Strickland roared 
 again. "Thurs," he said, "they're the living image 
 of you I" 
 
 129 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 And then Colonel Todhunter exploded. "That's 
 precisely the trouble, suh ! That's just exactly what 
 makes 'em so blamed libelous, you brayin' wild ass 
 of the desert ! The more I look at 'em, the more they 
 look like me. And yet, by the jumpin' jingo, if I 
 resembled them pictures the way I seem to, Mrs. 
 Todhunter wouldn't live with me another dc.j , suh I 
 Anyway, what business they got cartoonin' me? I 
 ain't runnin' for no office. It's you they ought to 
 cartoon, if they've got to cartoon somebody, and you 
 know it mighty well, too, Bill Strickland !" 
 
 "Thurs," said Colonel Strickland, "I'd give any- 
 thing in the world if they would — that's the cold 
 truth. But they won't. I ain't in it with you, my 
 friend—- you've made the hit of your life. Why, sir, 
 you're the most famous man in St. Louis this very 
 day!" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter looked extremely dubious, 
 however. 
 
 And the next moment he found himself in the 
 limelight anew. The same paper, conceding afresh 
 his pictorial and humorous possibilities, cartooned 
 him in another pose as its illustration of the weather 
 prediction for the day, presenting him as its famous 
 
 130 
 
THE COLONEL CUTS A WIDE SWATH 
 
 "weather bird." "High winds blowing from the di- 
 rection of Nineveh," it gravely announced. "Shift- 
 ing to-night to the westward, with its storm center 
 at the Coliseum. The famous Colonel Thurs T. 
 Todhunter will speak there, beginning at eight 
 sharp. Increasing wind velocity. Duration of gale 
 unknown." 
 
 At this stage of the proceedings it required the 
 combined arguments of Colonel Bill Strickland, 
 his St. Louis backers, and the entire headquarters 
 staff, to keep Colonel Todhunter from going on the 
 warpath in quest of newspaper scalps in general. 
 Colonel Bill, a shrewd veteran in knowledge of 
 what goes to win the people's liking, was tickled al- 
 most beyond measure. 
 
 "Old Thurs Todhunter's making votes for our 
 side faster than you could count 'em," he said to 
 white-haired Governor Leslie, his political sponsor 
 in St. Louis, who himself had headed a brilliant 
 Missouri administration in earlier days. "These pa- 
 pers have got right at the heart of him, and they're 
 showing him to the people for just the lovable old 
 Democrat that he is, too. It's a good thing all 
 round. Governor — old-fashioned Democracy in the 
 
 131 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 flesh is worth while for the younger generation to 
 look at. They need it, too." 
 
 The candidate and his friends were finally suc- 
 cessful in mollifying Colonel Todhunter. But he 
 went to his night's task in anything but a hopeful 
 frame of mind. 
 
 Colonel Bill Strickland, however, had prophesied 
 truly. The Coliseum was packed to the doors. 
 
 *'Great Scott and Maria, suh,'* said Colonel Tod- 
 hunter, describing the scene to Dick Cantrill upon 
 his return home later, "you couldn't ha' wedged a 
 knife-blade in between any two men in that-there 
 crowd, suh. And the way they cheered and hollered 
 when I was interduced by the chairman of the meet- 
 in', suh! Blamed if you wouldn't ha' thought I was 
 the original roarin' ring-tailed guyasticutus of Cal- 
 averas County, suh, and the only one in captivity, 
 suh. I never saw grown men behave that way be- 
 fore in all my life, Dick Cantrill, and it made me 
 hotter'n blazes. But I kept my shirt on, suh, sayin' 
 to myself that I was there to help old Bill Strick- 
 land all I knew how. So I just took it out in talkin' 
 to 'em like a Dutch uncle, suh, givin' 'em the straight 
 Democratic doctrine and tellin' 'em they needed it 
 
 132 
 
THE COLONEL CUTS A WIDE SWATH 
 
 blamed bad, too, suh. And I laid the law down to 
 'em, suh, that it wasn't me, but old Bill Strickland, 
 they ought to be a-hollerin' for by rights, if they was 
 the good Democrats they pertended to be, suh. Yes, 
 suh, and then they hollered louder'n ever. But let 
 me tell you one thing, Dick Cantrill, 111 be shot full 
 o' holes if I didn't have 'em every one up on their 
 hind legs a-whoopin' themselves black in the face 
 for old Bill Strickland 'fore I got through with 'em, 
 suh. I tell you, Dick, that-there Satan-straddled 
 newspaper done its durndest to ruin me, but I got 
 even with it right then and here, suh!" 
 
 "Bully for you, Colonel!" vociferated Dick Can- 
 trill, his humorous lips tremulous with mirth. "I'd 
 gladly give the last dollar I had in the world if I 
 could have been there and heard you !" 
 
 But the Colonel's face fell. "Dick," he said, "would 
 you believe it? Them-there infernal cartoonists 
 came back at me the next day worse'n ever, suh. 
 They'd been there at that meetin' and got me in ac- 
 tion. I'll be eternally condemned if I ever saw such 
 pictures of a livin' human bein' as they drew of me 
 then, suh. It was a sin and a shame. What's a man 
 goin' to do these days, Dick Cantrill? I tell you, 
 
 133 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 suh, the present frivolity of the American press is 
 utterly destroyin' the dignity of public life, suh !" 
 
 "It is, Colonel — it is!" agreed the editor of the 
 Nineveh Weekly Blade contritely. And it is to Dick 
 Cantrill's everlasting credit that he held himself in 
 until Colonel Todhunter had stalked away. Then 
 he laughed as he had not laughed in many a day. 
 
 "God bless him!" he said to himself chokingly. 
 "He and his speeches have gained five thousand votes 
 for Colonel Strickland in St. Louis just as sure as 
 the sun rises and sets ! And they're worth it, too !" 
 
 But the crowning achievement of Colonel Tod- 
 hunter's visit to St. Louis was when, by mistake, he 
 marched upon the platform at the biggest Stephen 
 K, Yancey mass meeting of the entire campaign and 
 delivered a ringing eulogy of the Honorable William 
 J. Strickland square in the face of the enemy. 
 
 It all arose from the blunder of the Strickland 
 headquarters man assigned to guide Colonel Tod- 
 hunter to his several speaking places on that fateful 
 night. 
 
 Rival Strickland and Yancey mass meetings were 
 being held in the same ward that night. The two 
 halls engaged by the respective campaign managers 
 
 134 
 
THE COLONEL CUTS A WIDE SWATH 
 
 were not far apart. Colonel Todhunter's luckless 
 guide got their locations confused. Not until he fol- 
 lowed the Colonel in a hurried entrance upon the 
 speakers' stage did he realize his blunder. 
 
 It was too late. 
 
 An early speaker had just concluded his presenta- 
 tion of the Honorable Stephen K. Yancey's claims 
 for the favorable consideration of the Democratic 
 voters as Colonel Todhunter's tall and exceedingly 
 dignified figure emerged into view from the rear of 
 the stage. 
 
 It so happened that some stentorian-voiced wag in 
 the audience recognized the Colonel, and grasped 
 alike the humor of the situation as it then existed 
 and its possibilities of further development. This 
 unknown gentleman promptly sounded a mighty and 
 magnetic whoop. 
 
 "Todhunter! Todhunter! Hooray for Colonel 
 Todhunter!" 
 
 Now, it will never be known if what immediately 
 followed this joyful and enthusiastic cry was due to 
 a similar sense of humor possessed by others in the 
 audience, or if it was merely the natural result of 
 a splendid salutation falling upon the ears of a multi- 
 
 135 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 tude waiting and wistful to be stirred by vociferous 
 leadership into tumultuous acclaim. Whatever the 
 cause, the sudden slogan from one throat provoked 
 a magnificent response. It was as though the vast 
 gathering had been electrified into a passion of vo- 
 calized fervor. Almost instantly the big hall echoed 
 and reechoed with Colonel Todhunter's name. 
 
 "Todhunter! Hooray for Colonel Todhunter!" 
 
 At this psychological moment the original shouter 
 added a new "tag" to his magnificent salutation. 
 
 "Speech!" he roared. "Speech! Todhunterl 
 Speech!" 
 
 And again the herd followed its leader. An over- 
 whelming insistance upon a speech from Colonel 
 Todhunter rang and rang again through the hall. 
 
 Whereupon Colonel Todhunter yielded. 
 
 Tremendously pleased, he advanced to the front 
 of the platform, and, after achieving a most impres- 
 sive bow to the dumfounded chairman of the meet- 
 ing, struck an attitude worthy of Daniel Webster 
 or Henry Clay at their best. Thunders of applause 
 greeted the all-competent pose. Then Colonel Tod- 
 hunter spoke. 
 
 136 
 
THE COLONEL CUTS A WIDE SWATH 
 
 "Fellow Democrats!" 
 
 The house fairly shook with cheers. 
 
 Upon which, Colonel Todhunter, standing alone 
 amidst the embattled cohorts of the Honorable 
 Stephen K. Yancey, launched himself into a fervent 
 exposition of the great and lasting benefit sure to 
 ensue from the nomination of the Honorable Wil- 
 liam J. Strickland for the high office of governor of 
 the imperial commonwealth of Missouri. It was a 
 superb effort. Colonel Todhunter in his soul loved 
 the exercise of his old-fashioned oratorical gifts 
 with a passionate ardor. He had now been encour- 
 aged to their supremest employment. 
 
 And he came astonishingly near completing his 
 panegyric of the shining Strickland virtues before 
 the inevitable interruption. 
 
 Suddenly, however, the listening crowd realized 
 what was happening. Blank amazement followed 
 the first shock of realization. Then came the galling 
 consciousness that somebody had played a gigantic 
 joke on the banner Yancey mass meeting of the pri- 
 mary campaign. Undeniably, too, the audacious. 
 Todhunter now confronting them from their own 
 
 137 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 tribune was a party to the outrage, if not, indeed, its 
 original instigator. 
 
 A surging howl of partizan rage arose. The roar 
 of infuriated protest overwhelmed Colonel Tod- 
 hunter's flow of eloquence. So mighty and resistless 
 was it that the Colonel would as well have attempted 
 to talk down the fury of a tempest. 
 
 "Slug him! Throw him out! Kill him!" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter turned to the chairman of the 
 meeting. "What's the matter, suh?" he asked, puz- 
 zled. "That's a mighty curious way for a Strickland 
 crowd to behave, suh !" 
 
 The bull-necked ward "boss" whom he addressed 
 spluttered and gasped apoplectically, his eyes glar- 
 ing at the speaker. Colonel Todhunter repeated his 
 question. 
 
 And then — 
 
 "A Strickland crowd — hell!" burst from the 
 chairman's lips. "What's eatin' you? Dis ain't no 
 Strickland rally, you lobster! It's a Yancey mass- 
 meetin' of de Fourt' Ward Democracy — an' dere 
 won't be enough left of youse in a minnit for your 
 f rien's to bury, you damned stiff !" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter stared at the chairman, hot 
 
 138 
 
THE COLONEL CUTS A WIDE SWATH 
 
 resentment of the words addressed to him leaping 
 into his soul. The chairman stared at Colonel Tod- 
 hunter, instinctively "sizing up" his indications of 
 fighting power. The crowd roared like so many- 
 maddened bulls. 
 
 And then to the Colonel's own dauntless mind 
 came a full realization of the humor of the situation 
 and its final possibilities. A smile crept to his lips. 
 
 "Mr. Chairman," he said, bowing courteously, "I 
 feel, suh, that it is incumbent upon me to tender to 
 you and this here meetin' my profoundest apologies, 
 suh. I am here by mistake — ^my mistake, suh — 
 and I apologize !" 
 
 Then he turned and calmly faced his dire fully 
 threatening audience. He had been seen to salute 
 the chairman of the meeting with elaborate polite- 
 ness. His own cool demeanor made its certain im- 
 pression upon the crowd. When he lifted one hand 
 impressively the gesture commanded silence. 
 
 "My friends and fellow-citizens — and also fel- 
 low-Democrats," said Colonel Todhunter, entirely 
 unruffled, "I have taken up your valuable time with- 
 out proper warrant I have no business here. I 
 know it better'n you-all do. You are Yancey Dem- 
 
 139 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 ocrats, and I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Strickland Dem- 
 ocrat. I apologize to you for intrudin' upon your 
 meetin' by mistake, my hearers !" 
 
 A little hush followed. 
 
 At its most impressive moment of absolute silence 
 Colonel Todhunter's humorous lips parted in the 
 most engaging smile of unconcealed amusement. 
 
 "But, my friends," he resumed, "nothin' is per- 
 mitted to happen in this-here world of our'n without 
 a wise intention on the part of its Creator. He 
 moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform, 
 a sacred poet tells us, and I believe it, my fellow-citi- 
 zens. It wouldn't surprise me the least bit, my hear- 
 ers, but what I was brought here by seeming accident 
 to show you-all the error of your ways. While the 
 light holds out to burn the vilest sinner may return 
 — and I invite every last one of you Yancey men to 
 consider thoughtfully what I've just been a-sayin' 
 about my old friend. Bill Strickland, and — " 
 
 A deafening storm of partizan rage burst a!- 
 bounds at this moment. Colonel Todhunter's guide 
 laid a swift hand upon his collar and dragged him 
 breathlessly to the rear of the stage. At a full run 
 he was directed out through the wings. A door 
 
 140 
 
THE COLONEL CUTS A WIDE SWATH 
 
 opening into a back alley was broken through by the 
 guide's body, used as a catapult. The Colonel felt 
 the fresh night air smite him in the face. 
 
 "Now weVe got to sprint for it!" gasped the 
 guide. "You follow me, and put on all the speed 
 you got in you. They won't do a thing but massacre 
 us if we don't make our get-away quicker'n a streak 
 o' lightning!" 
 
 Five minutes later Colonel Thurs T. Todhunter 
 gained the stage of the Strickland mass meeting to 
 which he had originally been billeted. He was some- 
 what scant of breath, but otherwise ready for the 
 service of the evening. 
 
 "I've been tryin' to convert the heathen!" he 
 whispered, chuckling to old Governor Leslie, chair- 
 man of the meeting. "Over yonder on the corner 
 at that four-flush Yancey rally, suh. It was a close 
 shave. But I sowed some seeds, suh — I shorely 
 sowed some seeds !" 
 
 The next day the front page of every St. Louis 
 newspaper blazed with the side-splitting story of 
 Colonel Todhunter's unique political exploit. The 
 joke was on the Honorable Stephen K. Yancey and 
 his St. Louis following and the whole town roared 
 
 141 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 over the fun of the story. Colonel Todhunter was 
 the hero of the day. 
 
 "I'm mighty glad to-night finds me back in Nine- 
 veh, suh," he remarked to Colonel Bill Strickland 
 earnestly. "IVe pawed up the earth here in St. 
 Louis worse'n a yearlin' bull in springtime, suh. 
 Blamed if I don't seem to have raised such a dust 
 that none of us knows just where we're at. I told 
 you I had no business comin' here, Bill Strickland !'* 
 
 The Honorable William J. Strickland did his best 
 to straighten his face into soberness. But his lips 
 were tremulous with a grin of pure delight when he 
 spoke. 
 
 "That's ail right, Thurs," he replied. "You've 
 done wonders on your watch" — and here he shook 
 with laughter in spite of himself. "We'll want you 
 here again, before the campaign closes, my friend." 
 
 "You won't get me. Bill," answered Colonel Tod- 
 hunter grimly. "I ain't no hog — I know when I've 
 got enough. This here St. Louis shivaree has about 
 done me plumb up, suh. I-gad, suh, the only satis- 
 factory seances I've had here was with old Randolph 
 Carter, and that St. Louis chief of police I met yis- 
 terday. I laid the law down to old Randolph Car- 
 
 142 
 
THE COLONEL CUTS A WIDE SWATH 
 
 ter for trainin* with the Yancey crowd that's layin' 
 their plots to cheat you out o' the St. Louis vote, and 
 I made him ashamed of himself, suh. And when I 
 found out that this-here Chief Stacey is an old No'th 
 Ca'lina veteran of the Confederacy, suh, I done like- 
 wise with him, too!" 
 
 Then the speaker chuckled. 
 
 "I shorely did talk straight to both of 'em, suh," 
 he resumed. "I made old Ran Carter feel so cheap 
 that he stuck his long nose down into his mint 
 julep and told me he'd break my neck if I didn't hush 
 my mouth, suh. And old Chief Stacey — well, he's 
 white, clear through, and if he could only get half 
 a chance I'd bet the last button on Gabe's coat he'd 
 run his police force the way it ought to be run, suh, 
 'stead o' bein' a part of the Yancey machine, suh!" 
 
 That same night found Colonel Todhunter back in 
 Nineveh. "And thank the Good Marster up above, 
 Mary !" he said to Mrs. Todhunter fervently. "I'm 
 shorely glad to get home. I been playin' the wild in 
 St. Louis. My one comfort is that I told Bill Strick- 
 land exactly how it'd be. He's got himself to thank 
 for persuadin' me to go there." 
 
 "Why, Colonel Todhunter!" cried Mrs. Tod- 
 143 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 hunter. "You can't fool me, talking that way! I 
 saw all the St. Louis papers as fast as they got to 
 Nineveh, and they every one said you just covered 
 yourself with glory." 
 
 An alarmed look came into Colonel Todhunter's 
 face. "Mary," he asked, "did you see them car- 
 toons?" 
 
 Mrs. Todhunter laughed outright. "I couldn't 
 help seein' 'em, Colonel Todhunter! My goodness 
 me ! Ain't it wonderful, what likenesses those news- 
 paper artists can make, just looking at a person?" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter gazed at the speaker ruefully. 
 Then he shook his head. "That beats the Dutch!" 
 he murmured sadly. "And yet they say a man's 
 wife'll stand by him when he ain't got another friend 
 left in the world !" 
 
 144 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 COLONEL TODHUNTER AIDS AND ABETS A YOUNG 
 LOCHINVAR 
 
 COLONEL TODHUNTER was luxuriously 
 bathing his soul in the soothing balm of coun- 
 try life when Sim Birdsong emerged into view and 
 hurried up the flower-bordered walk to the Tod- 
 hunter homestead. The Colonel himself was seated 
 in his big cane easy-chair on the wide gallery, sev- 
 eral Missouri newspapers on the table beside him and 
 one already held open in his hand. Mrs. Todhunter 
 had gone into town on some housewifely errand. 
 
 "Howdy, Colonel !" Sim saluted the returned cam- 
 paigner. "I must say that politics seems to agree 
 with you, suh. You're looking as peart as a two- 
 year-old after your St. Louis frolic!" 
 
 The Colonel grunted. "If I am, Sim," he replied, 
 "I reckon it's because I must be so natcherly no- 
 'count that I ain't worth killin', suh. I've certainly 
 gone through enough since I been away from Nin- 
 eveh to lay any ordinary man out cold and st4ff. 
 
 145 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 City politics is a mighty swift proposition, Sim 
 Birdsong, lemme tell you that for keeps. But how 
 did you know I'd got back home ?" 
 
 "I happened to meet Mrs. Todhunter in town, suh, 
 and she told me you showed up last night," answered 
 Sim. 
 
 Then he sat silent, gazing at the Colonel specu- 
 latively. At last he spoke. 
 
 "Colonel Todhunter," he said, clearing his throat 
 nervously, "I'm a-goin' to do it, suh." 
 
 The Colonel laid down his paper. "You're a-goin* 
 to do what, Sim ?" he asked blankly. 
 
 "Why, Colonel!" remonstrated Sim Birdsong. 
 "You shorely ain't forgot the advice you, yourself, 
 give me, have you, suh ?" 
 
 "Sim," responded the colonel, perplexed, "I 
 reckon I been givin' so blamed much advice here 
 lately that I've lost hold on some o' the loose ends, 
 maybe. What was it I was advisin' you about in 
 particular, my boy ?" 
 
 Something like chagrin showed in Sim's surprised 
 face. "Why, suh," he spoke rebukingly, "it was 
 about Miss Angelica Exall, suh. You shorely re- 
 member the very important talk you and me had 
 
 146 
 
A YOUNG LOCHINVAR 
 
 about Miss Angelica and her ma, Colonel Tod- 
 hunter?" 
 
 The Colonel's face lightened. "To be sure — to be 
 sure, Sim! Now I remember perfectly. You was 
 a-tellin' me, suh, that old Mrs. Exall's attitude 
 towards you gave mighty little hope o' your ever win- 
 nin' Miss Angelica's heart and hand." 
 
 "Colonel Todhunter," said Sim proudly, "that 
 wa'n't quite it, suh. I have already won Miss An- 
 gelica's heart, suh — and the very essence of our 
 talk. Colonel, was about the ways and means of win- 
 nin' her hand as well, suh." 
 
 "O— it was, eh?" 
 
 "Yes, suh, it was. It was your advice to me, 
 Colonel Todhunter, to run off with Miss Angelica 
 Exall, suh, if I found out beyond the perad venture 
 of a doubt that her ma wouldn't never consent to 
 our bein' married, suh." 
 
 Colonel Todhunter looked at Sim Birdsong ju- 
 dicially. "Have you found that out, Sim ?" 
 
 "Colonel," was the other's dejected reply, "if I 
 was to live to be as old as Methuselah, suh, I couldn't 
 never hope to get that old lady's consent, suh. She 
 told me so herself, flat-footed, in about as p'inted 
 
 147 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 language as I ever hear in all my life, suh. And she 
 added that even if I did live as long as old Methuse- 
 lah, and there wa'n't another man left in all the 
 world, suh, she'd prevent my marryin' Miss Angelica 
 if she had to come back from her grave and ha'nt me 
 to keep me from doin' it, suh !" 
 
 "Sim," asked Colonel Todhunter, "old Mrs. Ex- 
 all's worst objection to you is that you ain't as well 
 off as Pohter Scruggs, ain't it?" 
 
 "It is, suh. If I had Pohter Scruggs' money and 
 land. Colonel, and he didn't have any more'n what 
 I've got now, I'd be the one in that old lady's good 
 graces, suh." 
 
 "And it's true, as you say, that Miss Angelica loves 
 you dearly, and that you love her in the same way, 
 suh?" 
 
 "That shorely is the truth, Colonel Todhunter. I 
 love Miss Angelica with all my heart and all my 
 soul, and, thank the good Lord, suh, she says that's 
 just the way she loves me." 
 
 "But her mother is willing to marry her off to 
 Pohter Scruggs just for the sake of his money and 
 land ? She'll do this and make the girl unhappy for 
 life if you don't save her by runnin' away with her?" 
 
 148 
 
A YOUNG LOCHINVAR 
 
 "Colonel Todhunter, that's what's a-goin' to hap- 
 pen just as sure as you'n me's a-sittin' here lookin' 
 each other in the face this minute, if I don't per- 
 vent it in some such a way as you have just indicated, 
 suh." 
 
 "And you've faced old Mrs. Exall again and asked 
 her the second time for Miss Angelica, tellin' her 
 that the girl herself said she loved you?" inquired the 
 Colonel. 
 
 "I have, suh. And that old lady come mighty nigh 
 skeerin' me out o^ seven years' growth when I done 
 it, suh. But I done it all the same, precisely as you 
 told me to do it, suh." 
 
 "And now you feel sure in your own mind, and 
 for all time, that you can't never persuade old Mrs. 
 Exall to give Miss Angelica to you ?" 
 
 "Colonel Todhunter, it's as certain as the law of 
 the Medes and the Persians, suh. Miss Angelica's 
 ma took particular pains to convince me of this fact, 
 suh. And, finally, she declared that she'd scratch 
 my eyes out if I ever pestered her on that subject 
 again, suh." 
 
 Colonel Todhunter straightened up. "Then, Sim," 
 he spoke, the light of a clear conscience in his eyes, 
 
 149 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "the sooner you run off with Miss Angelica and 
 marry her, the better for both of you, suh." 
 
 "That's exactly what I've come now to tell you, 
 suh!" cried Sim Birdsong jubilantly. "I'm a-goin' 
 to run off with Miss Angelica this very night. Colo- 
 nel Todhunter. And we want you to help us, suh !" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter gasped.. 
 
 "You want me to help you ?" he repeated weakly. 
 "Why, Sim, what in blue blazes — why, suh, it's you 
 that's got to run off with Miss Angelica, not me !" 
 
 "I know that. Colonel," agreed Sim. "But Miss 
 Angelica's powerful skeery, suh, and she feels the 
 need of your moral support and countenance while 
 we're a-doin' it, suh. She knows how you feel about 
 it. Colonel. To tell you the truth, suh, she says she 
 won't marry me the way we got to be married, 'less'n 
 you and Mrs. Todhunter are present at the cere- 
 mony, suh!" 
 
 The colonel saw a ray of hope. "Sim," he said, 
 "I'm mighty doubtful about bein' able to ring Mrs. 
 Todhunter in on this thing. I been advisin' you ac- 
 cordin' to my own poor lights, and I ain't consulted 
 Mrs. Todhunter on the subject at all, suh. I'm 
 
 150 
 
A YOUNG LOCHINVAR 
 
 afraid she won't see it in the same way we do, Sim. 
 She's mighty likely to take old Mrs. Exall's view of 
 the matter, so far as runnin' away with a daughter 
 is concerned. Women are mighty curious about 
 these things, suh." 
 
 "Colonel Todhunter," spoke Sim Birdsong craft- 
 ily, "Mrs. Todhunter don't need to know a thing 
 about what's goin' on till it's too late for her to 
 back out, suh !" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter glared at the speaker. "You 
 young scoundrel, you! You and Miss Angelica 
 have got this thing all cut and dried between you. 
 'Fess up, Sim Birdsong — what's the plot you've de- 
 vised and contrived for the whole blamed proceedin', 
 suh?" 
 
 An apologetic grin relieved the apprehension 
 which had until now rested upon Sim Birdsong's 
 countenance. 
 
 "Colonel," he replied, "I'm a-goin' to tell you the 
 whole truth. I've done seen the Reverend Mr. Lips- 
 combe, suh. He knows just what the situation is, 
 suh. He's willin' to marry us as a runaway couple, 
 knowin' we're both of age. He's a-goin' to invite 
 
 151 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 you and Mrs. Todhunter and Miss Mary over to sup- 
 per this evenin', suh. Then, suh, it'll all happen be- 
 fore you can bat an eye. And Mrs. Todhunter 
 needn't never know but what you and her and Miss 
 Mary just happened to be at Mr. Lipscombe's house 
 that night by pure accident, suh !" 
 
 Frank admiration shone in Colonel Todhunter's 
 eyes. "Sim Birdsong," he spoke, "you're a heap- 
 sight smarter man than I gave you credit for bein', 
 suh, 'spite o' your havin' made such a bungle of the 
 Spanish War, suh ! I ain't got the heart to fail you 
 now, Sim — and I'll handle Mrs. Todhunter the best 
 way I know how, too !" 
 
 Profound gratitude was in Sim Birdsong's face. 
 *T knew you'd do it, Colonel!" he exclaimed, heav- 
 ing a sigh of relief. "And you'll never know all it 
 means to me, suh. I got to get Miss Angelica Exall, 
 suh. If I don't, suh, this world is but a fleetin' show, 
 and I don't care, for one, how soon the show closes, 
 suh." 
 
 Colonel Todhunter shook with amusement. "If 
 that's the way you feel about it, Sim," he chuckled, 
 "you certainly can't afford to take no chances on 
 losin' her. You shorely do need a preacher as soon 
 
 152 
 
A YOUNG LOCHINVAR 
 
 as you can get him, suh — there ain't no two ways 
 about that !" 
 
 All of which accounts for the fact that Mrs. Tod- 
 hunter and Mary and the Colonel were the guests 
 of the Lipscombes at supper that same evening. This 
 was not by any means the first time such a thing had 
 happened, and the minister and his wife were fre- 
 quent guests of the Todhunters. The Colonel, there- 
 fore, met with no difficulty in ^'tolling" Mrs. Tod- 
 hunter into the trap set for her. 
 
 Nevertheless, being a man of honest soul, Colonel 
 Todhunter looked guilty when, soon after supper, 
 there came a knock at the front door and the Rev- 
 erend Mr. Lipscombe was summoned to his study. 
 Fortunately, however, Mrs. Todhunter was entirely 
 unsuspicious and the Colonel's uneasy conscience 
 revealed itself in his facial expression without ex- 
 citing her attention. 
 
 The minister was gone for ten minutes or more. 
 When he returned there was a smile on his lips. 
 
 "It's Sim Birdsong and Miss Angelica Exall," he 
 said. "They want me to marry them." 
 
 To the preacher's wife an announcement of this 
 nature had ceased to be a novelty. But Mrs. Tod- 
 
 153 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 hunter was aroused to instant and absorbing interest, 
 and Mary was vastly excited. 
 
 "It's a runaway wedding!" Mrs. Todhunter ex- 
 claimed, every fiber of her sentimental being re- 
 sponding to the appeal of romance. "Just as sure 
 as we're sitting here, they've eloped !" 
 
 The Reverend Mr. Lipscombe nodded. 
 
 "That is true, Mrs. Todhunter," he replied. "And 
 I have consented to perform the ceremony. I feel 
 that it is right for me to do so. They are a good and 
 worthy young couple, they love each other, they 
 are both of age, and I know that the girl's mother is 
 trying to marry her to a richer man in spite of the 
 fact that she loves Sim Birdsong instead. Under 
 the circumstances, I would not feel justified in re- 
 fusing to marry them." 
 
 Then, after a moment's silence, "And now. Colo- 
 nel and Mrs. Todhunter," he resumed, "I want to 
 ask you to act as witnesses to the wedding. It will 
 greatly please the young couple, and I told them I 
 felt sure you would consent to do so. I hope you are 
 both willing, and I shall be very much obliged." 
 
 Mrs. Todhunter became suddenly flustered. "I 
 don't know just what to do," she wavered. "Not 
 
 154 
 
A YOUNG LOCHINVAR 
 
 that I disapprove of what Shn and Angelica are do- 
 ing under the circumstances^ but mothers are mighty 
 resentful, Mr. Lipscombe ! I wouldn't thank any 
 woman for helping my own daughter, Mary, to elope 
 with a young man I didn't like, and I know Mrs. 
 Exall won't thank me, either." 
 
 "Mary," remarked Colonel Todhunter casually, 
 "you ain't a-helpin' these young folks to elope. 
 They've already eloped. They're a-goin' to get mar- 
 ried whether you see 'em or not. All that Mr. Lips- 
 combe asks is that you'll witness the ceremony. I'd 
 do it, if I was you. It may help poor little Miss 
 Angelica to keep her courage up and feel a bit cheer- 
 ful, Mary." 
 
 This was a plausible argument. Mrs. Todhunter 
 beamed on the Colonel. In reality, there was noth- 
 ing she more dearly loved than helping young people 
 to get married. 
 
 "Well, now, that certainly is the truth. Colonel 
 Todhunter!" she cried. "We didn't know a thing 
 about it till this blessed minute, did we? And it 
 ain't our fault that we happened to be here at this 
 precise moment, either. It does seem to me it 
 wouldn't be just right to refuse — and I do feel I 
 
 155 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 ought to help 'em, now that they've gone this far. 
 The poor things !" 
 
 Whereupon the Reverend Mr. Lipscombe, Mrs. 
 Lipscombe, Colonel Todhunter and Mrs. Todhunter 
 and Mary marched to the relief of Sim Birdsong 
 and Miss Angelica Exall. They found the young 
 couple, dismally frightened, perched very close 
 together on one of Mrs. Lipscombe's old-fashioned 
 horsehair sofas. Something like a look of dazed rec- 
 ognition came into Sim's panic-stricken eyes as they 
 rested upon Colonel Todhunter's familiar face, and 
 he essayed to smile gratefully, but the smile was 
 appalling in its unlikeness to any ordinary human 
 effort in that direction. As for Miss Angelica Exall, 
 she was pathetic in her fright and flustration. Mrs. 
 Todhunter's motherly heart melted at the sight of 
 her and she went straightway and took the girl in 
 her arms. 
 
 "Don't you be scared, honey," she said soothingly. 
 "It ain't half as bad as it seems to you now, and I'm 
 sure Sim's going to make you a good husband !" 
 
 Mrs. Lipscombe was patting the runaway bride 
 on her other shoulder, her sweet eyes shining with 
 womanly comprehension. Mary Todhunter drew 
 
 IS6 
 
A YOUNG LOCHINVAR 
 
 close to her girl friend. Sim Birdsong, seeing the 
 women ministering to his sweetheart, opened his 
 mouth to voice manful thanks, but was utterly un- 
 equal to the task. He licked his stiffening lips, in- 
 stead, a truly pitiful spectacle. 
 
 Happily, however, the minister came to the res- 
 cue. "My dear young friends," he said, "I have al- 
 ready spoken with you of the gravity of the step you 
 are about to take, and it has pleased me to see that 
 you contemplate its meaning in a proper spirit. The 
 ceremony will now be performed, since the necessary 
 witnesses are present." 
 
 The runaway couple arose and stood before the 
 minister. In what for ever after seemed to them an 
 incredibly short time they were made husband and 
 wife. The Reverend Mr. Lipscombe and Colonel 
 Todhunter both shook hands heartily with Sim Bird- 
 song and claimed a kiss from the bride. Their wives, 
 tremendously moved, insisted upon giving Sim him- 
 self a motherly kiss each, after which they again 
 sustained the spirits of the bride. Mary Todhunter, 
 too, joined in the work of comforting her. 
 
 That is, they essayed to do this in all sincerity, but 
 by this time all three were weeping, and, at sight of 
 
 157 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 their tears, the newly made Mrs. Birdsong fell vic- 
 tim to a sudden and dreadful homesickness for her 
 own mother. 
 
 "Somebody^s got to tell her this very night !" she 
 cried piteously. "I can't bear to think of her being 
 there all alone, the way I left her! Colonel Tod- 
 hunter, won't you go and tell ma that I've been mar- 
 ried to Sim and that I ask her forgiveness for run- 
 ning away to do it ? I know you'll do it. Colonel. 
 You've been so good to me and Sim, planning this 
 whole thing out for us and being the first to advise 
 Sim to run away with me !" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter's blood went cold in his veins. 
 He felt Mrs. Todhunter's accusing eyes upon him. 
 
 "Why, Miss Angelica — er — I mean Mrs. Bird- 
 song !" he gasped. *T — I reckon I done gone about 
 far enough — I — er — well, I'm afeard — I'm afeard 
 your ma may not like it the least bit if I go to her so 
 sudden-like with the news. Miss Angelica !" 
 
 At this the bride wept afresh. "Oh, Colonel Tod- 
 hunter!" she wailed. "You surely ought to do it 
 for me! I never would have run away with Sim if 
 it hadn't been for you. I think you might. Colonel 
 Todhunter — ma'll be so lonesome if you don't!" 
 
 158 
 
A YOUNG LOCHINVAR 
 
 Into Mrs. Todhunter's eyes came the light of 
 justice. Also a gleam of faintly humorous apprecia- 
 tion of Colonel Todhunter's plight. The Colonel's in- 
 corrigible sentimentalism was plainly responsible for 
 this elopement. It was also destined, later, to give 
 her a bad half-hour with Mrs. Exall. It would 
 serve the Colonel right to make him pay this de- 
 manded penalty for his share in the runaway wed- 
 ding. 
 
 "Angelica is justified in asking you to do this for 
 her. Colonel Todhunter," she spoke firmly. "You 
 can't refuse to do as she asks, and you mustn't think 
 of such a thing!" 
 
 The Colonel stood aghast. "Mary !" he protested. 
 "I— I— well, I just can't, that's all there is to it! 
 I'll just be jiggered if I can!" 
 
 But he was doomed. The bride clung to him be- 
 seechingly. Mrs. Todhunter's voice was against him. 
 The Reverend Mr. Lipscombe and Mrs. Lipscombe 
 seemed to look at him with nominating eyes. Even 
 Mary was plainly of their opinion. Mournfully the 
 Colonel bowed to the inevitable. Mrs. Todhunter 
 accompanied him to the door. 
 
 "Mary," he said, "you'll be sorry if anything hap- 
 159 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 pens to me. I'll come back here to tell Miss An- 
 gelica the result, and to take you and Mary home 
 if there's anything left of me, but I give you fair 
 warning, Mrs. Todhunter. You're a-sendin' your 
 husband on a mighty dangerous errand, ma'am!" 
 
 Mrs. Todhunter's reception of this foreboding 
 speech was the severest blow yet received by the 
 Colonel. She laughed in his face. "It serves you 
 right !" she said. 
 
 And the Colonel went into the outer darkness. 
 
 i6o 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 AND PAYS A TERRIFYING PRICE FOR SO DOING 
 
 HAVING accepted a perilous mission, the 
 Colonel was too soldierly of soul to think of 
 shirking his duty. He made his way manfully to- 
 ward the enemy, although in a state of unmitigated 
 panic. 
 
 "I ain't never had much use for a man that needed 
 Dutch courage," he said to himself ruefully, "but Td 
 give a dollar for a stiff horn of whisky right now. 
 And if it hadn't been a preacher's house I was at, 
 I'll be shot full o' holes if I wouldn't have asked for 
 one before startin' out on this Tom Fool business, 
 too. I'll tell the truth and shame the devil!" 
 
 Unfortified, however, he knocked at Mrs. Exall's 
 door, feeling much like a criminal about to listen to 
 his rightful condemnation for sin. At first there 
 was no response. The little cottage seemed very 
 dark and still. Finally, however, a light gleamed 
 and the Colonel heard approaching footsteps in the 
 hall. Then the front door was opened on the crack. 
 
 i6i 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI ^ 
 
 "Who's there ?" came an apprehensive voice. 
 
 The Colonel gulped nervously. "It's me, Mrs. 
 Exall — Colonel Todhunter !" he made answer. Sud- 
 denly he felt very crestfallen and shamed. The 
 voice of the lonely widow, waiting for her daughter, 
 rebuked him. The door was thrown open. Mrs. Ex- 
 all stood framed in its lighted square, a keen- faced 
 little woman, spare of figure, sandy-gray of hair, 
 with a querulous, thinly curved nose, straight and 
 tightly gripped lips, faint blue eyes with just a sug- 
 gestion of peppery glint in their cold depths. The 
 eyes surveyed him curiously. 
 
 "Why, Colonel Todhunter!" their owner ex- 
 claimed. "Whatever in the world is the matter? 
 But come in — I do hope Mrs. Todhunter ain't sick?'* 
 
 The Colonel entered, abandoning hope. "No, 
 ma'am," he replied, feeling himself flush guiltily, 
 "Mrs. Todhunter 's very well, I thank you, ma'am." 
 
 By this time they were in the little parlor. 
 
 "Take a seat. Colonel Todhunter," said the widow. 
 A deep surmise was in her eyes. "I'm certainly glad 
 there ain't anything wrong with Mrs. Todhunter — " 
 
 Then, suddenly, she clasped her hands together. 
 
 "It's Angelica!" she cried. "Something's hap- 
 162 
 
A TERRIFYING PRICE 
 
 pened to her. That's why you're here ! Oh, Colo- 
 nel Todhunter, tell me! It's something dreadful 
 that's happened to Angelica !" 
 
 A mountain's weight of self -accusation fell upon 
 Colonel Todhunter's gray head. Remorseful be- 
 yond measure, he stood mute for a moment. Then, 
 desperately, he blurted out the truth. 
 
 "Mrs. Exall," he said, "it's about Miss Angelica 
 — ^but it ain't nothin' dreadful, ma'am. She asked 
 me to come and tell you about it. She's — she's just 
 been married, ma'am. Yes'm, Miss Angelica's gone 
 and got married !" 
 
 Vainly did Colonel Todhunter strive to sound 
 a joyous note in this announcement. His voice was 
 as if it came from the tombs. The eagle-faced, for- 
 midable little woman confronting him froze into 
 a sardonic! statue at his words. A cold suspicion 
 leaped into her eyes. 
 
 "Angelica's run off and married that triflin' Sim 
 Birdsong," she spoke, her tone ominous. "She's 
 just fool enough to do it, shuttin' her eyes to a better 
 chance. That's it, ain't it, Colonel Todhunter?" 
 
 The colonel swallowed. "Yes'm, she's married 
 Sim Birdsong," he confessed. "But — maybe it's all 
 
 163 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 for the best, Mrs. Exall. Young folks sometimes 
 see clearer than us old folks, ma'am." 
 
 Mrs. Exall bridled perceptibly. "I may be old and 
 I may not, Colonel Todhunter," she retorted icily. 
 "But it ain't for you to remind me of it if I am. 
 However, that's neither here nor there. It's my 
 poor, misguided daughter I'm thinkin' of now. Tell 
 me, sir, where they were married, and who married 
 them?" 
 
 The abrupt question startled the Colonel. "Why, 
 ma'am — why, Mrs. Exall," he stammered. "Where 
 — who — why — of course, yes, ma'am! They — they 
 were married at the preacher's own house, Mrs. 
 Exall, and the Reverend Mr. Lipscombe, he — yes'm, 
 Mr. Lipscombe himself married 'em, ma'am!" 
 
 Mrs. Exall's steely eyes gimleted the speaker. 
 "How does it happen. Colonel Todhunter," she 
 asked, "that it's you who comes to me with this 
 news ?" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter felt his blood running chill. 
 "Me?" he repeated. "How do I— why, Mrs. Exall, 
 it just so happened. I was — well, me and Mrs. Tod- 
 hunter and Mary just happened to be spendin' the 
 evenin' with Mr and Mrs. Lipscombe when — when 
 
 164 
 
A TERRIFYING PRICE 
 
 Sim and Miss Angelica came there to get married, 
 ma'am !" 
 
 Mrs. Exall sniffed, her eyes snapping. ''Oh, yes, 
 I see!" she spoke, biting her words off with blade- 
 like lips. "How nice that was ! You and Mrs. Tod- 
 hunter and Mary were all there to help 'em through. 
 Well, sir, between you, you've ruined my child's 
 life, that's what you've done! And you ought to 
 be ashamed of yourselves, all of you !" 
 
 "My dear madam !" cried the Colonel. 
 
 "Yes, sir, that's what you've done — ruined her 
 life. She could have married Pohter Scruggs, a 
 rich man, just by crookin' her little finger at him. 
 But no — ^you and Mrs. Todhunter have encouraged 
 her into marryin' that contemptible Sim Birdsong, 
 who ain't worth the salt to save him — " Here she 
 tossed her head to dash the tears aside. 
 
 The Colonel fidgeted in anguish of soul. 
 
 "That's the plain truth, Colonel Todhunter, and 
 it's makin' you squirm, too ! I can see through the 
 whole thing. Angelica's been confidin' in you and 
 Mrs. Todhunter, and you-all have sided with her 
 and advised her to marry Sim Birdsong. It was 
 mighty easy for Mrs. Todhunter, with her own 
 
 165 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 daughter Mary courted by Tom Strickland, whom 
 you-all like. But I'll tell her exactly what I think 
 of it all, the very next time I lay eyes on her. And 
 she can like it or lump it !" 
 
 What was left of Colonel Todhunter's courage 
 revived at the wrongful blaming of Mrs. Todhunter. 
 
 "Mrs. Exall," he said, "Mrs. Todhunter had no 
 more to do with that there weddin' than the babe un- 
 born, ma'am. She didn't know a thing about it till 
 it was all ready to take place. She was rakin' me 
 over the coals no more'n fifteen minutes ago for 
 puttin' my own fingers into the pie — " Here the 
 Colonel pulled up, horror-stricken. 
 
 Mrs. Exall's look was withering. "So!" she 
 cried. "It was you who did the meddlin' ! And the 
 plottinM And the contrivin'! It was you, Colonel 
 Todhunter ! You and that worthless Sim Birdsong 
 put your heads together and laid out your plans to 
 rob a poor widow-woman of her only child — " 
 
 "Madam!" expostulated Colonel Todhunter. 
 'That ain't fair ! I'm sorry—" 
 
 •"You're sorry?" scoffed Mrs. Exall bitterly. 
 "You're sorry? And meantime my poor daughter 
 is married beyond redemption. I'd like to know 
 
 i66 
 
A TERRIFYING PRICE 
 
 what good your bein' sorry is goin' to do me, sir! 
 And rd like to know what business you had meddlin' 
 in the affair at all, sir !*' 
 
 "Madam," said Colonel Todhunter desperately, 
 "I was honestly tryin' to make them two young peo- 
 ple happy. Miss Angelica loved Sim. She didn't 
 love Pohter Scruggs. And his money wouldn't ha' 
 brought happiness to her, she a-lovin' Sim Birdsong 
 instead o' lovin' him. And I come here, ma'am, to 
 ask you to forgive them two young people. It'll 
 make 'em the happiest young married people in all 
 the world if—" 
 
 Mrs. Exall rose. She went to the front door and 
 opened it elaborately. Then she returned to her 
 visitor. 
 
 "Colonel Todhunter," she spoke. "My front door 
 is open. It is open for you to leave my house, sir. 
 When you see my daughter Angelica you can tell 
 her from me that she has brought my gray hairs in 
 sorrow to the grave. I don't ever want to see her 
 again. And as for that low-down Sim Birdsong, 
 you tell him that if ever he comes to this house I'll 
 throw a kittle of scalding water on him like I would 
 on a mangy dog, sir. And you needn't trouble your- 
 
 167 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 self to come here any more, either, Colonel Tod- 
 hunter, neither you nor Mrs. Todhunter nor Mary, 
 sir. I never want to lay eyes on any one of you 
 again the longest day I live !" 
 
 "Mrs. Exall!'' cried Colonel Todhunter. "For 
 your daughter's sake — for Miss Angelica's sake, 
 ma'am — " 
 
 Mrs. Exall pointed to the open door. 
 
 "If you don't go away from here, Colonel Tod- 
 hunter," she said, "I'll scratch your old eyes out, 
 that's what I'll do to you !" 
 
 The Colonel's fingers convulsively gripped the 
 broad brim of his soft hat. Awe of this terrifying 
 woman of wrath was in his soul. One look into her 
 face completed his rout. The next moment he began 
 the most ignominious retreat that a sinister fate 
 had ever imposed upon him. 
 
 Mrs. Exall followed him through the hall. As his 
 feet crossed her threshold she slammed the door so 
 swiftly and violently that the Colonel for ever there- 
 after swore he felt the suddenly projected air strike 
 the back of his neck with a cyclone's force. 
 
 Then, fathoms deep in chagrin. Colonel Tod- 
 hunter made his inglorious way back to the wedding 
 
 1 68 
 
A TERRIFYING PRICE 
 
 party. But he refrained from laying before the bridal 
 couple the shameful details of his encounter with 
 Angelica's mother. 
 
 ''If I was you two," he explained, after making a 
 general announcement of Mrs. Exall's refusal to 
 receive them, "I don't think I'd go around there for 
 a little while. She's naturally put out about it. 
 You'd better give her time to cool off some." 
 
 But when he reached home he told Mrs. Tod- 
 hunter the whole story, dismally. 
 
 "I got pretty nigh all I deserved," he said. "I'd 
 ha' got it all if some man had been there to lick me 
 within an inch of my life. But, of course, poor old 
 Mrs. Exall couldn't be expected to do that. I'll 
 tell you one thing, though. When I was a-sneakin' 
 out through that there hall o' her'n, like a whipped 
 dog with his tail between his legs, if she'd took a 
 broomstick to me and lammed seventeen different 
 kinds o' stuffin' out'n me, I wouldn't ha' said a word. 
 'T would ha' served me just right. I tell you, Mary, 
 hereafter I'm a-goin' to let young fojks manage 
 their own love affairs. It's too big a contract for any 
 outside party to assume, 'less'n he's deliberately 
 lookin' for trouble!" 
 
 169 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 Strangely enough, relenting from her original 
 position, Mrs. Todhunter was vastly indignant at 
 the manner of Colonel Todhunter 's reception by 
 Mrs. Exall. 
 
 "The Httle old spitfire!" she exclaimed wrathfully, 
 her consoling hand resting on the Colonel's. "That 
 Elvira Exall's got the worst cross-patch of a temper 
 I ever saw. But she mustn't think she can turn it 
 loose on you. Colonel Todhunter, and if she begins 
 stormin' at me, I'll mighty soon let her know it, too !" 
 
 "No, you won't, Mary," said the Colonel, a faint 
 grin on his face. "Colonel Thurs T. Todhunter got 
 just what was comin' to him, and nobody knows it 
 better'n him. That poor, lonesome old woman ought 
 to have knocked the top o' my head off !" 
 
 But late that night Mrs. Todhunter felt the Colo- 
 nel shake with sudden laughter as he lay in bed. 
 
 "What's the matter, Colonel Todhunter?" she 
 asked. 
 
 "I believe I'm glad I done it after all— helpin' An- 
 gelica and Sim to get married, Mary," he replied. 
 "I'll be plumb- jiggered if that old catamaran mustn't 
 ha' been turrible to live with! Yes, suh, I'm glad 
 I done it!" 
 
 170 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 TOM STRICKLAND FACES COLONEL TODHUNTER IN A 
 SENTIMENTAL CRISIS 
 
 HONESTLY, Mary," protested Tom Strick- 
 land, "it isn't safe for you to drive home 
 alone. It's all very well to make believe that you're 
 not afraid of a horse, but I know better. Won't you 
 let me see you home ?" 
 
 The two had met in the lazy quiet of Nineveh's 
 town square and Tom was quick to see his oppor- 
 tunity. Mary Todhunter laughed at his apprehen- 
 sive manner. 
 
 "How can you keep a straight face when you 
 say that, Tom?" she asked. "You know as well as 
 I do that I've driven old Solomon a million times, 
 more or less, and that nothing on earth would make 
 him run away 1" 
 
 "You never can tell about these old reliables," 
 said Tom. "Solomon might take it into his head to 
 get frisky any minute. I can see devilment in his 
 eye right now!" 
 
 171 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 He placed an entreating hand on the buggy's side. 
 
 "Well, get in, then," conceded Mary, tossing her 
 pretty head. "I reckon I won't have any peace until 
 I let you have your own way!" 
 
 Tom swung himself into the buggy instantly. 
 "That's a mighty wise conclusion, Mary," he re- 
 marked, taking the reins and heading old Solomon 
 toward the shady road that led to Mary's home. "I 
 wish to goodness you'd make up your mind to it as 
 a permanent thing !" 
 
 Mary flashed mockery at him. "I reckon you do !'* 
 she exclaimed. "It's just like you. But there's no 
 danger of it's coming to pass, Mr. Tom Strickland !" 
 
 They were now well out of the drowsy town. Old 
 Solomon trotted contentedly along under the leafy 
 foliage that arched his always welcome homeward 
 way. 
 
 "That's one reason I'd like to see your father 
 elected governor," continued Mary. "Those Jef- 
 ferson City girls will soon teach you your proper 
 place, Tom Strickland, even though you are the gov- 
 ernor's son!" 
 
 "I'm not the governor's son yet, Mary," re- 
 sponded Tom, an intentional meekness in his tone. 
 
 172 
 
A SENTIMENTAL CRISIS 
 
 "And even if the time ever comes that I am, Jeffer- 
 son City will see mighty little of me." 
 
 "What do you mean?" asked Mary. "You'll 
 certainly have to go to the state capital when Colonel 
 and Mrs. Strickland go, won't you ?" 
 
 Tom's face took on an injured expression. "I 
 declare, Mary," he spoke, "you never seem to realize 
 that I'm no longer a boy. Please remember that I'm 
 a grown man, now, and that I've studied law and 
 been admitted to practice at the Missouri bar!" 
 
 Laughter gleamed in Mary's eyes. "Well, Mr. 
 Thomas Strickland, great lawyer that you are," she 
 mocked, "what then?" 
 
 "Why, just this — that I intend to stay right here 
 in Nineveh," announced Tom loftily. "It's all set- 
 tled, too. I'm going to be taken into partnership 
 with my father and old Judge Boiling, and then I 
 can hold my father's practice if he's elected. Any- 
 way, I'm to be a partner. 'Strickland, Boiling and 
 Strickland,' that's how the new sign will read!" 
 
 Mary laughed outright. "Goodness me!" she 
 cried. "Won't we be a big man then ? Oh, Tom, it'll 
 be such fun to hear you make a speech in court! 
 Ahem — Gentlemen of the jury — " 
 
 ^7Z 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "Shame on you, Mary Todhunter!" cried Tom, 
 reddening boyishly. "It's just like you, though. 
 YouVe poked fun at me all your life!" 
 
 "I haven't, either !" denied Mary instantly. "I've 
 only laughed at your high and mighty ways now and 
 then, and you know it!" 
 
 Tom's angry eyes looked straight to the front. 
 
 "You had no right to say that about me," con- 
 tinued Mary, "I've been mighty good to you !" 
 
 "Up to a certain point, yes," agreed Tom. "But 
 just the minute I get serious about anything you 
 begin laughing at me." 
 
 "Why, Tom, I don't do anything of the sort!" 
 protested Mary. "I never dreamed of such a thing! 
 You can try me this very minute and see!" 
 
 "All right, I will!" spoke Tom quickly. "Mary, 
 I love you. I want you to promise to be my wife. 
 iWon't you? I've loved you all my life!" 
 
 "Tom Strickland!" cried Mary, blushing hotly. 
 "You ought to be ashamed of yourself ! You've got 
 no right to say that just because — ^just because I — 
 I was trying to be good to you !" 
 
 "Mary," said Tom sturdily, "If you don't know 
 I've been in love with you all this time you must be 
 
 174 
 
A SENTIMENTAL CRISIS 
 
 blind. And now I've told you, why — well, you've 
 got to give me an answer — and I love you so that I'm 
 afraid to hear it! If it's no — well, it'll break my 
 heart, that's all !" 
 
 There was no answer to his pleading. Mary had 
 given him onei startled look. Then her eyes had 
 softened and turned away from his. It seemed to 
 Tom that she was crying. 
 
 "Mary," he said humbly, "I didn't mean to say 
 anything to trouble you, but I had to tell you some 
 time or other. I've loved you a long, long time. Is 
 there any chance for me at all ?" 
 
 Still there was no answer. 
 
 *T reckon I've been the blind one," said Tom sadly. 
 *T reckon you can't care for me the way I care for 
 you. Yes, Mary, I reckon it's me that's been blind !" 
 
 "Yes, Tom," replied Mary Todhunter. "It's you 
 that have been blind." 
 
 Tom bowed his head. "I ought to have seen that 
 you didn't love me," he said. "I ought to have seen 
 it. Then I wouldn't have given you the pain of hav- 
 ing to tell me so." 
 
 "I'm not going to tell you," said Mary. 
 
 "All right, Mary," replied Tom. "I'll take my 
 175 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI [ 
 
 answer without hurting you by making you put it 
 into words. I'm no hog, anyway — I know when IVe 
 had enough." 
 
 To his amazement Mary burst out laughing. "Of 
 all the funny things to say at such a time!" she cried. 
 Her eyes were full of mischief, yet beautifully ten- 
 der. "Oh, Tom, indeed you are the blindest of the 
 blindl" 
 
 A sudden hope stirred in Tom's soul. "Mary!" 
 he exclaimed. "You don't mean — " 
 
 "I do, Tom!" softly replied Mary. "How could 
 you believe I didn't love you? You ought to be 
 ashamed of yourself." 
 
 And Tom Strickland took Mary Todhunter in his 
 arms, leaving old Solomon to go his own way un- 
 guided. 
 
 "I'll tell Mrs. Todhunter and the Colonel this 
 very day!" he announced a few moments later. 
 "Lord, they'd see it anyway in my face, I'm so proud 
 and happy. I want to know if they think I'm good 
 enough for you." 
 
 Mary tossed her head. "They'd better think so!" 
 she retorted indignantly. "Not good enough, in- 
 deed!" 
 
 176 
 
'Mary! you don't mean " Page 176 
 
A SENTIMENTAL CRISIS 
 
 But Tom was near to being panic-stricken when 
 they had gained the wide gallery of Mary's home 
 and were confronting her parents. 
 
 "Howdy, Tom!" spoke Colonel Todhunter. His 
 glance passed from young Strickland to his daughter 
 with just the faintest twinkle of amusement in his 
 gray-blue eyes. 
 
 Tom Strickland had taken Mrs. Todhunter's 
 hand. "Howdy, Mrs. Todhunter — Howdy, Colo- 
 nel," he said, his face an open book of confession. 
 "I — I — well, I— Mary was good enough to say I 
 could come home with her!" 
 
 "We're glad you did, Tom," replied Mrs. Tod- 
 hunter. "And you've got to stay to supper." 
 
 Colonel Todhunter's lips were twitching. "I don't 
 know about that, honey," he spoke. "Tom don't 
 look to me like he's very hungry." 
 
 Mary flashed swift indignation at her father. 
 Mrs. Todhunter looked at the Colonel in surprise. 
 Then, in sudden understanding, she shot a quick 
 glance at the young people. Tom Strickland blushed 
 redder than ever. Mary fired at her mother one 
 soft volley of entreaty from dewy eyes and then 
 fled precipitately into the house. Her face filled 
 
 177 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 with comprehending tenderness, Mrs. Todhunter 
 followed Mary, making no excuses. 
 
 "Tom," said Colonel Todhunter, "you seem to 
 have been kicking up a mighty funny rumpus this 
 load o' poles, young man !" 
 
 Tom stood like a condemned felon in the dock. 
 "I reckon I have. Colonel," he made answer. Then, 
 after a dismay-filled pause, "I — I — IVe been ask- 
 ing Mary to marry me, sir!" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter's face was impassive. 
 
 Tom Strickland stood very erect. Pride shone in 
 his eyes. "I don't know, sir, whether youVe noticed 
 it or not," he resumed, "but IVe been in love with 
 Mary for a long time." 
 
 A relish ful twinkle was in Colonel Todhunter' s 
 eyes. 
 
 "And, sir — and — well. Colonel Todhunter, it's 
 just this!" exultantly, but blushingly, exclaimed 
 Tom, "I know I don't deserve it — I can't hardly be- 
 lieve it — ^but Mary says she loves me, too — and 
 — well, sir, I want to ask Mrs. Todhunter's and 
 your consent to our marriage, sir !" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter was contemplating the young 
 man with eyes brimful of kindly amusement. 
 
 178 
 
A SENTIMENTAL CRISIS 
 
 "Tom," he said, "as long as you live, you'll never 
 forget how skeered you are this minute, suh. But 
 you got through with it like a hero — a blamed sight 
 better than I did when I asked for Mrs. Todhunter. 
 That sure was a terrible experience !" 
 
 But the next moment his face was grave. He laid 
 his hand on young Strickland's shoulder. 
 
 "Tom, my boy," he said, "I'd rather give Mary to 
 you than to any other man in the world, and you 
 ought to ha' known it without my tellin' you. I've 
 known you and liked you all the time you've been 
 growin' up, and I love your father like he was my 
 own brother. I am glad you and Mary have got it 
 all settled, and I'm sure Mrs. Todhunter thinks as 
 much of you as I do. God bless you and Mary both, 
 my boy !'* 
 
 There was a sudden break in the Colonel's voice. 
 "It's up to you and Mary to arrange all the rest of 
 it, young man," he spoke again, after a little pause. 
 Then, with a whimsical smile — "And all of your 
 troubles are ahead of you both — ^may the good Lord 
 have mercy on your souls!" 
 
 A splendid gratitude shone in Tom's eyes. "All 
 I've got to say is this, Colonel Todhunter," he said, 
 
 179 
 
COLONEi: TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "God helping me, I'll make Mary the best husband 
 in the world !'* 
 
 "You'll need the Good Marster's help consider- 
 able, too, my boy," responded Colonel Todhunter 
 quizzically. "And don't bank on bein' too blamed 
 successful in that-there undertakin', suh. Bein' a 
 good husband ain't no sinecure, not by a long shot. 
 It's the biggest contract you ever undertook, and 
 you've got to keep hammer in' away at it ev'ry min- 
 ute, suh. It's enough to skeer a man to death, Tom, 
 if it wan't for one thing : bein' a good husband means 
 havin' a happy wife, and that's the finest thing on 
 God's green footstool. You just live up to that 
 great truth, Tom, and it's all I'll ask of you." 
 
 "You won't have to ask more than once. Colonel 
 Todhunter," replied Tom fervently. "I'll think of 
 nothing but Mary's happiness all my life, sir. And 
 that'll mean mine, too — we're going to be the happi- 
 est couple in all the world, Colonel !" 
 
 "Now that's where you slip up again, Tom," said 
 Colonel Todhunter. "Married life ain't just one long 
 dream of unalloyed bliss, not by a jugful, suh. You 
 got to take it as it comes, the bad with the good, and 
 
 i8o 
 
A SENTIMENTAL CRISIS 
 
 sometimes it may look like the good ain^t as plenti- 
 ful as it might be, but that's percisely when you got 
 to sit tight, and watch and pray for a change o' luck. 
 And a man's wife ain't no chronic angel, young man, 
 no more'n a woman's husband is. You'll be power- 
 ful lucky if Mary makes you as good a wife as her 
 mother's made me, but, all the same, I've seen days 
 when Mrs. Todhunter looked more like a destroyin' 
 cyclone to me than anything else. And she can tell 
 a hundred shortcomin's on me where I can tell one 
 on her, so there you are, suh. It's give and take, 
 that's what it is, and you just got to do your best, 
 keep on whistlin' for cheerfulness' sake, and stand 
 ready to make a quick duck if things get too stormy, 
 suh!" 
 
 Tom Strickland could not help but laugh. "Well, 
 Colonel," he responded, "if Mary and I are as happy 
 as you and Mrs. Todhunter, I'll be more than satis- 
 fied. And I'll try to make her a good husband, I 
 promise you that." 
 
 "I know you will, Tom," replied Colonel Tod- 
 hunter. "And I know Mary'll try to fill her part 
 o' the contract the same way, too." 
 
 i8i 
 
\ COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 The young man's gaze went nervously past the 
 door through which Mary and her mother had van- 
 ished. 
 
 "I wonder where they are, Colonel?" he ven- 
 tured apprehensively. "I hope there's nothing seri- 
 ous happening!" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter tugged at his grizzled mus- 
 tache to keep from smiling openly in Tom's face. 
 
 "Don't you worry none about Mary and her 
 mother, suh," he spoke. "They're just havin' a 
 heart-to-heart talk on the all-absorbin' subject of 
 marriage, Tom, and they got to have a good cry 
 while it's goin' on. I bet they've already shed enough 
 briny tears to float a battleship, suh. That's a wom- 
 an's way at such a time as this. All mothers has got 
 to wail over their daughters then like they was goin' 
 to die 'stead o' gettin' married. But they're all right 
 after that, suh. When Mary and Mrs. Todhunter 
 get through and wipe each other's weepin' eyes 
 they'll show up out here as serene as a summer's day. 
 I reckon it's the Good Marster's will — they got to 
 do it that way, suh." 
 
 At this moment Mrs. Todhunter appeared in the 
 doorway. She went straight to Tom and put both 
 
 182 
 
A SENTIMENTAL CRISIS 
 
 hands on his shoulders and kissed him on the fore- 
 head. 
 
 "God bless you and make both of you happy, 
 Tom/* she said, her voice trembling. "Mary loves 
 you very dearly. YouVe got to be a good man, Tom, 
 for her sake. You will, too, won't you ?" 
 
 Mary's sweet face was now in Tom's view from 
 where she stood in the shadowy old hall behind her 
 mother. The young man bowed his head at Mrs. 
 Todhunter's tremulous speech. 
 
 "God helping me, I will, Mrs. Todhunter," he re- 
 plied. 
 
 Something very like the dimming of tears came 
 into Colonel Todhunter's eyes at the picture thus 
 presented. But he strove manfully to conceal the 
 fact of such emotion. 
 
 "Come out here, Mary!" he cried indignantly. 
 "You've been leavin' Tom to face the music alone 
 long enough !" 
 
 But when Mary Todhunter obeyed the summons 
 her father took her into his arms and pressed his 
 suspiciously quivering lips to her brown hair. 
 
 "Ain't you ashamed of yourself, honey?" he 
 asked. "For bein' so willin' to leave your mother 
 
 183 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 and me just because that snip of a Tom Strickland 
 wants you? We're goin' to be mighty lonesome 
 without you, daughter!" 
 
 And then, because Mary cried, her face hidden 
 on his breast. Colonel Todhunter scowled ferociously 
 at Tom. 
 
 "It's all your fault, you young rascal !" he ejacu- 
 lated, patting Mary soothingly on the shoulder at 
 the same time. "You had no business wantin' her, 
 and you know it !" 
 
 At which not one of his three hearers could re- 
 frain from laughing — and this was precisely what 
 the Colonel desired. 
 
 184 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 COLONEL TODHUNTER TAKES THE STUMP IN RURAL 
 MISSOURI 
 
 As a result of Colonel Todhunter's picturesque 
 y\ prosecution of the Strickland campaign in St. 
 Louis he was unanimously chosen by the Honorable 
 William J. Strickland's managers to invade the Yan- 
 cey strongholds throughout the state. 
 
 "Todhunter's a champion vote-getter, Strickland/' 
 said old Governor Leslie, "and that's a mighty rare 
 gift. Any ordinary spellbinder can keep a candi- 
 date's own friends in line during a campaign, and 
 get 'em to the polls on election day. But it takes a 
 man of uncommon qualities to steal friends away 
 from the other fellow. Todhunter's that sort of man. 
 He's a natural born campaigner, and the sooner we 
 put him right on the firing line the better." 
 
 This fitted in admirably with the Colonel's own 
 wishes. 
 
 "I'll let 'em know we're alive, anyway," he com- 
 mented. "I ain't never been able to figure out more'n 
 
 185 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 one sure way to win a fight, and that's to crowd the 
 other man from the jump, suh. Keep him guessin' 
 and dodgin' every minute. The first thing you know 
 he's retreatin' and you're advancin' and all the odds 
 is in your favor, suh. I won't like nothin' better'n 
 to butt into them-there Yancey counties, armed for 
 the strife and eager for the fray, I-gad !" 
 
 Old Governor Leslie leaned back in his chair and 
 laughed until his spare frame shook. 
 
 "There's your man, Strickland !" he cried, flashing 
 his eagle eyes approvingly at Colonel Todhunter. 
 "We can't get him out into the state too quick for 
 the good of the cause!" 
 
 "How soon can you take the stump, Thurs?" 
 asked Colonel Strickland. 
 
 "Just the minute you-all drop the hat," replied 
 Colonel Todhunter. "You can't curry no boss by 
 standin' off and lookin* at him, suh !" 
 
 That same night, therefore. Colonel Todhunter 
 departed to cover his itinerary in the country dis- 
 tricts. He headed straight for that section of Mis- 
 souri where the Yancey strength reached its fullest 
 tide. 
 
 "Th* ain't nothin' like carryin' the war into Af- 
 i86 
 
IN RURAL MISSOURI 
 
 rica," he said. "Them-there folks ain't married to 
 old Steve Yancey, they just sorter perfer him, that's 
 all. Well, suh, by the time I get through tellin' 'em 
 all about old Bill Strickland, maybe the sun won't 
 rise and set in Steve Yancey every day in the week 
 and Sunday, too, suh !" 
 
 The Colonel knew his rural Missouri like a book, 
 and was temperamentally so attuned to its people 
 that they were like kinsmen to him. He possessed, 
 also, the gift of colorful oratory, larded with rich 
 humor, so dear to the average country Missourian 
 as part of a political spellbinder's equipment. Be- 
 sides, he was already a famous figure among them, 
 having stumped the state on more than one earlier 
 occasion — and now, for old Bill Strickland's sake, 
 he was fairly outdoing himself. Finally, too, he 
 stood on terms of the warmest friendship with many 
 of the Yancey leaders and enjoyed nothing more 
 keenly than to fight them frankly on a most cordial 
 basis. 
 
 "It's all in the Democratic family," said the Colo- 
 nel, "and there don't need to be no hard feelin's. 
 You-all can stick to Steve Yancey if you insist on it, 
 and I won't never whimper. But I'll just be jim- 
 
 187 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 swizzled if I won't bust a gallus try in' to show you 
 what's the truth— that old Bill Strickland's the 
 stronger candidate of the two and ought to get the 
 nomination for the sake of party success, my fellow 
 Democrats!" 
 
 So potently was the Colonel advancing the for- 
 tunes of the Honorable William J. Strickland by his 
 characteristic campaign work that Major Bulsom 
 Piper, the Yancey lieutenant in Vernon County, 
 laughingly protested. This was at a county seat 
 gathering where the Colonel had just made a most 
 formidable impression. 
 
 "My friends," said Major Piper, "I'm not saying 
 anything against Colonel Todhunter personally, but 
 I want to warn you that he's playing a mighty un- 
 derhanded game. He's telling too many good 
 stories, my hearers, and it's when he sets you to 
 laughing over them stories that he's playin' tricks 
 with you. It's a peculiar fact, but I notice that, 
 while Colonel Todhunter's stories seem mighty 
 harmless on the surface, every one of 'em makes 
 some kind of a point for William J. Strickland in 
 an innocent sort of way. Now, my fellow-Dem- 
 ocrats, I like a good story as well as any man in the 
 
 1 88 
 
IN RURAL MISSOURI 
 
 world, but I put it to you that good stories ain't argu- 
 ments, and I don't intend to see you made unsettled 
 in your minds without clear logical reasons being 
 advanced. You just keep a grip on yourselves, my 
 friends — we've promised the Honorable Stephen K. 
 Yancey that he'll get the banner vote in Vernon 
 County's long and honorable Democratic history!" 
 
 "Oh, shucks now. Major, that's crowdin' me too 
 hard, suh !" laughed Colonel Todhunter in the course 
 of his reply. "I leave it to all you Vernon County 
 folks if the major's a-givin' me fair play. Me and 
 him ain't had a chance to pow-wow together for 
 four or five years, and it's been longer'n that since 
 I had a chance to visit you-all here in old Vernon. 
 Besides, you oughtn't to give a man such good vittles 
 to eat if you want to get rid of him — it ain't con- 
 sistent!" 
 
 Even Major Bulsom Piper, though shaking his 
 head to express disapproval of such specious plead- 
 ing, joined in the laugh which greeted this remark. 
 
 "My friends and fellow-citizens," resumed Colo- 
 nel Todhunter, "I feel compelled to tell you that my 
 friend Major Piper's objections remind me mighty 
 forcibly of what old Judge Lindsay of Kentucky 
 
 189 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 used to say about his nigger, Jim, the biggest chick- 
 en-thief in the whole country, suh. Jim's weakness 
 was always gettin' the judge in trouble with his 
 neighbors. 
 
 " *Damn that nigger !' old Judge Lindsay used to 
 say, rarin' up and down his front gallery over some 
 new scrape of Jim's. 'He not only steals my own 
 chickens, suh, but I'm held responsible for every 
 blamed chicken stole in this section of the state, by 
 gad, suh ! I'll have to break that nigger's neck yet, 
 suh!' 
 
 "But the next minute the old judge'd be shakin' 
 his fat sides laughin'. 'No, suh!' he'd conclude at 
 the last, *I won't do it! That infernal nigger Jim 
 can make me laugh when no other human bein' can 
 — ^he's cheap at the price, suh !' 
 
 "And I tell you candidly, my hearers," continued 
 the Colonel, "my old friend. Major Bulsom Piper, 
 knows as well as we do that he indorses old Judge 
 Lindsay's reasonin'. He better keep me here at the 
 price. He ain't laughed so much in ten years — ^look 
 at him now, the snickerin' old hypocrite !" 
 
 Later that day, when Major Bulsom Piper hauled 
 Colonel Todhunter over the coals, privately, for 
 
 190 
 
IN RURAL MISSOURI 
 
 turning the joke on him in such a manner, Colonel 
 Todhunter only chuckled, lingering lovingly over his 
 mint julep. 
 
 "I'll tell you one thing, Major," he said. "You've 
 certainly got some almighty fine mint patches here in 
 Vernon, suh!" 
 
 But it was at the big barbecue in Dunklin County, 
 where he met the redoubtable Bedford Giles on the 
 stump, that Colonel Todhunter made himself famous 
 throughout the length and breadth of Missouri. 
 
 Bedford Giles was probably the finest living mas- 
 ter of the old school of perfervid political oratory 
 that once so powerfully swayed the minds of men 
 in the South and Middle West. It may be true 
 that he lacked the sense of humor, but, offsetting this 
 delinquency, he possessed a sort of leonine earnest- 
 ness that had never failed to score tremendously in 
 the campaigns of which he was a conspicuous figure. 
 The announcement of a speech by Bedford Giles 
 was in itself sufficient to concentrate Missourians 
 at one given point from a radius of twenty miles 
 around. And they were never disappointed, because 
 this renowned spellbinder, in his temperament a 
 ranting tragedian of the old Edwin Forrest type, in- 
 
 191 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 variably tore their emotional beings to tatters and 
 left them convinced for all time that they had assur- 
 edly been listening to the most irresistible orator of 
 their day. 
 
 Against this man was Colonel Todhunter pitted 
 on the day of the barbecue, and the certainty of wit- 
 nessing a great encounter attracted to the scene of 
 their meeting the biggest crowd ever assembled at 
 a political gathering in that county. Enthusiasm 
 was at fever heat. The fact that it was largely 
 Yancey enthusiasm placed the Colonel at a decided 
 disadvantage, but, instead of depressing his daunt- 
 less soul, this seemed rather to key him up to his best 
 fighting mood. 
 
 During the forenoon, as was not uncommon, there 
 had been a generous flow of good liquor. The ora- 
 tors of the day were naturally expected to give a 
 satisfying account of themselves in disposing of 
 this Democratic output. Both were seasoned vet- 
 erans at the task. 
 
 It was a peculiarity of Bedford Giles, however, 
 that when he reached a certain stage of exhilaration 
 his mental horizon so widened and his imagination 
 took such wings to itself that his spellbinding elo- 
 
 192 
 
IN RURAL MISSOURI 
 
 quence soared more in the realm of fancy than of 
 fact. His figures of speech became overwhelming 
 in bold poesy of conception and application, and, for 
 the time being, the sonorous rounding out of his 
 excited thought into splendid sentences was of far 
 more importance in his estimation than the structure 
 of truth upon which they were supposed to be based. 
 His Missouri hearers enjoyed this phase of his ora- 
 tory keenly — ^by the time he was primed to such 
 gorgeous flights, they, too, were similarly primed 
 to accompany him, so that the conclusion of one 
 of Bedford Giles' speeches never failed to witness a 
 scene of magnificent emotional proportions. 
 
 Upon this occasion, mellow as a peach, Bedford 
 Giles fairly outdid himself in his barbecue tribute 
 to the virtues of the Honorable Stephen K. Yancey. 
 Now, in reality, Yancey was not a candidate of the 
 "magnetic" class. He had many friends, he was 
 known as a steadfast party man, and it was con- 
 ceded that he possessed a particularly shrewd knack 
 of always "lining up" with the stronger faction in 
 party divisions. It requires more than these things, 
 however, to make of a candidate one of those for- 
 midable political figures for whom the party rank 
 
 193 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 and file delight to cheer for sheer "love and affec- 
 tion's sake," as the old phrase has it. 
 
 But Bedford Giles, the cockles of his heart gen- 
 erously warmed by liberal potations, idealized the 
 Honorable Stephen K. Yancey, and the peroration 
 of his speech was one of the finest and most typical 
 examples of Gilesian eloquence. 
 
 "I am not asking you, my fellow-citizens," he de- 
 clared sonorously, "to nominate Stephen K. Yancey 
 to the proud office of chief executive of the imperial 
 commonwealth of Missouri at the sacrifice of others 
 equally deserving. No, my friends, if this were the 
 case, I should not feel the supreme confidence that 
 I do now feel in your entire willingness thus to honor 
 him, nor in the wisdom of your decision in his 
 favor. 
 
 "But, fellow-Democrats, I speak no more than the 
 simple truth when I solemnly declare, here and now, 
 that the gentlemen competing with Stephen K. Yan- 
 cey for your suffrages are no more to be compared 
 with that peerless leader than the tallow candle of 
 our forefathers is to be compared with the Al- 
 mighty's own handiwork of universal illumination, 
 the glorious orb of day that now shines so benign- 
 
 194 
 
IN RURAL MISSOURI 
 
 antly down upon this representative assemblage of 
 the sovereign American people. 
 
 "I have no hesitancy, my friends, in placing the 
 Honorable Stephen K. Yancey before you to-day as 
 the unrivaled product of a civilization, of a nation 
 and of a people that have in their splendid conjunc- 
 tion produced the most godlike development of the 
 race of man known in the world's history, my hear- 
 ers. Stephen K. Yancey, my fellow-Missourians, is 
 more than a mere Democrat, high though that title 
 may justly place him in the scale of human progress. 
 He is the spotless archangel of American Democ- 
 racy. His garments are as pure as the driven snow, 
 and his flaming sword of battle is the weapon of 
 righteousness. His mind is the abiding place of 
 political chastity and his soul cherishes the untainted 
 thoughts of the sweet-minded child, or of those ce- 
 lestial cherubim who are the heavenly parallels of 
 earthly infancy. And I say to you now, my fellow- 
 citizens, that when the mighty Gabriel, with his 
 awakening trumpet, sounds that awful blast that 
 shall summon us all to the judgment bar for a final 
 accounting, supreme among the elect who shall arise 
 on that great day and make answer to their records 
 
 195 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 on the open scrolls of the recording angel, the man 
 without one mark to his discredit made by that an- 
 gelic pen, the man not one jot or tittle afraid of the 
 unfolding of those august registers, the man against 
 whom may be pointed neither the accusing fingers of 
 men nor seraphim in condemnation for the deeds of 
 his doing, will be the Honorable Stephen K. Yancey, 
 of Jackson County, in whose behalf I now ask your 
 votes at the approaching primaries. I thank you for 
 your kind attention !" 
 
 It was a titanic effort. Bedford Giles had puffed 
 and perspired freely in its deliverance. His arms 
 had cut wide swaths out of Missouri's atmosphere. 
 His hands had bludgeoned emphasis into his words 
 with mighty blows. More than once he had crouched 
 as if to spring upon the presumptuous rivals of the 
 Honorable Stephen K. Yancey, only to rise again to 
 his full height and hurl forth, with all the effective- 
 ness gained by such bodily exercises, the crushing 
 conclusion of some tremendous sentence. The 
 speaker's Missouri audience could not but respond to 
 such an appeal. Thunderous cheers greeted Bedford 
 Giles as he bowed and seated himself. He received 
 them modestly, swabbing his heated countenance 
 
 196 
 
IN RURAL MISSOURI 
 
 with a big handkerchief already dripping with the 
 honest sweat of oratorical toil. 
 
 Colonel Todhunter rose to reply. Dismay was in 
 his face. 
 
 "My friends of Dunklin County," he began hesi- 
 tatingly, "I hardly know what to say in reply to 
 Mr. Bedford Giles' magnificent tribute to the virtues 
 of the Honorable Stephen K. Yancey, his candidate 
 for the Democratic nomination for governor of Miz- 
 zoorah." 
 
 Here the speaker paused, almost gropingly. 
 
 Then he resumed. "Fellow-citizens, you all know 
 old Bill Strickland, of Nineveh, as well as I do." 
 
 One derisive hoot sounded from the outskirts of 
 the crowd. The speaker seemed hurt, but not sur- 
 prised. 
 
 "And, knowin' him," he continued, "you know as 
 well as I do that he ain't fitten to run for office 
 against no spotless archangel." 
 
 A profound silence fell upon the assemblage. 
 Sadness rested on Colonel Todhunter's visage. 
 
 "My hearers," he said, "I reckon I got to face the 
 music and take my medicine like a man. Old Bill 
 Strickland, of Nineveh, somehow don't seem to 
 
 197 
 
COLONEi: TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 stack up the right way against the Honorable Ste- 
 phen K. Yancey, of Jackson County." 
 
 From somewhere in the heart of the crowd there 
 came just one snort of appreciative laughter. It was 
 quickly strangled. 
 
 "I hate to confess it," continued Colonel Tod- 
 hunter, "but old Bill Strickland ain't no celestial 
 cherub, neither, like Bedford Giles describes the 
 Honorable Stephen K. Yancey." 
 
 An apprehensive uneasiness crept into the faces of 
 the local Yancey managers on the speakers' plat- 
 form. 
 
 "Fellow-citizens," spoKe Colonel Todhunter, "old 
 Bill Strickland ain't got no business settin' himself 
 up in opposition to a man who meets all the moral 
 requirements of the heavenly seraphim, like Bedford 
 Giles says the Honorable Stephen K. Yancey meets 
 'em." 
 
 In the very front rows of the crowd facing the 
 speaker broad smiles of humorous comprehension 
 began to be visible. 
 
 "And old Bill Strickland ain't got no business," 
 conceded Colonel Todhunter, "askin' you to give 
 him your votes 'stead of givin' 'em to a man that'll 
 
 198 
 
IN RURAL MISSOURI 
 
 shine at the judgment bar on the last day, at the 
 blowin' of Gabriel's horn, like Bedford Giles says the 
 Honorable Stephen K. Yancey's a-goin' to shine." 
 
 "E-yow-wow-wow !" came a rapturous American 
 whoop of tickled approval from somewhere in the 
 crowd. 
 
 "A man," said Colonel Todhunter, "who'll face 
 the recordin' angel hisself, without the flicker of an 
 eyelash, secure in his consciousness of his own 
 immaculate perfection." 
 
 A great under-wave of laughter, held in leash, 
 swung to and fro through the confronting assem- 
 blage. 
 
 And then Colonel Todhunter rose to his full height 
 of six feet, thrusting his right hand into the bosom 
 of his ample-skirted coat. 
 
 "My friends," he announced, "all I can say in ex- 
 cuse for old Bill Strickland is that he thought he was 
 runnin' against just a plain human bein' for the 
 Democratic nomination for governor of Mizzoorah." 
 
 Suddenly he bowed his head, threw out his hands 
 deprecatingly, and then lifted his eyes mournfully 
 as he stood once more erect. 
 
 "Fellow-Democrats," he cried, "I hereby an- 
 199 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 nounce the withdrawal of the Honorable William 
 J. Strickland from this race, and I wish to state that 
 the withdrawal is made in favor of the Honorable 
 Stephen K. Yancey on the strength of the descrip- 
 tion of Mr. Yancey just given by Bedford Giles." 
 
 There was a moment of astonished silence. 
 
 Colonel Todhunter remained standing. Again he 
 lifted his hand. "Provided," he said, "that Bedford 
 Giles can furnish proof of the truth of the claims 
 he has just made for the Honorable Stephen K. 
 Yancey, coverin' the spotless archangel business, 
 the sword of righteousness, the celestial cherub, the 
 heavenly seraphim, the unfolded scrolls of the re- 
 cordin' angel, and so forth and so forth, straight 
 down to the garments pure as the driven snow and 
 the mind of political chastity, and includin' the whole 
 blamed outfit, my hearers !" 
 
 A mighty roar of pent-up laughter burst forth. 
 
 It was like an explosion. Men rocked to and fro 
 on their feet in uncontrollable mirth. They smote 
 one another on the back, shouting in Gargantuan 
 chorus. In the midst of the demonstration Bedford 
 Giles, stricken by the thunderbolt of ridicule, sprang 
 from his seat and actually fled the scene. 
 
 200 
 
IN RURAL MISSOURI 
 
 Colonel Todhunter gazed after his disappearing 
 figure in such apparent astonishment that the cyclone 
 of laughter increased in its overwhelming volume. 
 But the Colonel stood unmoved, his face absolutely 
 impassive. 
 
 And when the sun set on that memorable day a 
 new record had been made in the colorful history 
 of Missouri political campaigning. Colonel Tod- 
 hunter, in a five-minutes' speech, had battered down 
 the walls of the Yancey stronghold, until then 
 thought to be the most impregnable in all Missouri. 
 
 2or 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 THE SHAME OF LOTTIE-MAY DOGGETT AND ONE 
 
 OTHER 
 
 A LMOST the first sight that met Colonel Tod- 
 /\ hunter's eyes when Mrs. Todhunter and him- 
 self arrived upon the scene of the grand reception 
 and ball given by the Sons of Confederate Veterans 
 at the Nineveh Hotel was the astonishing spectacle of 
 Sim Birdsong, his bride, the blushing Angelica, and 
 Mrs. Exall, his erstwhile terrifying mother-in-law, 
 in one group and apparently upon terms of the com- 
 pletest amity. 
 
 The hotel dining-room, festooned in bunting for 
 the occasion, was doing duty as a ball-room, the Nin- 
 eveh brass band was stationed upon a temporary 
 platform at one end, the members of the Nineveh 
 Light Infantry, all Sons of Veterans, were in full 
 uniform, and Sim Birdsong, their captain, was par- 
 ticularly resplendent. A gorgeously glittering mar- 
 tial figure, he posed before his young wife and her 
 mother as proudly as a peacock, this being his golden 
 
 202 
 
THE SHAME OF LOTTIE-MAY 
 
 opportunity to convince Mrs. Exall that he was a 
 son-in-law well worth while. 
 
 Colonel Todhunter's eyes twinkled at the picture. 
 "Look at that-there Sim Birdsong!" he said to Mrs. 
 Todhunter, chuckling. "Who'd ever think that he's 
 so skeered of that old Mrs. Exall as to sink through 
 the floor this very minute if she let out just one 
 screech at him! I'll be everlastin'ly jiggered if he 
 ain't actually patronizin' the old lady !" 
 
 "I'm mighty glad Angelica's mother has forgiven; 
 her, and that they're reconciled and on good terms," 
 commented Mrs. Todhunter. "I didn't like to think 
 of that poor child being on bad terms with her 
 mother during her bride-days — it would be just too 
 pitiful for anything. But I can't see for the life of 
 me what could have brought Angelica's ma around 
 so quick. She certainly was mightily put out by the 
 wedding!" 
 
 "She shorely was!" agreed Colonel Todhunter 
 feelingly. "But pshaw, Mary— you women can't no 
 more keep away from a young married couple than 
 flies can keep away from sugar — and it's a thousand 
 times worse when your own daughter happens to be 
 the bride. Old Mrs. Exall just had to give in. She'd 
 
 203 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 miss too much fun and excitement if she didn't, and 
 she knew it. But I'll bet she's got Sim Birdsong 
 bluffed to just where she wants him, right now, as 
 a condition of her forgivin' 'em !" 
 
 Mrs. Todhunter laughed. "That's all right," she 
 retorted. "It's good for a young husband to know 
 his proper place, and it takes some time for the wife 
 herself to be in the necessary frame of mind to teach 
 him. I'm real glad Mrs. Exall's had sense enough 
 to give in to 'em." 
 
 "Well," said the Colonel, "now that they're all one 
 happy family, I reckon the old lady don't cherish 
 hard feelin's against us no longer. Let's go over and 
 speak to 'em, Mary." 
 
 But to the Colonel's great astonishment, Mrs. Tod- 
 hunter shook her head vigorously at this. Then she 
 laughed in his perplexed face. 
 
 "Do you know what's happened, in all likelihood. 
 Colonel Todhunter?" she asked. "Well, I'll tell you. 
 Old Mrs. Exall has probably reached the conclusion 
 that Angelica and Sim ain't half as much to blame 
 for running away and getting married as you are, 
 with me helping you at the last minute. It won't sur- 
 prise me in the least if she's holding us responsible 
 
 204 
 
THE SHAME OF LOTTIE-MAY 
 
 for the whole thing. And she's very likely to let us 
 know it if we give her a chance !" 
 
 "Mary !" cried Colonel Todhunter aghast, a mas- 
 culine inability to fathom the mysteries of the fem- 
 inine soul revealing itself on his face. "Do you 
 mean to say that she's goin' to keep on blamin' me 
 for what Sim Birdsong begged me to do, almost on 
 his knees?" 
 
 "That's just what I do mean !" laughed Mrs. Tod- 
 hunter. "And I can see it in Angelica's ma's face 
 right now !" 
 
 "Well, suh," said the Colonel, "that certainly does 
 beat the Dutch ! Why — why, hang my picture, I'll 
 wring that-there Sim Birdsong's neck for him the 
 first chance I get !" 
 
 "It ain't Sim's fault," explained Mrs. Todhunter 
 placidly. "A mother's got to keep on blaming some- 
 body in such cases — and you certainly were mighty 
 lively in advising Sim what to do in his trouble, 
 Colonel Todhunter!" 
 
 "I can't believe it," protested the Colonel, dis- 
 mayed. "I can't believe it, Mary! That there old 
 lady ain't got no more right to nurse a grudge 
 against me than if I never knew there was two such 
 
 205 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 people In the world as Sim Birdsong and her daugh- 
 ter, Angelica. If she forgives Sim, I'll be shot full 
 o' holes if that shorely oughtn't to let me out!" 
 
 But Mrs. Todhunter was right, as the Colonel dis- 
 covered before the evening was over. 
 
 "Sim," he said, at his first encounter with the 
 happy young husband, "I'm mighty glad to see you 
 and Miss Angelica in company with her ma. That's 
 just the way things ought to be, and I've been hopin' 
 for it ever since the night you-all got married." 
 
 "It all come around fine. Colonel!" beamed Sim 
 Birdsong. "And it happened in the most natural 
 way in the world, suh. My wife" — and here the 
 bridegroom's face shone with an exceeding pride — 
 "my wife. Colonel, just happened to go in town this 
 very mornin' to get some little somethin' she needed 
 for the ball this evenin' — and lo and behold! Her 
 ma was the first person she run into ! The next min- 
 ute they was a-huggin' and kissin' each other till the 
 cows come home — and Angelica's ma took dinner 
 with us right afterwards and the whole thing was 
 patched up before you could blink an eye, suh !" 
 
 "That's fine-rthat's fine, Sim!" replied the Colo- 
 206 
 
THE SHAME OF LOTTIE-MAY 
 
 nel. "It makes me feel so good that I b'lieve I'll go 
 right over now and tell Mrs. Exall just how glad I 
 am!" 
 
 "Colonel," spoke Sim, suddenly embarrassed and 
 stealing a frightened look from Colonel Todhunter 
 to the distant visage of his mother-in-law, "I don't 
 believe, if I was you, that I'd do that right now, 
 suh." 
 
 "If you was me ?" queried the Colonel indignantly. 
 "What on earth do you mean by that, Sim Bird- 
 song? Ain't I the very one, next to you and Miss 
 Angelica herself, suh, that ought to feel glad over 
 this thing?" 
 
 Sim Birdsong cleared his throat nervously. 
 "Colonel Todhunter," he spoke finally, "that's per- 
 cisely where the trouble comes in. Angelica's ma 
 has forgiven us, suh — but she says she done it only 
 because she now realizes that you are the one that's 
 more to blame than any one else, and she says she 
 can't forgive you the longest day she lives, suh. I 
 know that ain't fair. Colonel, but it seems to be the 
 way she feels about it, and Angelica and I can't per- 
 suade her no different !" 
 
 207 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 Colonel Todhunter gazed at Sim Birdsong in deep 
 silence for a moment. Then, moving away, he de- 
 livered his pained ultimatum. 
 
 "That settles it, Sim Birdsong!" he said. "The 
 next time you or any other moonstruck young fool 
 here in Nineveh wants to run off with a girl and 
 marry her, I warn you not to come to me unless 
 you're lookin' for trouble, suh. I'm done with bein' 
 a scapegoat for you young sinners at my time o' 
 life, Sim Birdsong, and that's all there is to it. You 
 go back to your mother-in-law and help her to run 
 me down all she knows how, suh !" 
 
 Saying which, and refusing to await the conclusion 
 of honest Sim Birdsong's disclaimer of the remotest 
 intention of joining in Mrs. Exall's condemnation 
 of him. Colonel Todhunter strode loftily away. But 
 he shook with laughter when he related the incident 
 to Mrs. Todhunter relishfully. 
 
 "Well," he philosophized, "better rhe'n them, any- 
 way, because Angelica needs her ma — and I can cer- 
 tainly get along fine without her. But it's a lesson 
 to me, Mary — I wash my hands of all that sort of 
 fool business from this time henceforward, world 
 without end, amen !'* 
 
 208 
 
THE SHAME OF LOTTIE-MAY 
 
 Half an hour later Tom Strickland came to the 
 colonel with a troubled face. 
 
 "Colonel," he said, "that little Lottie-May Doggett 
 is booked for a mighty unpleasant experience in a 
 few minutes, if somebody don't give her a friendly 
 warning." 
 
 "What's the matter with Lottie-May now, Tom?" 
 
 "Well, sir, it's pretty serious. There's an ugly 
 story about her that's got to the ears of the ladies 
 to-night, something scandalous, in which the name 
 of the man doesn't seem to be known, and I've just 
 had a tip that she's going to be asked to leave the 
 ball-room. It'll shame her beyond redemption, sir." 
 
 "Do you know the story ?" 
 
 "Only as it's being whispered around, Colonel, 
 about some man being seen to leave her house at 
 hours of the night or early morning, that can't mean 
 but one thing, folks are claiming. I'm afraid Lot- 
 tie-May's in a bad fix, the way things look." 
 
 "You ain't mixed up in this trouble, are you, 
 Tom?" 
 
 Tom Strickland flushed. "I£ I was. Colonel," he 
 replied, "I reckon I'd be man enough to try and get 
 Lottie-May out of it myself without bothering any- 
 
 209 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 body else. No, sir, I ain't mixed up in it. But, good 
 Lord, Colonel, I went to school with Lottie-May 
 when she wasn't knee-high to a duck, and I swear I'd 
 hate to see her publicly disgraced. And you know — 
 and I know — it would hurt old Rafe Doggett so. 
 It would break his heart, sir !" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter made no reply. 
 
 "I thought, maybe, if you could get the chance. 
 Colonel," resumed Tom anxiously, "that you might 
 tell her and so make it possible for her to slip away 
 before the ladies can do what they're threatening to 
 do, sir. She'll take it from you, knowing that her 
 grandfather was in your old regiment and that you're 
 telling her for her own good, where she might flare 
 up and kick over the traces if anybody else hinted at 
 such a thing. Don't you think you could work it. 
 Colonel?" 
 
 "If I do, Tom," replied Colonel Todhunter, "it'll 
 be for old Rafe Doggett's sake. He's too good a 
 man to be brought face to face with shame in his old 
 age. Yes, I'll try to do it, Tom — ^but I'd like to wring 
 the neck of the young rascal that's got old Rafe's 
 granddaughter in such a mess, suh!" 
 
 In accordance with this promise. Colonel Tod- 
 
 2IO 
 
THE SHAME OF LOTTIE-MAY 
 
 hunter found opportunity to speak with Lottie-May 
 Doggett. Very frankly he told her of the danger in 
 which she stood. The girl, vitally beautiful, ap- 
 parently as conscienceless as some wild thing of the 
 woods, flashed her hot resentment of his words. 
 
 "I ain't thankin' you for what youVe just said, 
 Colonel Todhunter !" she cried. "It strikes me you're 
 in mighty small business to come to me with this 
 story!" 
 
 "I reckon I am, Lottie-May," agreed Colonel Tod- 
 hunter in all honesty. "But I wanted to save you 
 and your old grandfather from shame, and that's 
 why I done it." 
 
 The girl's bosom was heaving with passionate an- 
 ger. "I'd just like to know who it was that got you 
 to come and speak to me about it !" she exclaimed. 
 "Who was it. Colonel Todhunter? Was it one of 
 them ladies what thinks I ain't good enough now to 
 associate with their daughters? I've got the right 
 to ask you this, and I do ask it. Who sent you here. 
 Colonel Todhunter?" 
 
 "It wasn't none of the ladies, Lottie-May," Colo- 
 nel Todhunter made answer without the slightest 
 hesitation. "It was Tom Strickland. He heard 
 
 211 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 what was goin' on, and he felt sorry for you, the 
 little girl he went to school with when he was a boy. 
 And it wa'n't meddlin' on his part, either. It was 
 plumb good-heartedness." 
 
 The girl shivered as if she had been struck. "Tom 
 Strickland!" she repeated, almost as if speaking to 
 herself. "Tom Strickland — of all men ! He's mak- 
 in' love to Miss Mary Todhunter, your own daugh- 
 ter. And he knows that I'd lay down and die for 
 him any day he give the word. And it's Mrs. Tod- 
 hunter that's been told of all this talk about me, and 
 that's goin' to shame me here before all Nineveh! 
 Oh, but it's a fine game you-all are playin' to get me 
 where I can't do no harm to Tom Strickland or to 
 your daughter Mary, his sweetheart !" 
 
 She stood rigid, her hands clenched. 
 
 Then, swiftly, she spoke again. "They shan't 
 ruin me this way !" she cried. "Neither Tom Strick- 
 land nor Miss Mary Todhunter nor Mrs. Todhunter, 
 nor you, neither! I'll bring you all to taw. I'll 
 make Tom Strickland come in for his share of my 
 trouble! Since him and his sweetheart and his 
 sweetheart's mother have set the ball a-rollin', he's 
 got to face the music along with me !" 
 
 212 
 
THE SHAME OF LOTTIE-MAY 
 
 "What do you mean?" exclaimed Colonel Tod- 
 hunter. 
 
 All color had gone out of the girl's face as she 
 spoke. 
 
 "I'll show you what I mean !" she half-whispered, 
 her fingers fluttering at her throat. "I'll show you 1 
 I ain't a good girl no more. Colonel Todhunter. I 
 ain't fitten to breathe the same air with your daugh- 
 ter Mary. Tom Strickland and the rest of 'em's 
 mighty anxious to get me out of the way. I'm 
 a-goin', too. But not till I've said my little say to 
 Mrs. Todhunter, sir. Not till then — not even if 
 judgment day and hell itself come to me the next 
 minute !" 
 
 "Stop that, Lottie-May!" cried Colonel Todhunter 
 sternly. "You can't talk that way without reason — 
 and you ain't got no reason to say what you've just 
 said about Tom Strickland !" 
 
 For a reply the girl laughed in his face^ — and the 
 next instant she had darted past him. 
 
 Her head high, her eyes flashing, her little hands 
 clenched at her side, her frame all a-quiver with ex- 
 citement, Lottie-May sped ominously to where Mrs. 
 Todhunter stood with a group of other Nineveh 
 
 213 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 ladies, Mary Todhunter standing close behind her 
 mother. 
 
 "Mrs. Todhunter," said the outcast girl, her eyes 
 defiantly holding those of the person whom she ad- 
 dressed, "I understand that you want me to leave 
 this party because you think I ain't fitten to be here 
 — that I'm a bad woman. Ain't that so, ma'am?" 
 
 Mrs. Todhunter was at first shocked into shrink- 
 ing from the girl. Then she looked at her pityingly. 
 
 "Lottie-May," she replied, with a frank dignity, 
 "I'm sorry you've made such a scene. It is true that 
 we think you should not be here. But I was going 
 to tell you this privately, to spare you as much as 
 possible — " 
 
 "No, you wa'n't!" interrupted the girl passion- 
 ately. "You was a-goin' to put all the shame on me 
 you could! But I'll say my say before you do it, 
 Mrs. Todhunter. And I ain't denyin' anything, 
 either, nor I ain't a-beggin' any of you for mercy. 
 You're goin' to make me pay for my sin, ain't you ? 
 — me, the sinful daughter of a sinful mother? But 
 why don't you make the man pay at the same time, 
 Mrs. Todhunter? That's what I'm asking you. 
 Why don't you make the man pay, too?" 
 
 214 
 
THE SHAME OF LOTTIE-MAY 
 
 A dead silence followed these words. 
 
 "Maybe you don't know who the man is?" in- 
 quired the girl. "Maybe you can't name him ? May- 
 be that's the reason you ain't doin' nor sayin' nothin' 
 against him?'* 
 
 There was no reply. 
 
 "Then I'll tell you who he is!" cried the girl — 
 and at this her voice broke and her fingers again 
 went fluttering to her throat. "I'll tell you his name ! 
 It's Tom Strickland, the man that wants to marry 
 your daughter. Miss Mary Todhunter, ma'am — it's 
 Tom Strickland, that's who it is !" . 
 
 A piteous little cry came from Mary Todhunter. 
 Lottie-May Doggett heard it and laughed. 
 
 "Now you've got it good and plenty — ^both of 
 you — ^more'n you bargained for!" she cried taunt- 
 ingly. Already she had moved toward the nearest 
 door. Her reckless eyes were full of scornful de- 
 fiance. 
 
 "Make the man pay, too!" she flung back at the 
 group of which now a mother and her downward- 
 swaying daughter were the central figures. "Make 
 Tom Strickland pay — along with me !" 
 
 The next moment she was gone. 
 215 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 THE TRAGEDY ON THE BLACK BOTTOMS ROAD 
 
 COLONEL TODHUNTER saw Tom Strick- 
 land spring to Mary's side, catch her in his 
 arms, and, thus holding her, face the group of 
 women who had fallen back from him. 
 
 The next moment Mrs. Todhunter had passed her 
 own arms around the girl, letting her sink into a 
 chair that had been brought. The mother's face was 
 stern in condemnation. 
 
 "For shame !" she said to Tom. "You are not fit 
 to touch her. For shame, sir !" 
 
 Tom Strickland's face grew white. His eyes, thaf 
 had met those of Mary in mute entreaty, held Mrs. 
 Todhunter's indignantly. For an instant he seemed 
 about to speak. But the elder lady bent above her 
 daughter, obviously ignoring him. The widening 
 group of women looked at him with accusing eyes. 
 Lottie-May Doggett's dreadful charge seemed still 
 ringing in the air. 
 
 216 
 
THE TRAGEDY ON THE ROAD 
 
 Apparently bewildered, Tom Strickland turned 
 away, his helpless glance resting for a breath of time 
 on Mary's face. The shock and shame of what the 
 girl had just heard were shown in the look that met 
 his. Then she averted her gaze and Tom Strickland 
 left her side, the women whispering behind him. He 
 came direct to Colonel Todhunter. 
 
 "I must see you, Colonel," he muttered brokenly. 
 "You heard everything, didn't you?" 
 
 The Colonel nodded, studying the speaker closely, 
 as they moved away. 
 
 "What is it, Tom?" he asked. "What can I do 
 for you?" 
 
 Tom Strickland laughed bitterly. "Nothing," he 
 replied. "But I must tell you the only thing I can 
 do for myself. I've got to see Stamford Tucker and 
 choke the truth out of him !" 
 
 "What do you mean ?" 
 
 "I mean that he's got to tell the truth and face this 
 scandal in my place. He's the one that's responsible, 
 not I. God only knows what possessed Lottie-May 
 Doggett to lay her disgrace at my door !" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter drew a quick sigh of relief. 
 "If that's the truth, Tom, you're all right, and I must 
 
 217 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 say rm glad to hear it, because the case looks mighty- 
 ugly for you otherwise. Fll have to speak plainly, 
 iTom, as Mary's father. If youVe got the proofs 
 that'll call Stam Tucker to time, produce 'em right 
 now." 
 
 The younger man looked the speaker in the face, 
 a white-hot anger in his eyes. Then, suddenly, 
 doubt and something of dismay took the place of 
 rage. At last he laughed, mockingly, as if at him- 
 self. 
 
 *T haven't got a shred of proof," he said, "unless 
 my own conviction, from what Lottie-May herself 
 has told me, can give a hold on Stam Tucker that'll 
 make him toe the mark. I've got the girl's word 
 that Stam Tucker made love to her, and that she 
 met him in secret." 
 
 "And Lottie-May has just publicly accused you," 
 commented Colonel Todhunter, a curious expression 
 in his eyes as they rested upon Tom Strickland's pale 
 face. "That's mighty poor evidence, Tom. The 
 girl has made it worthless in advance. Nobody on 
 earth would believe you." 
 
 Tom Strickland lifted one clenched hand and 
 smote it savagely into the open palm of the other. 
 
 218 
 
THE TRAGEDY ON THE ROAD 
 
 ''Nobody but Stam Tucker!" he cried. "He'U 
 know it's the truth, and he'll know that Lottie-May 
 told me because she was trying to make me his 
 rival. And he's got to confess that it's the truth 
 —by God, I'll kill him if he don't !" 
 
 "Stop right there, Tom !" exclaimed Colonel Tod- 
 hunter sternly. "You're makin' the biggest fool of 
 yourself that's possible on all this earth to a man in 
 your fix, suh !" 
 
 "Fool or no fool," cried Tom Strickland, "I'm not 
 going to let this thing lay at my door when I know 
 the guilty man — and know, besides, that he wouldn't 
 ask nothing better'n for Miss Mary to throw me 
 over on account of this, so that he could marry her. 
 That's the situation. Colonel Todhunter, and no man 
 fit to be called a man would let Stam Tucker go 
 free!" 
 
 "If you go lookin' for Stam Tucker now, Tom," 
 said Colonel Todhunter quietly, "there'll be a shoot- 
 in' scrape in less'n two minutes after you two come 
 together, and somebody's mighty apt to get killed. 
 If it's you, the difficulty ain't helped you any, that 
 I can see. If it's Stam Tucker, then you're worse 
 off'n ever, because he'll be dead and you'll be held 
 
 219 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 for killin' him, and Lottie-May Doggett*s accusation 
 will stand against you. Have some sense, my boy, 
 before it's too late." 
 
 Tom Strickland laughed at the words. "I'll have 
 sense enough," he retorted. "I'll see that Stam 
 Tucker don't profit by this thing. And there's only 
 one way to see to it — and that's by having it out with 
 Stam Tucker himself and making him tell the truth. 
 lYou can't interfere in this matter, sir, even though 
 you are Miss Mary's father. No third party can 
 take a hand in it, sir." 
 
 Colonel Todhunter contemplated the speaker ear- 
 nestly for a moment. Then he nodded. 
 
 "You're right, Tom," he conceded. "I reckon 
 you'n Stam Tucker'll have to sift this out between 
 you, and th' ain't nobody else can lift a finger. But 
 I've just got one favor to ask of you before you go 
 any further, my boy." 
 
 "What's that, sir?" asked Tom. "I don't mean 
 to be disrespectful, Colonel, and I'm willing to meet 
 you as far as I can, but you see now just how things 
 are between Stam Tucker and me." 
 
 "I'm not saying another word," answered Colonel 
 iTodhunter. "The only thing I want you to do, Tom, 
 
 220 
 
THE TRAGEDY ON THE ROAD 
 
 is not to go lookin' for Stam Tucker to-night. In 
 the first place, he's right here, and you ain't got no 
 business runnin' the chance of provokin' a serious 
 personal difficulty where there's women, and in the 
 second place, you'd better get a night's sleep for your 
 own good, Tom. I'm talkin' plain to you, my boy, 
 because a good deal depends on it. The chances are 
 a million to one that there'll be some shootin' before 
 you'n Stam Tucker gets through with your argu- 
 ment — and a cool head and a steady hand are mighty 
 useful things to have at such a time." 
 
 "I'm cool enough, sir," replied Tom Strickland. 
 
 But the Colonel shook his head. "Tom," he said, 
 "I want you to promise me to go quietly home right 
 now and go to bed. After to-night, the game's in 
 your own hands and you can play it any way you 
 see fit. This is all I'm goin' to ask of you. Go home 
 and get a good night's rest, Tom." There was just 
 the least shake in the speaker's voice. 
 
 Tom Strickland hesitated. 
 
 "Go home, Tom," said Colonel Todhunter. "I 
 wouldn't be a true friend of your father if I let you 
 take any foolish chances in an affair of this kind. 
 And I'm thinkin' of Mary, too, when I say this. You 
 
 221 
 
COLONEE TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 go home, now." The Coloners grim lips were trem- 
 bhng a little. 
 
 Tom Strickland nodded. "All right. Colonel," fie 
 spoke finally. "I'll go home. I won't try to do any- 
 thing further until to-morrow, sir." 
 
 "That's all I ask, Tom," replied the Colonel., 
 
 But he saw to it that the younger man got away 
 from the perilous scene without being subjected to 
 temptation that might compel him to break his word. 
 And then, knowing that Tom Strickland was safely 
 on the road home. Colonel Todhunter looked up Sim 
 Birdsong without losing a moment's time. 
 
 "Sim," he said, "I want you to see Stam Tucker 
 to-night without fail and tell him not to come into 
 town to-morrow. Just say this to him — ^that Tom 
 Strickland's lookin' for him on account o' this here 
 Lottie-May Doggett business, and there's a-goin' to 
 be trouble if they meet — ^and then you come back 
 here and tell me what he says. I'm tryin' to prevent 
 a shootin' scrape, Sim, and this is the only way I 
 can see to do it." 
 
 "All right, Colonel," replied Sim. "I'll look up 
 Stam Tucker right away and deliver your message, 
 then I'll report to you again, suh." 
 
 222 
 
THE TRAGEDY ON THE ROAD 
 
 "Fll just be eternally condemned," communed 
 Colonel Todhunter to himself when Sim had de- 
 parted on his mission, "if any other man meddled in 
 a serious private difficulty of mine like Fm meddlin' 
 in this of Tom Strickland's, I'd tell him in pretty 
 plain language what I thought of his interference, 
 even if I was engaged to his daughter. But I ain't 
 got no choice in the matter. I want to save Tom 
 and keep Mary's heart from bein' broken, and I 
 want to save old Bill Strickland from such a tragedy 
 as this would be, and I've got to take the bull by the 
 horns to do it. I'll keep those two young fools apart 
 if I've got to break my neck a-doin' it !" 
 
 Sim Birdsong was not gone long. "Well, Colo- 
 nel," he said upon returning, "I've just seen Stam 
 Tucker and told him what you said, and he told me 
 to say to you that he wouldn't come in town at all 
 to-morrow. Says he don't want to have any trouble 
 with Tom Strickland now, if he can help it, because 
 it would be serious trouble, and he ain't in the humor 
 for it just at present." 
 
 "Sim," asked the Colonel, "what did Stam do or 
 say when you told him that it was on account of Lot- 
 tie-May that Tom was lookin' for him ?'* 
 
 223 
 
' COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 ''Colonel Todhunter," replied Sim, "he got white 
 clean to his lips. I never saw a man's face go white 
 as quick as his'n. But he didn't make no comment 
 on that part of the message, suh. He just stood still 
 for a minute when I got through, and then he told 
 me what I've just said to you." 
 
 A look of deep relief sprang into Colonel Tod- 
 hunter's face. "That's all right, then," he spoke. 
 "And it tells me what I wanted to know. Now, Sim, 
 I'm goin' to ask you if you can't contrive some plan 
 that'll take Stam Tucker away from Nineveh and 
 keep him away, for a few days, at least. If we can 
 do that, Sim, we may be able to prevent the trouble 
 altogether." 
 
 Sim Birdsong looked at the speaker with some- 
 thing of helpless bewilderment in his honest eyes. 
 Then, suddenly, his face brightened. 
 
 "I-crackey, I've got it!" he exclaimed. "Some 
 of the boys was arrangin' this very night for a fish- 
 in' frolic down on Black Bottoms Lake, and they 
 planned to start before sunrise day after to-morrow. 
 1*11 make 'em count Stam Tucker in on the deal, and 
 I'll go out to the Tuckers' and give him their invita- 
 tion myself, to-morrow, and see that he consents to 
 
 224 
 
THE TRAGEDY ON THE ROAD 
 
 go. Then, Colonel, all we've got to do is just keep 
 him and Tom apart for one day and night — and 
 we've turned the trick !" 
 
 "Bully for you, Sim!" approved the Colonel. "It 
 begins to look like we can see this thing through to 
 a sensible finish — and that's a blamed sight more 
 than it looked like to me a few minutes ago, I can 
 tell you!" 
 
 Shortly after noon the next day, Colonel Tod- 
 hunter stopped in at the Stricklands' on his way 
 home, as was not unusual for him to do. In reply to 
 an apparently careless question, Margaret Strick- 
 land, Tom's elder sister, told him that Tom had gone 
 into town soon after breakfast. 
 
 Colonel Todhunter returned into Nineveh at once, 
 after explaining to Margaret Strickland that he had 
 forgotten to execute certain housekeeping missions 
 for Mrs. Todhunter before driving out. But he 
 found no trace of Tom Strickland until he came to 
 a certain bar-room frequented mainly by the Yancey 
 and Tucker factions in politics. 
 
 "Colonel," said the bartender, in answer to a ques- 
 tion, "Tom Strickland was in here, sir, about two 
 hours ago, lookin' for Stam Tucker. Not findin* 
 
 225 
 
colonel: todhunter of Missouri 
 
 him, and waitin' here quite a while in hopes of his 
 turnin' up, he wrote a note yonder at that table and 
 sent it out by one of the town boys to Stam's house. 
 Then he went away, sir." 
 
 "Have you any idea where he went ?" 
 
 The bartender hesitated for a moment. Then — 
 "Well, Colonel Todhunter," he said at last, "I be- 
 lieve, from the way he was talkin', that he went to 
 see that girl, Lottie-May Doggett, that the scandal's 
 about now, sir. He was drinkin' pretty heavy. 
 Colonel, and he talked pretty threatenin' about Stam 
 Tucker, and it seemed to me that the two things 
 was connected in some way — ^his trouble with Stam 
 and his trouble with the girl. I'm inclined to think 
 there's a difficulty brewin'. Colonel!" 
 
 Leaving the bar-room, Colonel Todhunter drove 
 directly out to old Rafe Doggett's place. Neither 
 the girl nor her grandfather was at home. Returning 
 into Nineveh he encountered Sim Birdsong, who 
 wore an anxious face. 
 
 "I've just seen Stam Tucker, suh," cried Sim. 
 "We aren't a bit too soon in layin' our plans to pre- 
 vent trouble. Colonel Todhunter. He's just got a 
 note from Tom Strickland tellin' him to come into 
 
 226 
 
THE TRAGEDY ON THE ROAD 
 
 town to-night if he don't want to have serious 
 trouble at his own home instead, so it's plain that 
 Tom Strickland's on the warpath, suh." 
 
 "What's Stam Tucker goin' to do?" 
 
 "He ain't goin' into town. Colonel. He told me 
 that he had an engagement to call on a young lady, 
 so he wouldn't be at home anyway, if Tom came 
 there lookin' for him, and, besides, he says he'll do 
 most anything to prevent trouble just at this time. 
 He's as anxious to get away on that fishin' frolic 
 as we are to have him get away. Colonel Todhunter." 
 
 "I'm powerful glad to hear it," commented the 
 Colonel, "Well, with Stam Tucker not goin' into 
 town, and not stayin' at home, and Tom Strickland 
 not knowin' where he's to be found, I reckon things 
 are pretty tolerable safe for to-night. But don't you 
 fail to get Stam off on that fishing jaunt before day- 
 break to-morrow, Sim!" 
 
 "I won't, suh," promised Sim Birdsong earnestly. 
 "I'll get him if I have to drag him by the scruff 
 o' the neck!" 
 
 Arising early the next morning. Colonel Tod- 
 hunter drew in a deep breath of fresh air, grateful 
 of soul. 
 
 227 
 
colonel; todhunter of Missouri 
 
 "Thank the Lord!" he said to himself. "Stam 
 Tucker's gone with Sim and the other boys, and 
 we've got a few days' breathin' time, anyway, be- 
 fore there's any further danger !" 
 
 But, even as Colonel Todhunter thus spoke, young 
 Stamford Tucker lay dead at home. He had been 
 shot the night before, and Tom Strickland now was 
 held a prisoner in the little Nineveh jail, accused of 
 his murder. 
 
 22S 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 
 
 A MESSENGER bearing these dreadful tidings 
 ^arrived as the Colonel stood on the front gal- 
 lery enjoying the freshness of the morning. Hei 
 came from Tom Strickland himself. 
 
 Colonel Todhunter received the news in silence, 
 his gray brows bent until his eyes were but two glints 
 of metallic blue-gray beneath ; his grim lips set in an 
 inflexible line. 
 
 "Tell Tom I'll be with him right away," he said 
 at the story's completion. "And tell him to keep 
 his courage up — I'm going to do everything I can 
 for him." 
 
 Nevertheless, the Colonel's own heart was heavy, 
 for Mary's sake, for Tom's dire peril, and knowing 
 well that it would all come near to breaking the heart 
 of Colonel Bill Strickland, his lifelong friend. 
 But it was no time to sit in cold judgment upon 
 Tom's sin. The boy must receive all the help that 
 was in the power of mortal man to give* 
 
 229 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 Halting a moment at the Nineveh Hotel to send 
 a telegram to the Honorable William J. Strickland, 
 now himself compaigning in northern Missouri, 
 Colonel Todhunter then hurried to the jail. The mo- 
 ment his eyes fell on Tom Strickland's face he knew 
 that the lad had been drinking heavily. The two 
 clasped hands and stood facing each other in silence. 
 At last the Colonel spoke. 
 
 "Tom," he said, "I want to tell you at the start 
 that I'm goin' to accept every word you say as gos- 
 pel, and I want you to tell me the whole truth. Then, 
 while we're waitin' for your father to get here, I'll 
 know better what to do in beginnin' arrangements 
 for your defense. You must tell me the God's truth, 
 my boy." 
 
 Tom Strickland's plucky eyes, unflickering, 
 though still bloodshot from overnight drinking, held 
 those of the speaker in a level glance. 
 
 "I'll tell you the truth. Colonel," he answered. "I 
 won't vary from it by a hair if I know it." 
 
 "How did the meetin' between you and Stam 
 Tucker come about, Tom?" asked Colonel Tod- 
 hunter. "Tell me just when and how you killed 
 him." 
 
 230 
 
THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 
 
 "Colonel," replied Tom Strickland, "I have no 
 recollection of killing Stam Tucker last night. I 
 don't even remember meeting him." 
 
 "What do you mean by that ?" 
 
 "I mean that I started out to meet Stam, and that 
 it was my intention to kill him if he didn't publicly 
 tell the truth about him and Lottie-May Doggett, 
 but I ain't clear in my mind as to what happened 
 after I left Nick Bledsoe's bar-room. I got to drink- 
 ing there, thinking while I was waiting for Stam 
 Tucker to keep an appointment that I made by letter, 
 and I got tired waiting for Stam to show up, so I 
 started out to go to his house, seeing as how he 
 wouldn't- come to the place I had named. This 
 much I remember, and I've got a confused recollec- 
 tion of wandering about the edge of town, but the 
 first thing I remember with any distinctness after 
 leaving Nick Bledsoe's, is finding myself in the 
 Nineveh Hotel bar-room, drinking again. Whatever 
 happened between is gone from my memory — I was 
 drinking hard. Colonel Todhunter, and that's all 
 there is to it. I started drinking because I had lost 
 — well, I didn't care what happened to me, sir," Tom 
 concluded. 
 
 231 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI ^ 
 
 "You were armed, of course, when you went to 
 meet Stam and have it out with him ?" 
 
 "Yes, sir, I had my pistol on me." 
 
 "Well, then — well, then, Tom — when you were 
 arrested this mornin' after Stam Tucker's body was 
 found on the side of the road half-way between his 
 home and the town, what story did your gun tell, 
 boy? If you had had a shoot in' scrape durin' that 
 time, your weapon would have said so — a man in 
 your condition, with this difficulty settled, wouldn't 
 have reloaded his gun. What fix was yours in, 
 Tom?" 
 
 'That was the first thing the deputy sheriff looked 
 at when he placed me under arrest," said Tom 
 Strickland, his eyes dumbly perplexed. "Colonel 
 Todhunter, one chamber of my pistol was empty — 
 I reckon I must surely have met Stam on the road 
 and killed him." 
 
 "Tom," said Colonel Todhunter, almost plead- 
 ingly, "whatever way Stam Tucker was killed, he 
 got one shot at the man that killed him. His own 
 weapon was a-layin' right at his hand when they 
 found him, and one bullet had been fired from it. 
 In God's name, my boy, if you was that other man, 
 
 232 
 
THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 
 
 you must have some sort of recollection of the shoot- 
 in' scrape. It's the truth I'm tryin' to get at, Tom, 
 the truth of how Stam Tucker came to his death. 
 If you killed him, we've got to know it, because the 
 whole line of defense has got to be based on absolute 
 knowledge of the truth of whether or not it was you 
 that shot and killed Stam Tucker last night. Dig 
 down in your mind, Tom — my God, boy, you've got 
 to remember everything you did every minute of 
 the time you say you was out lookin' for Stam 
 Tucker!" 
 
 Tom Strickland drew a deep breath. "It must 
 have been me that killed him," he said. *T was on 
 my way to do it — and who else wanted to kill him? 
 But I can't remember anything about it. Colonel 
 Todhunter— I'd be glad if I could !" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter sat helpless for a moment. 
 Finally — "Did you go home after the hotel bar was 
 closed ?" he asked. 
 
 "No, sir. I slept at the hotel last night." 
 
 "What time were you arrested ?" 
 
 "About six o'clock." 
 
 "Yesterday afternoon, when you had been to Nick 
 Bledsoe's bar-room for the first time, did you then go 
 
 233 
 
colonel: todhunter of Missouri 
 
 out to see Lottie-May Doggett, as you told Nick 
 you was a-goin' to do ?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Did you see her?'* 
 
 "Yes, sir. I asked her to tell the truth and ac- 
 knowledge that I had nothing to do with her dis- 
 grace. I told her if she didn't I was going to see 
 Stam Tucker and make him do it, or else kill him." 
 
 "What did she say to that?" 
 
 "She laughed at me. That girl's a she-devil. 
 Colonel Todhunter. She wouldn't even acknowl- 
 edge to me that she had lied in telling Mrs. Todhun- 
 ter what she did. She just laughed." 
 
 "You also hinted to Nick Bledsoe that there was 
 some serious trouble brewin' between you and Stam 
 about Lottie-May, didn't you?" 
 
 "I believe I did, sir." 
 
 "And you told him you were bound for Stam 
 Tucker's when you left his bar-room last night ?" 
 
 "I seem to remember saying something of the 
 sort. Colonel Todhunter. I reckon I gave him a 
 pretty good inkling of the whole affair." 
 
 "The man you sent to tell me of your arrest says 
 that Stam Tucker's mother and sister says that 
 
 234 
 
THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 
 
 Stam left his home about the same time, accordin' 
 to Nick Bledsoe's story, that you left Nick's place 
 to go out there." 
 
 "It's likely, sir, that he was coming in to meet me, 
 in answer to my letter." 
 
 "Tom, that would have brought you and Stam 
 Tucker together about half-way between his home 
 and the town." 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "And Stam's body was found beside the road just 
 about half-way between his home and the town." 
 
 "I know it, Colonel. The evidence against me is 
 about as complete as it could be, unless somebody 
 saw me kill Stam. I wish they did, if I killed him. 
 It wouldn't look so much like a cold-blooded murder 
 in the dark then." 
 
 Colonel Todhunter went direct from the jail to 
 the home of Lottie-May Doggett. This time he 
 found the girl there. 
 
 She met him with a defiant look in her eyes, but 
 it seemed to Colonel Todhunter that there was some- 
 thing of dread as well, and her manner, despite a 
 certain bravado, suggested a haunting fear. 
 
 "If it's grandfather you want to see. Colonel Tod- 
 235 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 hunter," she said, her voice not quite steady, "he 
 ain't at home right now. He got some work helpin* 
 Lute Burroughs with his hosses, and it keeps him 
 over there most o' the daytime." 
 
 "It ain't your grandfather, Lottie-May," replied 
 Colonel Todhunter. "It's you I come to see. But 
 I wish he was here, because I reckon I've got to 
 have a right plain talk with you and I'd rather Rafe 
 was present while we're a-havin* it.'* 
 
 The girl shrank back suddenly. "Then maybe 
 you better call again," she quickly suggested, un- 
 easiness and the hope of delay expressed in her face. 
 "It'll keep till some time when he's home, surely. 
 Colonel Todhunter." 
 
 "No, Lottie-May, it won't. That's why I've come 
 straight out to see you, after leavin' Tom Strick- 
 land a prisoner in the Nineveh jail. Stam Tucker's 
 been shot and killed and Tom's accused of murder in' 
 him, Lottie-May." 
 
 The girl gave a little cry, whitening to the lips. 
 She stood facing the Colonel with horror-widened 
 eyes. 
 
 "Lottie-May," continued Colonel Todhunter, "the 
 time has come when you must tell the truth about 
 
 236 
 
THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 
 
 Tom Strickland. His life's in danger, not to speak 
 of his bein' disgraced through what you said about 
 him — and your story caused him to be lookin' for 
 trouble with Stam Tucker — and we've got to know 
 the truth as to whether it was him or Stam Tucker 
 that you had the right to accuse before everybody 
 at the party that night." 
 
 A sudden light of fiery venom leaped into Lottie- 
 May Doggett's passionate eyes. 
 
 "It ain't me that's to blame!" she cried. "Tom 
 Strickland wanted to kill Stam Tucker because he 
 knew that Stam Tucker would marry Miss Mary 
 Todhunter, your daughter, now that she's got to 
 throw him over. It's her that's to blame for the 
 killin', not me!" 
 
 Something came into the girl's throat that seemed 
 to choke her. She threw her hands up to her eyes 
 and began sobbing. 
 
 "He wa'n't thinkin' about me at all!" she cried 
 brokenly. "And Stam Tucker didn't really care 
 nothin' for me, neither. They was both of 'em 
 thinkin' about Miss Mary Todhunter — I ain't noth- 
 in' but poor white trash in their eyes, to be used 
 and th'owed to one side. And Tom Strickland 
 
 237 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 knows I loved him with all my heart and all my 
 soul !'* Here her voice broke pitifully. 
 
 Then — "And he wouldn't ha' known anything 
 about Stam Tucker's makin' love to me if I hadn't 
 told him myself ! Yet he don't think nothin' about 
 mei — it's only how he can clear his own skirts by 
 loadin' the blame on Stam. And if he killed him, 
 he killed him for your daughter Mary's sake, out o' 
 jealousy, and nothin' else in the wide world ! Well, 
 I've done said my say, and you-all got to take it for 
 the truth whether you're willin' or not. Stam 
 Tucker's dead and gone, but that ain't a-goin' to 
 clear the way for Tom Strickland to marry Miss 
 Mary Todhunter. I've told her mother the truth, 
 and you and Mrs. Todhunter can't let her marry 
 Tom Strickland with the blame for my ruination 
 restin' on his good name." 
 
 She threw back her head and laughed at him 
 mockingly. 
 
 "You've come here to make me help you get Tom 
 Strickland out o' danger, ain't you. Colonel Tod- 
 hunter? You're just like all the rest of 'em. I'm 
 settled and done for. I'm dirt under you-all's feet. 
 But maybe I can help save Tom Strickland if I tell 
 
 238 
 
THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 
 
 the right sort of a story — ^that's it, ain't it? Well, I 
 ain't goin' to do it. Colonel Todhunter!" 
 
 "Tom Strickland's got just one chance for his 
 life, Lottie-May," said Colonel Todhunter, "and 
 that is, to prove that you accused him of a sin that 
 ought to ha' been laid at Stam Tucker's door in- 
 stead, and that he quarreled with Stam and killed 
 him for refusin' to acknowledge publicly that this 
 was the truth. Even this ain't much of a chance, 
 but if we don't get it, Tom Strickland's goin' to the 
 gallows just as certain as the sun rises and sets. H 
 you told what ain't so, Lottie-May, his blood will be 
 on your head." 
 
 The girl shrank back and shivered as if she had 
 been struck. Then, again, the hard mocking light 
 leaped into her eyes and she laughed aloud. 
 
 "And if I change my story to please you-all," she 
 scoffed, "what does it amount to. Colonel Todhun- 
 ter? Just two things — and I'll tell you what they 
 are. I help to get Tom Strickland out o' danger for 
 killin' Stam Tucker, and I clear his good name so 
 he can go straight and marry your daughter Mary. 
 That's what I do — if I'm willin' to tell the story 
 you-all want me to tell, and so lift my shame off'n 
 
 239 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 Tom Strickland and put it on a dead man instead 
 ' — put it on Stam Tucker, that was shot and killed 
 by Tom Strickland because both of 'em loved Miss 
 Mary Todhunter!" 
 
 "I'm askin' you to tell the truth, Lottie-May!" 
 said Colonel Todhunter. "That's all. I'm askin' 
 you to tell me now what you will surely have to tell 
 under oath in the Nineveh court-room at Tom 
 Strickland's trial, unless you mean to perjure your 
 soul by kissin' the Bible and then swearin' to a lie. 
 That's where you are, my girl ! If you told the truth 
 in what you said to Mrs. Todhunter about Tom 
 Strickland, I ain't got another word to say. But, if 
 you didn't, for God's sake tell it now, Lottie-May, 
 and help me and Tom's father to save his life!" 
 
 Again the girl's face had whitened as Colonel 
 Todhunter so suddenly acquainted her with the fact 
 that she must needs be a witness for or against 
 Tom Strickland when he was placed on trial for his 
 life. And again, succeeding this, her eyes hardened 
 with the deadly rancor born of her secret thoughts. 
 
 "I told Mrs. Todhunter the truth," she replied. 
 "What I told her, I— I'll tell in court, if I got to. I 
 might be willin' to tell — I might be willin' to tell a lie 
 
 240 
 
"He's got just one chance for his life" Page 238 
 
THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 
 
 for Tom Strickland's sake if it wa'n't for Miss Mary 
 Todhunter — ^but I can't do it for her, and I won't ! 
 It ain't in my blood to let another woman walk on 
 me to get to the man I love, Colonel Todhunter, and 
 you and all the rest of 'em might as well know it 
 once and for all ! I got the same shame on me now 
 that my mother had, and I'm her daughter, body and 
 soul!" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter looked at Lottie-May Dog- 
 gett long and silently. His face was grave when he 
 spoke. 
 
 "That's all I wanted to see you about, Lottie- 
 May," he said finally. "It looks like I been on a 
 fool's errand, but I've done the best I could. Good- 
 by, child — and you better think over what I've been 
 sayin' to you after I'm gone." 
 
 Oddly enough, a little sob broke from the girl's 
 throat as the Colonel spoke. The next moment, with 
 one hand fluttering nervously at her bosom, she 
 closed the door behind him. 
 
 Crossing the country road a few rods from the 
 gate leading into the Doggetts'- yard. Colonel Tod- 
 hunter stopped to speak to Aunt Mi randy Ran- 
 som, the old negress whom he had last met in the 
 
 241 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 Nineveh town square, and who now stood at the 
 door of her little cabin. After talking with her 
 some brief time he resumed his way into town. 
 
 He met the Honorable William J. Strickland 
 at the entrance to the Nineveh jail. The father's 
 face was gray with anxiety. Colonel Todhunter 
 held his hand with a grip of comforting friendliness. 
 
 "The boy's in hell's own hole, Bill," he said. "But 
 you and me'll pull him out of it if we've got to bust 
 the breechin' doin' it, suh !" 
 
 242 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 A STRANGE CRY FROM BLACK LIPS 
 
 OLD Governor Leslie hurried to Nineveh from 
 St. Louis the day following Colonel Strick- 
 land's own return home. He came in response to an 
 urgent telegraphic summons from the candidate, 
 whom he found in close conference with Major 
 Gentry Dryden, one of Missouri's most famous 
 criminal lawyers. Colonel Todhunter was with 
 them. 
 
 "We'll bring Tom through all right, Governor," 
 said Colonel Strickland, although his worn and wor- 
 ried face belied the brave words, "but in the mean- 
 time, I thought it best to get you down here so that 
 I could straighten myself out in the matter of my 
 campaign for the nomination for governor with as 
 little delay as possible." 
 
 "What do you mean to do?" asked old Leslie. 
 
 "I mean to withdraw from the race," replied 
 Colonel Strickland. "I can't run, carrying this 
 weight of Tom's trouble. It's got me beat right 
 
 243 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 now. I won't ask my friends to make a hopeless 
 
 fight." 
 
 "You'll stay right where you are," said Governor 
 Leslie. "You're not responsible for Tom's reckless 
 folly, and the Democratic voters in Missouri won't 
 hold you responsible." 
 
 "The Yancey crowd will make it appear that the 
 killing of Stam Tucker was a political murder," 
 Colonel Strickland answered. "They're doing it 
 already. Their newspapers are handling the case 
 along that line. They've published the story of the 
 quarrel between Tom and Stam Tucker the night 
 we opened my campaign here in Nineveh, and of 
 their fight in the bar-room the next day. They point 
 out that old Eph Tucker is my bitterest political en- 
 emy, and that he and his son were working tooth 
 and nail for Stephen K. Yancey, and that this polit- 
 ical feud has resulted in the assassination of Eph 
 Tucker's son by my son. It's a pretty black story, 
 handled that way, and it'll do me all sorts of harm 
 throughout the state." 
 
 "They can't ignore the facts in the case," retorted 
 Governor Leslie. "In the first place, as I under- 
 stand it, your son himself doesn't know that it was 
 
 244 
 
A STRANGE CRY FROM BLACK LIPS 
 
 he who shot Stam Tucker. He's bound to plead not 
 guilty, and the prosecution's got to prove the fact of 
 guilt. In the second place, the real reason for 
 deadly trouble between Tom and Stam Tucker was 
 the story told by that Doggett girl, and its bearing 
 upon their rivalry for the hand of Miss Mary Tod- 
 hunter. The Doggett story puts an entirely new 
 light on the feud between the two boys." 
 
 "Not the way the Yancey organs are presenting 
 it," said Colonel Strickland, "it only serves to in- 
 tensify the original trouble and to make a thrilling 
 'murder story' with what they call 'romantic' as 
 well as political trimmings. They're featuring it on 
 that basis, and they're going to get Steve Yancey 
 nominated just that way." 
 
 "I thought this was what you wanted to see me 
 about," commented old Governor Leslie, "so I had 
 a conference with the St. Louis men who worked 
 with me to put you in the race. But, before I tell 
 you any more about that, I want to ask you just one 
 question. Bill Strickland." 
 
 A moment of silence followed these words. Colo- 
 nel Strickland held Governor Leslie's eyes with his 
 own, inquiringly. 
 
 245 
 
colonel; todhunter of Missouri 
 
 "Do you want your son to be convicted of the 
 murder of Stamford Tucker ?" asked Governor Les- 
 lie. 
 
 "Good God, man!" cried Colonel Strickland. 
 "How can you ask such a thing?" 
 
 Governor Leslie turned to Major Gentry Dryden. 
 "Dryden," he queried, "what would be the effect of 
 Colonel Strickland*s withdrawal from the campaign 
 at this time?" 
 
 "It would be taken as a confession of his belief 
 in his son's guilt," replied the lawyer without an in- 
 stant's hesitation. "It would be the worst blow pos- 
 sible to the defense right now. I should strongly 
 protest against Colonel Strickland's withdrawal." 
 
 "There you are !" exclaimed old Leslie, turning to 
 the candidate. "That was exactly the view I took 
 of it — you've got to consider your son's interests 
 above all else, Strickland. And now I'll tell you 
 what your St. Louis backers said. They authorized 
 me to refuse to accept your withdrawal as a candi- 
 date for the Democratic nomination for governor 
 of Missouri. Aside from whatever personal regard 
 they may have for you, they believe that, even as 
 matters now stand, you're the strongest man in the 
 
 246 
 
A STRANGE CRY FROM BLACK LIPS 
 
 state, and that youVe still got a better fighting 
 chance to win than any other man would have. 
 YouVe got to stay in, Strickland." 
 
 "But, good Lord, man, how can I iight to any 
 purpose?" asked Colonel Strickland piteously. "I 
 must deal fairly with you, so I tell you right here 
 and now that, compared with Tom's safety, I don't 
 give a damn what becomes of my chances in the 
 campaign. I'm going to stay right here and move 
 Heaven and earth to clear my son of the awful 
 charge against him — and by the time his trial's 
 ended the campaign will be over, too." 
 
 "Not quite," answered Governor Leslie, unmoved. 
 "But if that was the case, it wouldn't make any dif- 
 ference. God knows you're justified in sticking to 
 Tom through thick and thin, to the finish, and re- 
 gardless of all other demands upon you. I wouldn't 
 wipe my feet on you if you were capable of doing 
 anything else. So don't you worry about that. 
 We're going to do all the fighting for you from now 
 on — and we've picked on Colonel Todhunter here 
 as the best man to lead what you seem disposed to 
 call a forlorn hope." 
 
 "Now you're talkin', suh !" broke in Colonel Tod- 
 247 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 hunter, his grim old face ahght with the lust of bat- 
 tle. "Damn their cowardly souls, I won't ask any- 
 thing better'n to get out on the stump and skin 'em 
 alive. They're crowdin' old Bill Strickland to the 
 wall because they think they've got him foul, and 
 Bill's friends has got to stand by him closer'n ever. 
 Turn me loose on 'em, Leslie — I'll make Mizzoorah 
 too hot to hold 'em !" 
 
 Old Governor Leslie smiled ominously. "We've 
 made arrangements to that end, Todhunter," he re- 
 plied. "I knew just how you'd feel about it. We 
 want you to tell the Democrats of Missouri just ex- 
 actly why we wouldn't let Strickland withdraw, just 
 exactly why he himself won't do any more cam- 
 paigning for the nomination, and just exactly why 
 and where the Yancey newspapers and the Yancey 
 speakers are distorting the truth of this case against 
 Tom Strickland to make it look like a political assas- 
 sination. And it's going to be pretty hot work, Tod- 
 hunter — you may have more than one personal diffi- 
 culty on your hands before you get through with it." 
 
 "We needn't talk about that feature of it, Gov- 
 ernor Leslie," said Colonel Todhunter. "There 
 won't be no trouble 'less'n some o' the Yancey crowd 
 
 248 
 
A STRANGE CRY FROM BLACK LIPS 
 
 object to a man's talkin' straight from the shoulder. 
 We've just about got time now for a lightning finish 
 on the stump, takin' it for granted that I'm expected 
 to reach all parts of the state, so the sooner I start, 
 the better." 
 
 "You start to-morrow, Colonel Todhunter," re- 
 sponded old Governor Leslie. "We've already made 
 the speaking appointments for you, and I've got the 
 list of towns and dates right here with me. It's a 
 devilish big contract, sir — and you won't get back 
 here until just a few days before the primary elec- 
 tions." 
 
 "I don't want to get back here before then — 'less'n 
 I could be of some use to Tom Strickland," said 
 Colonel Todhunter, a sudden huskiness in his throat 
 as his eyes fell on Colonel Bill Strickland's hag- 
 gard face. "The main thing I want is to give the 
 Yancey crowd a fight they wasn't expectin', suh — - 
 and I'll be eternally condemned if we ain't a-goin' 
 to do it, too!" 
 
 Wherefore, the following morning, Colonel Tod- 
 hunter started out in the lead of the forlorn hope 
 that was to make the last stand for Colonel Bill 
 Strickland in Missouri. 
 
 249 
 
COLONEU TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 It proved to be a soul-wearying battle, full of 
 baffling chagrin and disappointment. On the very 
 eve of the trial of Tom Strickland for the killing of 
 Stamford Tucker, Colonel Todhunter returned to 
 Nineveh. He was met by Colonel Strickland, whose 
 face seemed now not only haggard, but hopeless. 
 
 "They're pushin' us pretty hard. Bill," said Colo- 
 nel Todhunter. "I've fought 'em the best I knew 
 how, but Steve Yancey's crowd is working Tom's 
 case against us better'n I thought was possible among 
 folks that know you like our Mizzoorah Democrats 
 know you, suh. It's enough to make a dog sick to 
 see how easy people can be turned against a man 
 when he's in trouble, I'll just be double-whipsawed 
 if it ain't!" 
 
 "That's all right, Thurs," replied the other list- 
 lessly. "Don't you go worrying yourself any longer 
 about my campaign. I knew I was beat the minute 
 they got Tom's trouble to use as a weapon against 
 me. But what hurts me most now, Thurs, is that 
 Governor Leslie is now finding it impossible to raise 
 that campaign fund we counted on. I'm licked — and 
 I've hurt you mighty bad at the same time." 
 
 But Colonel Todhunter fired up at this. "I'll be 
 250 
 
A STRANGE CRY FROM BLACK LIPS 
 
 shot full o' holes if you're licked — ^yet!" he ex- 
 claimed. "And I ain't hurt any till you hear me 
 holler, suh. Don't you misunderstand me, Bill 
 Strickland. I acknowledge that we've got a hard 
 row to hoe, but that ain't no sign we ain't a-goin' 
 to hoe it. Anyway, by Godfrey, we'll make an ever- 
 lastin' good stagger at it — the next best thing to 
 livin' victorious is dyin' game, suh !" 
 
 Colonel Strickland shook his head. "There's 
 mighty little fight left in me," he spoke sadly. 
 
 "I'll do the fightin'," retorted Colonel Todhunter. 
 Then he looked his friend anxiously in the face. 
 "How's Tom's case goin' ?" he asked. 
 
 "It looks mighty black," answered the other. "It's 
 going to be a political trial, bitter as sin, because the 
 old gang counts on Tom's conviction to drive me out 
 of Missouri politics. The evidence in the case is all 
 against the boy. The court-room will be packed with 
 Yancey heelers — ^there's no way to prevent it — and 
 they'll make every demonstration possible to influ- 
 ence the jury. And every man connected with the 
 court wears the gang's collar, even to Judge Pittman 
 himself. If we ask for a change of venue we'll jump 
 from the frying-pan into the fire, because my ene- 
 
 251 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 mies have got the whip-hand anywhere we turn. By 
 God, old fellow, I believe they'll have my boy's life 
 before they get through !" The speaker's voice broke 
 in spite of him. 
 
 Colonel Todhunter's face grew hard and grim. 
 "No, they won't!" he said stubbornly. "They can't 
 do it. They ain't got nothin' against Tom but cir- 
 cumstantial evidence, and it surely ought tp be 
 mighty hard, here in Nineveh, to convict a boy like 
 Tom, well known and comin' of a family that's lived 
 here so long, on circumstantial evidence alone. 
 They'll try their damnedest to do it. Bill, but they 
 can't. Tom'll get the benefit of the doubt." 
 
 There was something deeply pathetic in this eager 
 clutching at the one remaining strand of hope. The 
 two old friends were now making their way toward 
 the jail to see Tom. Suddenly they came face to 
 face with Mrs. Todhunter and Mary. 
 
 The girl advanced directly toward them with out- 
 stretched hand, her mother following. 
 
 "Howdy, Colonel Strickland !" she said, her voice 
 trembling a little. "You're on your way to visit 
 Tom, aren't you ?" 
 
 "Yes, Miss Mary," replied Tom's father quietly. 
 252 
 
A STRANGE CRY FROM BLACK LIPS 
 
 "The trial begins to-morrow, and I only left him 
 to meet Colonel Todhunter, and he's returning with 
 me. 
 
 "Colonel Strickland," said Mary resolutely, 
 though her voice shook more than ever, "I want you 
 to carry a message to Tom from me." 
 
 There was a curious little pause. Mrs. Todhunter 
 laid her hand gently on her daughter's arm. But the 
 girl moved away from the touch, not harshly, yet 
 as if she felt it to be a protest. 
 
 "I want you to give Tom my love. Colonel Strick- 
 land," she said. "And I want you to tell him, from 
 me, that I don't believe one word of these awful 
 charges against him — not one word — either about 
 Stam Tucker or about that — ^that girl !" 
 
 And as she spoke Mary Todhunter burst out cry- 
 ing. She dabbed piteously at her face with her hand- 
 kerchief, unable to control her emotions. Then, 
 sobbing, she turned away with her mother, no other 
 word being spoken. 
 
 "God bless that girl of yours, Thurs !" spoke Colo- 
 nel Strickland, his own voice unsteady. "She's good 
 grit clear through — and, somehow, she gives me 
 more courage than I've had for many a day. They 
 
 253 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 haven't got Tom yet — and they'll have the fight of 
 their lives before they do get him !" 
 
 "That's the talk!" cried Colonel Todhunter. 
 "Face 'em that way, Bill, and we'll make 'em strain 
 their souls for every inch they try to gain ! They got 
 to do it — by the good God up yonder in them skies. 
 Bill, they got to doit r 
 
 But the little flicker of encouragement caused by a 
 girl's brave words soon died away in the somber 
 shadow of Tom Strickland's prison. It was two 
 very weary and gray-faced old men who came away 
 from the prisoner an hour later and parted at the 
 jail's front, each to go to his own home. 
 
 That evening Colonel Todhunter went by appoint- 
 ment to the Strickland home for a conference with 
 Tom's father and Major Gentry Dry den, leading 
 counsel for the defense. It was nearly midnight 
 when he returned to his own home. 
 
 He found Aunt Mirandy Ransom there. The 
 old negress rose, trembling, at sight of him, her 
 black hands fluttering toward him in instinctive glad- 
 ness of welcome. 
 
 "Bress Gawd, yo' done come !'* she cried. "I been 
 eatin' my ole heart out waitin' f o' yo', suh ! Kunn'l 
 
 254 
 
A STRANGE CRY FROM BLACK LIPS 
 
 Todhunter, yo* got some mighty quick an' ticklish 
 wu'k cut out fo' yo' ef yo' gwine save Mars' Tom 
 Strickland's life — das huccome I hyar now to tell 
 yo' erbout it, suh !" 
 
 255 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 COLONEL TODHUNTER RIDES THROUGH DARKNESS 
 INTO THE DAWN 
 
 THROUGH the after-midnight blackness that 
 was soon to change into the gray of a cloud- 
 swept dawn a fugitive man and woman fled, two 
 sinister figures of a sinister hour. 
 
 Side by side they sat in a light road-wagon drawn 
 by a raw-boned horse whose long and swift stride 
 told of its selection for this special service. 
 
 The man, gaunt, swarthy, with keen black eyes 
 that gleamed alertly from under the wide brim of a 
 weather-beaten sombrero, seemed ill content, how- 
 ever, with the progress being made. 
 
 Almost incessantly he urged the horse to increased 
 effort, now and then cursing outright in the grip of 
 a feverish impatience. 
 
 Save when he leaned forward for this urging, the 
 man sat slouching and limp, the mark of the vagrant 
 Ishmael on every line of body and limbs. 
 
 The woman was tense, rigid, her face set always 
 256 
 
THROUGH DARKNESS INTO DAWN 
 
 to the front. It was framed in by a shawl thrown 
 over her head and drawn about her shoulders. Once 
 or twice her glance went furtively to the man beside 
 her. Fear and distrust were in her eyes. Her hands 
 were tightly clasped together as they lay in her lap. 
 
 Deep woods stretched on either side of the road. 
 Their stillness was profound. The enveloping gloom 
 seemed as of the grave itself. The woman shuddered 
 and drew her shawl closer. 
 
 "Lord ha* mercy!" she spofe. 'T can't do it, 
 Jesse — I can't ! It's worse'n murder — worse'n what's 
 been done a'ready !" 
 
 The man laid a cruel lash across his horse's flanks. 
 "You fool!" he muttered. "It's high time I brung 
 you away ! You lovesick fool !" 
 
 The girl's eyes flashed sullenly. "That word's a 
 lie!" she retorted. "Ain't I goin' with you? And 
 would I be a-doin' that if I was lovesick for some- 
 body else ? It's a lie, and you know it !" 
 
 The man laughed. "If you had stayed where you 
 was you'd ha' blabbed the whole thing out, and you'd 
 be in jail now, 'stead o' him." 
 
 Suddenly the woman threw her arms upward. 
 "It'll ha'nt me to my dyin' day !" she cried. "I ought 
 
 257 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 to ha' told the truth! I wish I had! I wish I had! 
 It couldn't be no worse'n it is now !" 
 
 "The hell it couldn't !" savagely returned the man. 
 "You keep your mouth shut ! I got all I can do to 
 save us as it is, 'thout'n you waggin' your tongue. 
 You keep your mouth shut !" 
 
 The woman passed her hands over her face mis- 
 erably. 
 
 The man again slouched down in his sea^. Now 
 and then his moody glance turned apprehensively 
 to his companion. 
 
 "I've done a whole lot for your sake, Lottie- 
 May," he spoke at last. "I could ha' got away long 
 ago. I'm takin' big chances on your account. And 
 you don't seem to care !" 
 
 Lottie-May Doggett's face grew shamed. "Yes, I 
 do, Jesse !" she exclaimed. "I know just what you're 
 doin' for me. The only show I got is to go with 
 you. And you mustn't think I don't appreciate it." 
 Her hands fluttered piteously at her throat. "My 
 God!" she cried, her voice breaking in anguish. 
 "Tom Strickland's goin' to be hung! He's goin' to 
 be hung! They ain't nothin' on earth can save him !" 
 
 Far in the east the gray dawn was breaking. 
 258 
 
THROUGH DARKNESS INTO DAWN 
 
 "Damn Tom Strickland!" cursed the man. "Fll 
 be glad when he is hung! You've always been in 
 love with him !" 
 
 "He's goin' to be hung!" repeated the girl. "And 
 they ain't no way to save him now !" 
 
 An evil mockery leaped into the man's face. "Oh, 
 yes, there's a way !" he retorted. "You go back there 
 to that trial and confess the truth ! You're the only 
 one on God's earth that can save him. Ain't that 
 so?" 
 
 The girl's face whitened. As the man spoke they 
 had turned from the pike road and were going deeper 
 into the woods. A scant light of day had come. 
 The faces of the two were haggard and worn. 
 
 "Yes, I'm the only one!" cried Lottie-May Dog- 
 gett suddenly. "And that's what I'd do now if I 
 had the chance — tell the whole truth ! I ain't think- 
 in' no more about me. I ain't thinkin' no more about 
 you. I'm thinkin' about Tom Strickland !" 
 
 A forlorn and dilapidated cabin was revealed in a 
 barren little opening ahead. The man laughed aloud 
 as he saw it. 
 
 "You'll have to take it out in thinkin', Lottie- 
 May!" he exclaimed triumphantly. "I've got you 
 
 259 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 now where you're safe. When you and me leave 
 that shack to-night there'll be no more talk o' you 
 savin' Tom Strickland. We'll be headed straight 
 for Oklahoma then, and all hell can't stop us !" 
 
 The girl's eyes rested on the miserable little cabin. 
 An ominous light was in them. The man drew up at 
 the hut and assisted his companion from the wagon. 
 He pushed open a creaking door. The cabin's in- 
 terior showed black and forbidding. 
 
 *That's where we stay till night-time," he said. 
 "I'll take the horse and wagon round where they 
 won't be seen if anybody happens to come along. 
 And I don't want no more o' your foolishness, Lot- 
 tie-May!" 
 
 The girl started as if struck. "Don't talK to me 
 like that!" she cried. "I ain't your nigger yet. I 
 ain't got to do anything I don't feel like doin'. 
 You're takin' too much for granted, Jesse !" 
 
 The man seemed to lose all patience at this. Grasp- 
 ing the girl by the shoulders he forced her into the 
 hut. Then he disappeared. A moment later he re- 
 turned. 
 
 The girl was standing against the wall. Her face 
 260 
 
THROUGH DARKNESS INTO DAWN 
 
 was buried in her arms. Sobs shook her body. The 
 man closed the door behind him. 
 
 Five miles back, on the road along which the fugi- 
 tives had come, two men on horseback were gallop- 
 ing swiftly in pursuit. One was tall, with cool gray- 
 blue eyes under shaggy brows, gray hair, white mus- 
 tache and old-fashioned imperial. His seat in the 
 saddle was that of a seasoned cavalryman. The 
 other was stnall, wiry, with a smooth-shaven, hard- 
 set face, a mouth like a steel trap, cold hazel eyes 
 that kept themselves fixed on the road ahead. 
 
 "We oughtn't to be very fur behind 'em now, 
 Jim," spoke the first man. "Th' ain't no way they 
 could ha' dodged from the main road, is there ?" 
 
 "No, Colonel, they ain't," returned the other. 
 "Not till they come to the old dirt road that leads 
 to the cabin I told you about. That's where they're 
 headin' for> Colonel Todhunter, and it's where we're 
 goin' to run up on 'em. We'll be there pretty soon, 
 too." 
 
 Colonel Todhunter's face was grim. "I hate to 
 think of Lottie-May Doggett!" he spoke. "It's 
 
 261 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 mighty bad, mighty bad, suh. I feel that sorry for 
 poor old Rafe Doggett — Lord, Lord, the shame of 
 it all is a-goin' to kill that good old man !" 
 
 The wiry little man to whom he spoke snapped 
 his jaws together in angry scorn. 
 
 "That can't be helped now, Colonel," he made 
 answer. "I got to do my duty, woman or no 
 woman !" 
 
 *T ain't askin' you to do anything less'n your 
 duty, Jim," replied Colonel Todhunter. "And Fm 
 just as responsible as you are. But I'm sorry — and 
 I'm afraid, too. If there's any serious trouble, I 
 hope there'll be some way o' seein' that the girl don't 
 get hurt." 
 
 "She won't if she behaves herself," said the other. 
 "But she's got to do that, for there ain't goin' to be 
 no time for foolishness. You've got to forget the 
 girl part of this business if you want to come out on 
 top. Colonel Todhunter." 
 
 Colonel Todhunter sighed. "I reckon that's 
 straight, Jim," he agreed. 
 
 The two rode on abreast without further words 
 until they reached the cross-road. 
 
 "Here we are. Colonel," spoke the little man, his 
 262 
 
THROUGH DARKNESS INTO DAWN 
 
 voice low. "It's a safe bet they're lay in' up till dark 
 in that old shanty." 
 
 The two riders checked their horses to a walk. 
 
 Suddenly a woman's shriek broke the stillness. 
 "For God's sake, Jesse!" the cry sounded. "You 
 ain't a-goin' to kill me like a dog, are you ?" 
 
 Instantly, hearing the cry, Colonel Todhunter 
 pressed his horse to a full gallop. His companion 
 did the same. They threw themselves from the sad- 
 dle in front of the cabin. Colonel Todhunter hurled 
 his weight against the door. It yielded and he 
 plunged inside. 
 
 A girl knelt in the center of the dark little hut. 
 Her hands were uplifted in entreaty. Over her stood 
 a man with a knife raised to strike. His face was 
 black with rage. 
 
 Colonel Todhunter covered him with a swiftly 
 drawn pistol. "Hands up, Chickasaw, we'll 'tend to 
 Lottie-May ourselves — and to you. This is the sher- 
 iff o' Ralls County I got with me." 
 
 The man turned. He looked into the muzzles of 
 two revolvers, the sheriff being well-nigh as quick 
 to draw as Colonel Todhunter. Their menace did 
 not invite resistance. The man saw this truth in- 
 
 263 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 stantly. Colonel Todhunter's steady eyes held his. 
 The Colonel spoke to the girl without looking at her. 
 
 "Git off there to one side, Lottie-May," he said. 
 "Quick!" 
 
 The girl sprang from under the knife. "Thank 
 God, you come. Colonel Todhunter!" she cried. 
 "Thank God— oh, thank God !" 
 
 And at the girl's cry the man laughed aloud. He 
 threw his knife to the floor. Then, empty-handed, 
 he stood, confronting his captors. 
 
 264 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 STATE OF MISSOURI VS. THOMAS W. STRICKLAND— 
 FOR MURDER 
 
 THE trial of Tom Strickland had been relent- 
 lessly hurried to the day of its closing by a 
 political prosecution working through a complaisant 
 judge servile to machine influence. 
 
 From that early moment of the selection of a jury 
 the truth of a merciless haste was in evidence. It 
 was explained by the court that there was impera- 
 tive need for as little delay as might be possible, the 
 docket being crowded and many cases remaining to 
 be disposed of during the present term. The grim 
 fact was that Colonel Strickland's enemies felt sure 
 of a conviction and were determined that the verdict 
 should be rendered in time to remove whatever peril 
 of his nomination might still remain. 
 
 The evidence scored heavily against Tom from 
 the start. 
 
 There was plainly sounded a note of somewhat in- 
 solent confidence, almost like jubilation, in the swift 
 
 265 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 announcement of the state's readiness for trial. 
 Colonel Bill Strickland, gray and pinched of face, 
 recognized its instant menace. His closely shut lips 
 broke their rigid lines piteously, precisely as they had 
 done when Tom was brought into court and took his 
 seat confronting the jury. 
 
 At the same moment a swift flash of anticipated 
 triumph leaped into the eyes of old Ephraim Tucker, 
 sitting with the state's counsel. Tom's father saw 
 this and his jaws set hard at the sight. 
 
 "They're feeling pretty sure of a conviction," he 
 whispered to Major Gentry Dryden. *Ts it likely 
 they've obtained evidence against Tom that we don't 
 know anything about ?" 
 
 The lawyer shook his head. "I hardly think so," 
 he replied. "We've got a line on all their witnesses, 
 I believe. I can't figure out how they'll be able to 
 spring a surprise on us." 
 
 But one sinister sentence in the prosecuting at- 
 torney's opening statement to the jury undeceived 
 him. 
 
 "We shall prove, gentlemen, beyond a reasonable 
 doubt," the state's counsel said, "the motive which, 
 we claim, led Thomas W. Strickland to slay Stam- 
 
 266 
 
MISSOURI VS. TOM STRICKLAND 
 
 ford Tucker, and then" — ^moving a step nearer to the 
 jury and Hfting one hand impressively — "having 
 proved this, we shall establish, by the testimony of 
 an eye-witness, the fact of Thomas W. Strickland's 
 presence at the scene of the murder at the time of its 
 commission." 
 
 Major Gentry Dryden, in spite of himself, started 
 at hearing this crushing announcement. Something 
 of fierce resentment, pathetic in its impotency, 
 showed in Colonel Strickland's grizzled countenance. 
 Tom's face, a helpless perplexity in his eyes, went 
 deadly white. 
 
 The atmosphere became tense with the sudden 
 dramatic grip of the situation thus created. 
 
 And the hearing of testimony for the state began. 
 
 It went forward with merciless precision and des- 
 patch, a certainty and rapidity so well ordered as to 
 be overwhelming in moral effect. 
 
 The evidence was cruelly against Tom Strickland. 
 Two witnesses, a farmer and his son, testified to 
 finding the dead body of Stam Tucker by the road- 
 side, at a point midway between the Tucker home 
 and the town of Nineveh, at daybreak on the morn- 
 ing of the twenty-seventh day of July just past. 
 
 267 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 They were on their way into town to sell garden 
 produce. The dead man lay on his back just at the 
 edge of the road. There was a bullet hole in his 
 forehead. A pistol, with one chamber empty, lay an 
 inch or two distant from his right hand. The wit- 
 nesses had hurried into Nineveh and notified the 
 authorities. 
 
 Simeon Birdsong testified that bad feeling had ex- 
 isted between Thomas W. Strickland and Stamford 
 Tucker since the night of the clash between the 
 Strickland and Yancey factions at the opening rally 
 of the Strickland campaign. The witness stated 
 that the accused at that time made threats to "get 
 even" with Tucker for attempting to break up the 
 Strickland meeting. On the following day the ac- 
 cused had openly insulted Tucker in the bar-room of 
 the Nineveh Hotel and had knocked him down a 
 short time later when they again met in the same 
 place. It was generally believed that there would be 
 a bloody encounter between them before the cam- 
 paign closed. Other associates of the dead man and 
 the accused testified to the same facts. 
 
 Mrs. Todhunter, whose appearance as a witness 
 268 
 
MISSOURI VS. TOM STRICKLAND 
 
 for the state was a dramatic surprise, and who was 
 pitifully agitated, testified to the fact of the accusa- 
 tion made against Thomas W. Strickland by Lottie- 
 May Doggett at the reception and hop given by the 
 Nineveh Light Infantry, and her testimony was sup- 
 ported by that of several other ladies who heard the 
 accusation. 
 
 Nicholas Bledsoe, the bartender in the saloon fre- 
 quented by the Yancey-Tucker faction, testified to 
 the facts of the two visits to his place made by the 
 accused on the forenoon and evening of the twenty- 
 sixth day of July just past. On the occasion of the 
 latter visit the accused had told him that Stamford 
 Tucker was the man whom Lottie-May Doggett 
 should rightfully have charged with her ruin, that 
 the girl had told him, the accused, of Tucker's meet- 
 ing her secretly, and that he meant to make Tucker 
 acknowledge the truth publicly or else kill him. This 
 witness' testimony established the hour of eight- 
 thirty on that night as the exact time at which Tom 
 Strickland had left the bar-room to go out to the 
 Tucker home for the purpose of compelling Stam- 
 ford Tucker to agree to make such an acknowledg- 
 
 269 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 ment or of forcing a hostile meeting in the event of 
 his refusal. 
 
 White-haired Mrs. Tucker, the dead man's 
 mother; Katherine Tucker, his sister, and Ellen 
 Barry, domestic in the Tucker home, testified that 
 Stamford Tucker had left the house at or about 
 eight-thirty o'clock on the night of the twenty-sixtH 
 of July past, saying that he might be late in return- 
 ing. He had not told them where he was going. 
 They had believed he was going into the town of 
 Nineveh. 
 
 Doctor Langford, the county coroner, testified to 
 the established facts of the inquest that had resulted 
 in a verdict holding Thomas W. Strickland for the 
 killing of Stamford Tucker. 
 
 Luther Bradfield, proprietor of a hardware store 
 in Nineveh, testified that Thomas W. Strickland had 
 purchased a revolver from him on the morning after 
 the opening of the Strickland campaign in the Nine- 
 veh town-hall. He identified the weapon taken from 
 the accused at the time of his arrest as the one thus 
 purchased, and stated that the bullet found in Stam- 
 ford Tucker's brain was fired from a pistol of the 
 same caliber. 
 
 270 
 
MISSOURI VS. TOM STRICKLAND 
 
 Colonel Thurston T. Todhunter and Miss Lottie- 
 May Doggett had not answered to their names when 
 called as witnesses for the prosecution. The deputy 
 sheriff, sent to bring them into court, had returned 
 later and announced that he had been unable to find 
 them. This had occasioned much surprise, but, as 
 both the state and the defense felt assured of their 
 appearance at almost any moment, the examination 
 of other witnesses proceeded. 
 
 The case against Tom Strickland began to assume 
 its most ominous aspect immediately following the 
 testimony of Bradfield, the hardware dealer. 
 
 The prosecuting attorney turned, smiling, from a 
 whispered consultation with old Ephraim Tucker. 
 
 "Call Abraham L. Tolliver!" he said. 
 
 A negro man about forty years of age took the 
 stand in answer to the sheriff's cry. He seemed 
 frightened and reluctant to testify. 
 
 "What is your name ?" 
 
 "My name Abram Lincoln Tolliver, suh — dass 
 my name." 
 
 "What is your occupation, Abram — what do you 
 do to make a living?'* 
 
 "Mostly I ketches fish, suh. I hunts some, too, and 
 271 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 I sets traps for coon and mink, down yander in de 
 Black Bottom swamps, suh." 
 
 "Where were you, Abe, on the night of July 
 twenty-sixth, just past?" 
 
 "Part de time I was right hyar in dis heah town o' 
 Nineveh, and atter dat I went on my way to whar 
 I done got my camp in de bottom lands, suh." 
 
 "What time did you leave the town of Nineveh to 
 go to your camp in the Black Bottoms ?" 
 
 "I lef dess a li'l while atter half atter eight, suh/' 
 
 "How do you know this ?" 
 
 " 'Case I douQ ax Ben Dalton, de cullud man, 
 whar I been visiting what was de time dess as I was 
 a-tellin' him good-by, suh/' 
 
 "What road did you take to go to your camp in 
 the Black Bottoms?" 
 
 "Why, suh, 'cose I took'n de Black Bottoms road, 
 sub — ^leas'ways 'twell I comes to a li'l hog-path what 
 leads down into de big swamps off'n dat-ar road, 
 suh." 
 
 "How far is it from town before you come to 
 that hog-path, Abe?" 
 
 "Dess 'bout'n a mile, suh, ter de bes' o' my knowl- 
 edge, and speakin' sorter off-hand lak, suh." 
 
 272 
 
MISSOURI VS. TOM STRICKLAND 
 
 "Do you know where the Tucker place is on the 
 Black Bottoms road?" 
 
 "Yass, suh." 
 
 "Is that path of which you speak more or less 
 than half-way to the Tucker place as you go out 
 from town?" 
 
 "Hit dess a li'l mo'n half -ways, suh." 
 
 "Now, Abram," — and the prosecuting attorney 
 straightened to his full height and spoke with es- 
 pecial earnestness — "I want you to tell the jury ex- 
 actly what happened to you on your way to your 
 camp in the Black Bottoms that night. Tell it in 
 your own way, just as it happened." 
 
 The witness looked at his questioner with appre- 
 hension in his childlike eyes. 
 
 "Mistah Cromwell, you — ^you done gimme yo' 
 wu'd dey ain't no harm a-comin' to me ef I tells 
 dat?" he cried appealingly. "And you done tole me 
 I hatter tell it, whur' I wants to er no — ain't dat so ?" 
 
 "That is the truth, Abe. The law compels you to 
 testify to the facts of your knowledge bearing upon 
 this case. And it is the law's intent that no harm 
 shall come to you for so doing." 
 
 The witness began in a low voice. *T)ey wa'n't 
 273 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 nothin' happened to me 'twell I come nigh to dat-ar 
 hog-path what cuts off inter de bottoms," he said. 
 "Dess fo' I got dar, suh, I heern shootin'. One shot, 
 and den annurr', hit seem lak ter me, suh. I was 
 skeered when I hear dat-ar shootin' and seem lak I 
 better not go on ter whar I sho' ter run smack into 
 it. Mistah Cromwell — yass, suh, Fse a-tellin' it ter 
 de jury, suh. So huccome I done hid in de brush 
 side o' de road, suh, layin' flat on de groun'. And 
 dar I stayed, suh." 
 
 The witness hesitated. 
 
 "Go on," said the prosecuting attorney. "Tell 
 the jury precisely what happened next." 
 
 "I lay dar, lak I say," resumed the witness, 
 "when, all of a sudden lak, a man come down de 
 road f'um whar I heern de shootin*. He pass 
 straight by me on de road, and he seem to be stag- 
 gerin' lak. He was talkin' to hisse'f as he pass whar 
 I was hidin' in de brush. He had his pistol swingin' 
 in his hand, suh, lak a man what too excited to put 
 it back atter he use it, suh." 
 
 The prosecuting attorney moved a step nearer the 
 witness. "You saw that man plainly, Abe?" he 
 asked. "You got a good look at his face?" 
 
 274 
 
MISSOURI VS. TOM STRICKLAND 
 
 "Yass, suh. Hit was a bright moonlight night. I 
 seen dat-ar man dess as plain as I done see you dis- 
 hyar minnit, suh." 
 
 "Did you recognize him?" 
 
 "Yass, suh. I knowed him soon's I set eyes on his 
 face, suh." 
 
 "Do you see him in this court-room now ?" 
 
 "Yass, suh." 
 
 "Point him out to the jury, Abe." 
 
 The negro, now feeling reassured, leveled his 
 black finger at Tom Strickland .dramatically. The 
 eyes of the two, the white man and the black, met, 
 each holding the other's as if fascinated. In those 
 of the witness there was a sort of histrionic relish of 
 the value of the situation, tempered by a latent ap- 
 prehension. In those of the accused there was a 
 strange and pitiful perplexity. 
 
 "Dass him, suh," spoke the witness. "Hit was 
 Mistah Tom Strickland what I seen passin' me on 
 dat-ar road, suh. Lawdy massy ! I done know him 
 since he wasn't mo'n knee-high to a duck, suh !" 
 
 There was a sudden stir throughout the court- 
 room, a movement of tense excitement, followed by 
 a sinister hush. 
 
 275 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "After you saw and recognized this man," said 
 the prosecuting attorney, "what happened then?" 
 
 "I laid right dar 'twell he done gone out o' sight, 
 suh. He was a-goin' in towards town, and I done 
 keep my eyes on him 'twell he turn a ben' in de road 
 and I cain't see him no mo'. Den I wait 'twell I sho' 
 he ain't a-comin' back. Atter dat, I got up and 
 started on my way, keepin' in de shadow side o' de 
 road." 
 
 Again the witness paused. 
 
 "Well?" asked the prosecuting attorney. "Tell 
 the jury what happened then, Abe." 
 
 The witness shuffled uneasily in his chair, some- 
 thing of awe in his black face. 
 
 "I — I had come purty nigh to de hog-path whar I 
 was to strike off inter de bottom lands," he resumed, 
 "when I stumbled ovah sump'in a-layin' on de 
 groun', part in de road and part in de grass side o' 
 de road." 
 
 He wiped his face with his open palm. "Hit was 
 a man," he said — and then, his voice solemn — "and 
 de man was dead. He been shot. I seen de place 
 whar he shot — right in de head, 'twix' de eyes, on'y 
 des a li'l bit higher up. When I stumble ovah him 
 
 276 
 
MISSOURI VS. TOM STRICKLAND 
 
 and nigh fall, I stretch out my hand, down-lak, and 
 hit tech de place whar he been shot and got all 
 bloody." 
 
 The negro shuddered. 
 
 "Did you see the face of this man?" asked the 
 prosecuting attorney. 
 
 "Yass, suh." 
 
 "Did you recognize it ?" 
 
 "Yass, suh." 
 
 "Abram," said the prosecuting attorney, "tell the 
 jury who the dead man was whose body you thus 
 found and whose face you saw and recognized." 
 
 "Hit was young Mistah Stamford Tucker," the 
 witness made answer. "I knowed him, suh, dess as 
 well as I know Mistah Tom Strickland settin' right 
 hyar 'fo' my eyes, suh." 
 
 The prosecuting attorney waited a moment, his 
 shrewd eyes studying the faces of the jurors. 
 
 "Abe," he asked, "why didn't you at once report 
 the finding of Stamford Tucker's dead body and the 
 seeing of Thomas W. Strickland, pistol in hand, as 
 he came away from the spot where that body lay?" 
 
 The witness shook his head stubbornly. " 'Twan't 
 none o' my business, suh," he replied. "Hit's a 
 
 277 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 mighty fool nigger what goes mixin* hiss'ef up in a 
 shootin* scrape 'twix* two white gent'mun, suh. I 
 was skeered ter do it, suh, dass why — and I dess 
 pick up my feet and make tracks fas' as I could to 
 whar my camp in de bottom lands was, suh. And 
 you ain't heern no wu'd 'bout'n what I seen, and you 
 ain't had me fotched to yo" office, 'cept'n I was fool 
 ernuff ter tell dat-ar ole Isr'el Fant, what I run er- 
 cross down in de bottom lands, suh !" 
 
 The state's attorney turned to the counsel for the 
 defense. "You may take the witness," he said. 
 
 A searching cross-examination failed to weaken 
 in any respect the testimony just given. At its con- 
 clusion Major Gentry Dryden whispered earnestly 
 with Colonel Bill Strickland. 
 
 It was plainly a dispirited and hopeless confer- 
 ence. Colonel Strickland leaned back wearily at the 
 end. 
 
 "It can't make any difference," he muttered sad- 
 ly. "They've got the rope around Tom's neck, 
 now." 
 
 And, although the words were not audible to oth- 
 ers, this certainty of conviction seemed to be in the 
 thought of all. Into the jurors' faces there came a 
 
 278 
 
MISSOURI VS. TOM STRICKLAND 
 
 look of pity as their eyes met those of the accused 
 man, the latter perplexed, bewildered, helpless. 
 
 "The state rests its case," announced the prose- 
 cuting attorney. A profound and ominous silence 
 followed. 
 
 It was broken by the entrance of Colonel Tod- 
 hunter into the court-room. He came through a 
 door opening from the sheriff's office in the rear. 
 His clothing was covered with dust, as of hurried 
 travel along sun-scorched roads. He made his way 
 direct to where Colonel Bill Strickland and Major 
 Gentry Dryden were sitting. The latter rose a mo- 
 ment later. 
 
 "I beg the court's indulgence for a little time," he 
 said hurriedly. "An adjournment is not asked — 
 merely opportunity for a brief conference." 
 
 The request was granted. 
 
 Taking hasty notes meanwhile. Major Dryden 
 was deep in consultation with Colonel Todhunter. 
 Suddenly he stood erect and faced the trial judge, 
 his eyes ablaze with excitement. 
 
 "May it please the court," he said. "New evi- 
 dence of a most important character has just come 
 into the possession of counsel for the defense. It 
 
 279 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 compels a change in the line of that defense, and I 
 beg the court's indulgence to that end." 
 
 Then he turned to the Nineveh sheriff. "Call 
 Lottie-May Doggett," he said. 
 
 "The witness is not present," replied the sheriff. 
 "She was summoned by the state, and a deputy sent 
 to find her reports now that she has disappeared 
 from her home." 
 
 "She has just come back," was the reply. "She is 
 here now." 
 
 And Lottie-May Doggett, emerging from the 
 sheriff's own room, took the stand in answer to his 
 call. 
 
 280 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 THE SUDDEN EMERGENCE OF "CHICKASAW JESSE'* 
 BREAM 
 
 THE murmur of excitement that had swept 
 through the court-room at hearing Major 
 Gentry Dryden*s announcement sank into absolute 
 silence as the girl confronted the crowd. She herself 
 was deadly pale. 
 
 "Where were you, Miss Doggett," asked Major 
 Dryden, following the necessary questions as to the 
 witness' name, place of residence, and the like, "on 
 the morning of the twenty-seventh day of July just 
 past?" 
 
 "I was at home that mornin', suh." 
 
 "Were you alone there?" 
 
 "Yes, suh, after grandfather left me, soon as he 
 got his break fas' — until Colonel Todhunter come 
 there, maybe some two hours later'n that, suh." 
 
 "What did Colonel Todhunter come to see you 
 about?" 
 
 "He came to tell me that Stam Tucker had been 
 281 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 shot and killed the night befo', and that Tom Strick- 
 land had been arrested for killin' him." 
 
 "Was that the first you had heard of Stam Tuck- 
 er's death?" 
 
 "Yes, suh." 
 
 "Did you know before then that a threat against 
 Stamford Tucker's life had been made ?" 
 
 "Yes, suh." 
 
 "Did you know by whom that threat had been 
 made?" 
 
 "Yes, suh — I knowed the man who made it. He 
 made it to me when him and me was alone to- 
 gether." 
 
 "Who was that man, Miss Doggett ?" 
 
 "It was Jesse Bream, suh — 'Chickasaw Jesse,* 
 folks here in Nineveh calls him, 'cause they say his 
 old grandmammy what came from Tennessee, had 
 Chickasaw blood in her, suh." 
 
 "When did Jesse Bream make this threat against 
 Stamford Tucker's life in your presence?" 
 
 "On the mornin' after that party what the soldier 
 company here in Nineveh gave at the hotel, suh." 
 
 "What led him to make the threat?" 
 
 "Somethin' that I told him about Stam Tucker, 
 282 
 
CHICKASAW JESSE BREAM 
 
 suhl — somethin' that had come tip at the party I just 
 spoke of." 
 
 "You must be more definite than this, if you 
 please, Miss Doggett. What had you told Jesse 
 Bream that caused him to make this threat ?" 
 
 "He come to see me about somethin' I had said to 
 Mrs. Todhunter the night befo', at the party. They 
 shamed me that night — and I told Mrs. Todhunter 
 that Tom Strickland was the man who had brought 
 that shame on me. And then Jesse Bream came to 
 see me the next mornin*. He had been worryin' me 
 to marry him, and he still wanted to marry me, but 
 he said he was goin' to kill Tom Strickland for 
 wrongin' me — and it was then I told him about 
 Stam Tucker." 
 
 "What about Stam Tucker, Miss Doggett?" 
 
 "Why — I — I got skeered for Tom Strickland, 
 suh — and — and — well, 'fo' I knowed what I was 
 a-sayin', I told Jesse the truth — that it was Stam 
 Tucker and not Tom Strickland, who had brought 
 my shame 'pon me. And it was then that Jesse said 
 he meant to waylay and kill Stam Tucker the first 
 chance." 
 
 "Then, Miss Doggett, when Colonel Todhunter 
 283 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 told you that Stamford Tucker had been shot and 
 killed, and that Tom Strickland was charged with 
 the crime, you had good reason to believe that it was 
 Jesse Bream and not Tom Strickland, who did the 
 killing?" 
 
 "Yes, suh." 
 
 "Why did you not tell Colonel Todhunter this?" 
 
 " *Cause I was a-fear'd to, suh. Jesse had done 
 told me that he was a-goin' to do it for my sake, and 
 that if I ever so much as breathed a word of it, he 
 would kill me, too, but that he'd take me away and 
 marry me if I didn't. He would ha' killed me, too, 
 — I knowed that mighty well !" 
 
 "Had you promised Jesse Bream to go away with 
 him?'* 
 
 "Yes, suh, I had. I wanted to get away from 
 Nineveh where I'd been shamed and disgraced, and 
 he was the only man what would ha' married me 
 after that. I might ha' told Colonel Todhunter the 
 truth — if I hadn't been a-feared o' Jesse, and if I 
 hadn't seen that it would be evenin' things up with 
 Tom Strickland as well as Jesse had evened 'em up 
 with Stam Tucker, if I went away with him." 
 
 "What do you mean by evening up things with 
 284 
 
CHICKASAW JESSE BREAM 
 
 Tom Strickland? You have just testified under oath 
 that Tom Strickland had done you no wrong." 
 
 The girl was silent for a moment. Her face 
 flushed a dark red and then went white again. 
 
 *Tom Strickland made me eat my heart out for 
 him!" she cried suddenly, shame and a desperate 
 defiance in the passionate eyes that confronted her 
 audience. "He wouldn't see that I loved him bet- 
 ter'n anything else in all this world, and that I want- 
 ed him to love me the same way. And the reason 
 he wouldn't see what I was always a-showin' him 
 was that he was so dead in love with Miss Mary 
 Todhunter! That's what made me tell that lie 
 against him when I knowed that Mrs. Todhunter 
 was a-goin' to ask me to leave the party. And that's 
 what made me willin' to run away with Jesse Bream 
 and let Tom Strickland get out of his trouble the 
 best way he could. They wa'n't none of 'em carin' 
 what become of me — well, I wouldn't care what 
 become of them !" 
 
 There was a pitiful break in the girl's voice. 
 
 *T didn't care the tip of 'my finger for Jesse 
 Bream!" she cried. 'T hated and despised him! 
 But he was willin' to marry me and take me away 
 
 285 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 from Nineveh — and so I kep' my mouth shet and 
 waited for him to come and do it !" 
 
 "I am going to ask you, Miss Doggett," said 
 Major Gentry Dryden, "when was the first time you 
 saw Jesse Bream after Colonel Todhunter's visit to 
 you that day ?" 
 
 "I didn't see him till the day before this-here trial 
 begun, suh. He had gone away to fix things up for 
 marryin' me and takin' me down somewhere in Ok- 
 lahoma, and he didn't come back till then." 
 
 "What time of the day did you see him?" 
 
 "I reckon 'twas 'long about three or fo' o'clock in 
 the day, suh. He didn't come clear to the house, 
 'cause he saw grandfather settin' on the front gal- 
 lery. But he! give a whistle I knew, and I went out 
 and met him." 
 
 "Where did you meet him?" 
 
 "In a little clump o' woods 'cross the road, not far 
 from the old cabin where Aunt Mirandy Ransom 
 and old Jed Ransom, her husband, two colored peo- 
 ple, are livin', suh." 
 
 "What had he come to see you about ?" 
 
 "He come to tell me that ever'thing was ready 
 for us to run away that very night. He was plan- 
 
 286 
 
CHICKASAW JESSE BREAM 
 
 nin' to drive over into Ralls County, and we'd get 
 married there and then start for Oklahoma. And 
 he'd been drinkin' and was braggin' about how he'd 
 killed Stam Tucker. It was then I knowed for the 
 first time, from his own lips, that it wa^ him that 
 killed Stam — but I'd been certain of it in my mind 
 all the time." 
 
 "Did you consent to go away with him?" 
 "Yes, suh, and we went away together. The first 
 day and night he got to drinkin', and when we 
 stopped at the hotel in Sidon he quarreled with me, 
 keepin' on sayin' that I was in love with Tom Strick- 
 land and would blab about who did really murder 
 Stam Tucker if I got half a chance. And some- 
 thin' I said then, about my wishin' I had told the 
 truth at first, skeered him. 'Stead o' stayin' in 
 Sidon till he was ready to go straight to Oklahoma, 
 he took me away from there the next day. We went 
 fur, too, and he was always a-watchin' me. At day- 
 break one momin' we come to a tumble-down cabin 
 deep in the woods, and he said that's where we'd 
 stay till dark — and then I begun to be skeered my- 
 self." 
 
 "Of what were you afraid?" 
 287 
 
COLONEt: TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "I begun to feel skeered that he was a-goin' to kill 
 me. We had quarreled and quarreled, and when- 
 ever I lost my temper good and proper I told him 
 the truth — that I oughtn't to leave Tom Strickland 
 to be hung when I knowed Tom wasn't guilty and 
 knowed who was. Then — well, all of a sudden, we 
 had our biggest quarrel, and what I'd been skeered 
 of come to pass !" 
 
 "What do you mean by that. Miss Doggett ?'* 
 
 "I mean that Chickasaw Jesse tried to kill me, 
 suh. He sorter went crazy and jumped for me with 
 his bowie-knife in his hand — and I'd ha' been dead 
 the next minute if it hadn't been for Colonel Tod- 
 hunter, suh." 
 
 "For Colonel Todhunter?" 
 
 "Yes, suh. Colonel Todhunter busted in the door 
 o* the cabin that very minute, bringin' the sheriff o' 
 Ralls County along with him. Him and the sheriff 
 both had their pistols sighted on Jesse and made 
 him throw his knife down. And then I done 
 what I'd wanted to do all the time. I told them it 
 was Chickasaw Jesse Bream who had killed Stam 
 Tucker." 
 
 "And what happened when you did that ?" 
 288 
 
CHICKASAW JESSE BREAM 
 
 The girl shivered. "I don't like to think about 
 it — he made me feel like a cowardly hound-dog!" 
 she said, a new shame in her reckless eyes. "J^sse 
 Bream just laughed and folded his arms and looked 
 at me and then at Colonel Todhunter and the sheriff 
 and said that I told the truth. *I killed Stam Tucker 
 because he ruined Lottie-May/ he said, smilin'. 
 'And I run away with her to marry her. But she's 
 tellin' the truth now to get shet o' me, and I don't 
 give a damn what comes next. Take me and hang 
 me — I'm done !' " 
 
 A hush of horror held the crowded court-room in 
 its grip. Lottie-May Doggett suddenly lifted her 
 arms in a gesture of desperate exultation. 
 
 "Anyway, I'm glad!" she cried. "I'm glad! I 
 don't know how Colonel Todhunter happened to 
 come there the way he did, but I'm glad ! I thanked 
 God when I saw him — because then I knew that 
 Tom Strickland wa'n't a-goin' to hang for what 
 Chickasaw Jesse had done !" 
 
 A moment later the witness was turned over to 
 the state. The cross-examination strengthened, 
 rather than shook, her testimony for the defense. 
 
 "Call Colonel Thurston T. Todhunter!" said Ma- 
 289 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 jor Dryden. The new witness, travel-stained and 
 somewhat worn, physically, took the stand. 
 
 Briefly, under the questioning of the leading coun- 
 sel for the defense, Colonel Todhunter told of his 
 visit to Lottie-May Doggett on the forenoon follow- 
 ing the murder of Stamford Tucker. 
 
 "Where did you go, Colonel Todhunter," asked 
 Major Dryden, "when you left the Doggetts* house 
 after that visit?" 
 
 "I went to a cabin across the road, just a few 
 yards down from the Doggetts' gate, to see Aunt 
 Mirandy Ransom, an old colored woman who lived 
 there." 
 
 "Was it in connection with your object in calling 
 on Miss Lottie-May Doggett that you wished to see 
 this colored woman ?" 
 
 "It was, suh." 
 
 "What was your reason for wanting to see Mi- 
 randa Ransom that time. Colonel Todhunter?" 
 
 "I wanted to engage her to keep a close watch on 
 the girl, Lottie-May Doggett, suh. I did not believe 
 that Tom Strickland killed Stamford Tucker, nor 
 did I believe that he was guilty of wrongin' Lottie- 
 May. He himself had told me that the girl con- 
 
 290 
 
CHICKASAW JESSE BREAM 
 
 fessed to him that Stamford Tucker had been mak- 
 in' love to her secretly. I felt sure in my own mind 
 that Stamford Tucker had been killed for wrongin' 
 Lottie-May Doggett — ^and this would mean that he 
 was killed by some man who loved Lottie-May and 
 knew that Stamford Tucker had wronged her, or 
 that the girl herself had killed him. It all looked 
 mighty plain to me, suh — and, lookin' that way, I 
 couldn't help feelin' that whatever developments 
 might come, pointin' to the real murderer, would be 
 mighty likely to come right there at Lottie-May's 
 home. I wanted somebody to watch that house, and 
 I knew I could depend on Aunt Mirandy Ransom 
 better'n on anybody else." 
 
 "Did you see this woman, Miranda Ransom, sir?" 
 
 "I did, suh. She promised to keep a close watch 
 on the girl and on the house, and she kept her word. 
 It was through her that I learned the news that sent 
 me away to Ralls County lookin' for Chickasaw 
 Jesse Bream and Lottie-May Doggett, suh." 
 
 "Do you mean that she learned of their flight, 
 Colonel Todhunter?" 
 
 "Yes, suh. She crep' up close enough to overhear 
 what they was a-sayin' when they met in that clump 
 
 291 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 o' trees between the Doggett house and the Ran- 
 soms' cabin, suh. She heard all that went on be- 
 tween 'em, suh — Chickasaw Jesse's declaration 
 that it 'was him that killed Stamford Tucker, their 
 plans for goin' away to get married and then goin' 
 to live in Oklahoma, and all the rest o' their talk, 
 suh. She was waitin' for me when I got home from 
 Colonel Bill Strickland's the night before this trial 
 began, and she told me the whole story." 
 
 "What did you do then, Colonel Todhunter?" 
 "There wasn't but one thing to be done, suh, if 
 Chickasaw Jesse was to be caught and Tom Strick- 
 land saved from bein' found guilty of murderin' 
 Stam Tucker. That one thing was to follow Jesse 
 Bream and Lottie-May Doggett without losin' a 
 minute's time and arrest him bef o' he got out o' the 
 state, suh. I left at once, and I drove all that night 
 as fast as I could. I got hold o' Jim Woodleaf, the 
 sheriff of Ralls County, next day, and went to find 
 Chickasaw Jesse and take him into custody. We 
 was slow in findin' his trail, but we did. We done it 
 just in time, too, to keep him from murderin' the 
 girl as well, suh." 
 
 The witness then confirmed in detail that part of 
 292 
 
CHICKASAW JESSE BREAM 
 
 the girl's testimony relating to the capture of Jesse 
 Bream. 
 
 "Did this man, Jesse Bream, make a confession of 
 his guilt as being the murderer of Stamford 
 Tucker?" 
 
 "Yes, suh. And, furthermore, under oath, he 
 told a mighty strange story of a happenin' that in 
 itself might ha' hung Tom Strickland if anybody 
 else had seen it and not known all the facts in the 
 case, suh." 
 
 There was a quick stir of heightened dramatic 
 expectancy in the court-room. Major Gentry Dry- 
 den paused until it had subsided. 
 
 "What was that strange story. Colonel Todhun- 
 ter," he asked, "which, as you have just testified, 
 the man, Jesse Bream, told you and the sheriff of 
 Ralls County under oath ?" 
 
 "He told me, suh, that Tom Strickland himself 
 appeared on the scene of the murder almost the next 
 moment. *As I hollered to Stam Tucker, cussin' 
 him, and tellin' him that I was a-goin' to kill him 
 for havin' wronged Lottie-May,' said Chickasaw 
 Jesse Bream, 'Stam Tucker drew his gun and fired 
 just the minit I fired. My shot got him, but his'n 
 
 293 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 didn't tech me. When I saw that he was a-layin' 
 still, I ran up to his body, looked down and saw that 
 I had plunked him through the head, right between 
 the eyes, and that he was stone dead. Then I turned 
 and started to run down the road to'ards the town 
 of Nineveh. 
 
 "/I hadn't gone any ways, hardly, when a man 
 came to'ards me on that road. When he saw me he 
 laughed — and the next minit he outs with his gun 
 and fires at me. I was skeered, 'cause I didn't want 
 to be recognized, and I turns and runs straight 
 through the woods, lookin' back once or twice. And 
 that man came to the edge of the woods and I heard 
 him laugh, and then mutter like he was drunk and 
 talkin' to himself — and then he deliberately turned 
 back on the Black Bottoms road and went away 
 to'ards town.' " 
 
 "Did Jesse Bream tell you and the sheriff of Ralls 
 County, Colonel Todhunter, that he recognized the 
 man whom he thus met after having killed Stam- 
 ford Tucker?" 
 
 "Hedid, suh." 
 
 "What was that man's name ?" 
 
 "It was Thomas W. Strickland, suh. Chickasaw 
 294 
 
CHICKASAW JESSE BREAM 
 
 Jesse Bream swears that he saw him plainly, and he 
 takes his oath that it was Tom Strickland." 
 
 "Did Jesse Bream tell you what he did after that 
 encounter, Colonel Todhunter?" 
 
 "Yes, suh. He! says that he lay out in the woods 
 for about an hour, and that then he went back on the 
 road and came into town, and the next day he went 
 to Oklahoma, not gettin' back here to Nineveh un- 
 til the day before the trial began, suh." 
 
 There was a momentary pause. 
 
 "Colonel Todhunter," resumed Major Dryden 
 quietly, "you say that the man, Jesse Bream, made 
 these statements, confessing that he killed Stamford 
 Tucker on the night of July twenty-sixth just past, 
 and including the other facts you have just men- 
 tioned, to you and to the sheriff of Ralls County un- 
 der oath?" 
 
 "Yes, suh, he did." 
 
 "Is there any record of this confession ?" 
 
 "Yes, suh. The confession is written, sworn to 
 and signed by Jesse Bream. It is attested by two 
 competent witnesses. It is in the possession of the 
 sheriff of Ralls County. And the sheriff of Ralls 
 County has just delivered the person of Jesse Bream 
 
 295 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 to the jail authorities here in Nineveh, suh, chargin' 
 him, on his own confession, with the murder of 
 Stamford Tucker." 
 
 "May it please the court," said Major Dryden, 
 "the defense will next place in evidence this sworn 
 confession of Jesse Bream and ask that the case 
 against Thomas W. Strickland, charged with the 
 murder of Stamford Tucker, be dismissed." 
 
 There was a sudden and tensely dramatic stir 
 through the crowded court-room. It was followed 
 by a triumphant cheer from a group of Tom Strick- 
 land's friends near the door. The next instant the 
 place rang with jubilant clamor, so overwhelming 
 now was the certainty of Tom's innocence. 
 
 And twenty minutes later Thomas W. Strickland 
 stood a free man, cleared of the dreadful crime that 
 had been laid to his doing. 
 
 But Colonel Todhunter was not among those who 
 first crowded around Tom Strickland with their con- 
 gratulations. He went instead to where he had seen 
 old Rafe Doggett almost furtively join Lottie-May, 
 sitting apart within the railed inclosure after having 
 given her testimony. Alike upon the faces of the old 
 
 296 
 
CHICKASAW JESSE BREAM 
 
 man and his granddaughter there rested an expres- 
 sion of pathetic dread. 
 
 "What air they a-goin' to do to my girl, Colonel 
 Todhunter?" asked old Doggett piteously. " Tain't 
 all her fault that she done what she done, keepin' her 
 mouth shet about Chickasaw Jesse, and then runnin' 
 away with him. She wanted to tell all she knowed, 
 but she was a-skeered for her life, Colonel Tod- 
 hunter. I ain't excusin' her none for her own bad- 
 ness, God knows, but the law ain't got no call to pun- 
 ish her along o' Chickasaw Jesse's sin !" 
 
 "The law ain't goin' to punish her, Rafe," replied 
 Colonel Todhunter. "I've already made sure just 
 how Lottie-May stands. She'd ha' been an accom- 
 plice o' Chickasaw Jesse's, for not comin' here at 
 first and tellin' what she knew, if the truth wasn't 
 plain now that she didn't tell because Chickasaw 
 Jesse threatened to kill her if she did. And her want- 
 in' to testify in Tom Strickland's behalf, and doin' it 
 like she did, proves that she was innocent just the 
 minute she was a free agent. I've laid all these facts 
 before the court, Rafe. The law ain't goin' to pun- 
 ish Lottie-May." 
 
 297 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI • 
 
 Old Rafe Doggett bowed his white head as if in 
 prayer. 
 
 "Thank the Lord God Almighty!" he spoke at 
 last. "An' me and Lottie-May won't trouble Nine- 
 veh's folks after this day. I'm a-goin' away f'um 
 here. Colonel Todhunter. I couldn't live here no 
 more to save my life. An' Lottie-May's a-goin' with 
 me — goin' somewhere away f'um here, where her 
 mother's shame and hers won't be in ever'body's 
 mouth like now in Nineveh." 
 
 "You can go any time you want to, Rafe," said 
 Colonel Todhunter. "Th' ain't no charge against 
 Lottie-May on the docket o' this court. You can go 
 now, if you feel like it." 
 
 The old man and the young girl moved toward the 
 door. 
 
 Colonel Todhunter accompanied them, screening 
 both, as far as lay in his power, from the curious 
 staring of the multitude. 
 
 Lottie-May spoke no word during their progress. 
 Her face was still tense with the shadow of that 
 dread but lately lifted from her soul. More than 
 ever did she seem the Hagar of this little Missouri 
 
 298 
 
CHICKASAW JESSE BREAM 
 
 community — a Hagar now going into uttermost 
 exile. 
 
 At the door she turned and looked back into the 
 court-room. Her eyes rested upon Tom Strickland's 
 face. Mary Todhunter stood at Tom's side. A great 
 joy shone in her eyes. Tom's glance lingered with 
 a deep fondness upon this girl whom he loved so 
 dearly. 
 
 With a little cry of poignant heartbreak Lottie- 
 May Doggett threw one arm across her grand- 
 father's age-stooped shoulders, seeming to draw him 
 and herself beyond the seeing of that which had so 
 moved her to uncontrollable anguish. 
 
 The next moment the door had closed upon the 
 two, shutting them out from Nineveh's vision. 
 
 299 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 FOLLOWING A GREAT VICTORY, COLONEL TODHUNTER 
 CONFRONTS DEFEAT 
 
 DURING a lull in the excited jubilation that 
 followed Tom Strickland's acquittal, and 
 having first congratulated Tom himself, Mrs. Tod- 
 hunter turned to Colonel Strickland, who stood with 
 her husband a few feet away. Colonel Todhunter 
 having by this time joined the group. 
 
 *T feel sure you know how rejoiced I am that 
 Tom has been acquitted," she said, her frank eyes 
 testifying to the truth. "I have always loved him 
 as if he was my own son. But I had to do what I 
 did after that dreadful night of the party at the ho- 
 tel. The accusation made against him by that girl, 
 Lottie-May Doggett, left me no alternative but to 
 forbid him seeing Mary unless he could clear himself 
 of the sin with which the girl herself charged him." 
 
 *T know just how you felt, Mrs. Todhunter," re- 
 plied Colonel Strickland. "It was a terrible situa- 
 tion. Naturally, it hurt us all that Tom was made 
 
 300 
 
^ THE COLONEL CONFRONTS DEFEAT 
 
 to appear guilty, but there was the cold fact that 
 Lottie-May Doggett publicly declared him guilty, 
 and it seemed incredible that she would do this if 
 he was innocent. And I know now that you are 
 sincerely glad because the truth has come out. You 
 don't have to tell me anything about it, ma'am." 
 
 At this moment Mary herself, a great happiness 
 shining in her face, although her eyes were wet with 
 tears, joined the group. Colonel Strickland turned 
 to her with a smile. 
 
 "I delivered that message of yours to Tom, Miss 
 Mary," he said. "The message you gave me when 
 he was in the jail. I just wish you could have seen 
 how proud and happy it made him! He needed it 
 mighty bad that day." 
 
 Mary blushed rose-red. "Please don't remind 
 Tom of my message. Colonel Strickland !" she cried 
 in a pretty confusion. "I'll be ashamed to look him 
 in the face again if you do!" 
 
 "I don't see why you should be," laughed Colonel 
 Strickland. "It just simply proved to Tom at a 
 mighty welcome time that the young lady he loved 
 so dearly loved him in return, so you ought to be 
 proud of it instead of ashamed." 
 
 301 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 And at this juncture Colonel Todhunter inter- 
 vened. "Don't you let that Mary Todhunter fool 
 you, Bill Strickland," he chuckled. "She's as proud 
 of that there love-sick message to her sweetheart at 
 such a romantic moment as if it was all in a senti- 
 mental story and she was the heroine of the story ! 
 And when she and Tom have gone and got married 
 — well, between you and me and the gatepost, I'll 
 bet poor Tom never hears the last of it !" 
 
 Mary blushed furiously as the others laughed. 
 
 "When she and Tom are married!" repeated 
 Colonel Strickland, his eyes resting fondly on 
 Mary's face. "Doesn't that sound good, though?" 
 
 Then he turned point-blank to Mrs. Todhunter. 
 "When shall it be, Mrs. Todhunter?" he asked. 
 "You and Miss Mary have got to be good now and 
 name an early day ! When shall it be ?" 
 
 But at this alarming question Mary herself gave 
 a little cry of maidenly protest, frantically clutched 
 her mother's arm and fairly dragged Mrs. Tod- 
 hunter out of range. ~ Yet not with entire success, 
 for the latter turned a laughing face back to Colonel 
 Strickland as she was thus convoyed away. 
 
 "Never you mind. Colonel Strickland !" she made 
 302 
 
THE COLONEL CONFRONTS DEFEAT 
 
 fleeing answer. "I'm going to work hard for Tom! 
 I ought to do it, and I will !" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter, with a parting word to his 
 old friend, set out to join Mrs. Todhunter and 
 Mary. But he had not gone twenty paces when he 
 ran plump into Mr. and Mrs. Sim Birdsong and the 
 redoubtable Mrs. Exall. Astonishing to relate, it 
 was Mrs. Exall herself, her grim face transformed 
 into a beaming visage of the utmost friendliness, 
 who spoke first. 
 
 "You and me have just got to be friends. Colonel 
 Todhunter !" she announced fervently. "There ain't 
 no ifs, ands nor buts about it, after what you've 
 done for poor Tom Strickland! I never was so 
 scared for anybody in all my life as I was for him — 
 and I tell you. Colonel Todhunter, the way you 
 worked for his sake and learned all the truth and 
 got him cleared and free was just too fine for any- 
 thing! I'm sorry I raked you over the coals that 
 way the night you come to my house and told me 
 that Sim and Angelica had run away and got mar- 
 ried!" 
 
 The Colonel's lips twitched. "I reckon I didn't 
 get any more'n I deserved, Mrs. Exall," he made 
 
 303 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 answer. "Anyway, it's all past and gone, and you 
 was sorely tried that night. So th' ain't a-goin' to 
 be no hard feelin's, ma'am. All's well that ends 
 well." 
 
 "That's exactly what I say !" conceded Mrs. Ex- 
 all vigorously. "Maybe Angelica could ha' done 
 bettrr'n to marry Sim, but I'll say this much for 
 him— he's makin' her a good husband, and I reckon 
 that's all I've got a right to ask." 
 
 "It certainly is, ma !" cried Angelica, who seemed 
 to be plucking up courage as a wife. "Sim's just 
 everything that he should be, and you know it !" 
 
 Sim Birdsong's face had beamed complacently 
 even at Mrs. Exall's guarded indorsement of him. 
 It fairly glowed at Angelica's tribute. And, when 
 the little group had separated, he came back to 
 Colonel Todhunter, radiant. 
 
 "It's all right. Colonel !" he said proudly. "We're 
 just as happy as two birds in a nest, and as for An- 
 gelica's ma, why, suh, I wouldn't have believed, 
 without seein' it, that she could be so sweet ! She's 
 a-goin' to be just like a second mother to me. 
 Colonel — you mark my words !" 
 
 And the Colonel, shaking Sim's joyous hand, con- 
 304 
 
THE COLONEL CONFRONTS DEFEAT 
 
 gratulated him in fitting terms. But he contem- 
 plated Mrs. Exall's martial back dubiously as her 
 son-in-law rejoined her. 
 
 "It may be all right about that 'second mother' 
 business," he muttered doubtfully. "But Sim's got 
 to show me — I'm from Mizzoorah !" 
 
 That same evening Colonel Todhunter went to 
 confer with the Honorable William J. Strickland at 
 his home concerning the latter's campaign prospects. 
 The outlook was not encouraging. 
 
 "Bill," said Colonel Todhunter, "there's just one 
 chance for us. Tom's acquittal may bring about a 
 reaction of public sentiment in your favor, if two 
 days is time enough for the news to sink in and 
 create the natural effect. They'll all know of it — 
 the St. Louis and Kansas City papers are full of the 
 excitin' story of his sudden acquittal, and every 
 other newspaper in the state will'have a lot about it. 
 That's where it may prove a boomerang for the 
 Yancey gang — they worked up public interest in 
 the case, thinkin' it would ruin you body and soul." 
 
 Colonel Strickland shook his head. "It's too late, 
 Thurs," he replied. "I reckon I'll have to stay beat. 
 But I ain't worrying about that. I want to hear 
 
 305 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 now that my campaign fund has been raised, so as 
 to put you out of danger of any loss." 
 
 The light of battle was in Colonel Todhunter's 
 eyes. 
 
 "I'm thinkin' about your gettin' that there nomi- 
 nation, Bill Strickland !" he exclaimed. "Not about 
 the money; Now that we got 'em beat in Tom's 
 case, I'd like to whip 'em straight down the line, 
 suh." 
 
 The other laughed, but shook his head, "They've 
 got too big a bulge on us. Everything's fixed now 
 to steal the St. Louis and Kansas City vote for old 
 Steve Yancey, and that'll settle it. The judges and 
 clerks of election are all Yancey crooks, appointed 
 before Bob Peyton, the Yancey chairman of the 
 Board of Election Commissioners in St. Louis, took 
 sick and died and Randolph Carter was named to 
 fill the vacancy, and the St. Louis and Kansas City 
 vote is what's going to beat me." 
 
 Coloned Todhunter snorted indignantly. "A 
 fight ain't over till one side or the other's licked, 
 suh!" he announced. "And I ain't licked till I 
 holler * 'nuff,' suh ! Th' ain't time now to do no 
 more on the stump, but I'm a-goin' to send out a 
 
 306 
 
THE COLONEI- CONFRONTS DEFEAT 
 
 mighty big batch o' telegrams to our best workers 
 all over the state and see if we can't make things 
 count the way they ought to count. When I quit 
 fightin' you'll either see the worst whipped man you 
 ever saw in all your born days — or you'll be the 
 Democratic nominee for governor of Mizzoorah, 
 Bill Strickland !" 
 
 Colonel Strickland's weary eyes were contemplat- 
 ing the speaker with a whimsical envy in their ex- 
 pression. 
 
 *l-gad, Thurs!" he said, "I never thought I'd 
 begrudge another man his pluck, but I'm doing that 
 with you right now, my friend. I'm too tired to 
 fight any longer, old fellow — that's the truth of it. 
 The campaign's over, as far as I'm concerned. I 
 don't want to hear anything more but the final re- 
 sults, and I'm going to write my friends in St. Louis 
 not to bother sending me anything but that. The 
 truth is, Thurs, this trouble of Tom's has taken 
 something out of my spirit that don't seem to come 
 back." 
 
 "It'll come back. Bill," said Coloned Todhunter 
 stoutly. "And you've been standing the gaff like a 
 gamecock, suh. You've done all a man in your po- 
 
 307 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 sition could ha' done — and your friends will do 
 whatever fightin' remains to be done. You just take 
 it easy, suh !" 
 
 Tom Strickland entered the room. He looked 
 pale and worn, but happy, and there was a steadier 
 manliness in his face. 
 
 ^'Mother's asking for you and Colonel Todhunter, 
 father," he said. "She wants me to tell you that 
 this isn't any time to be talking politics." 
 
 Colonel Todhunter laughed. "Ain't that just like 
 a woman, Bill?" he asked. "And Mrs. Strickland, 
 for all she knows, on the very edge of becomin' the 
 first lady of Mizzoorah, suh ! I'll be hamjiggered — 
 well, suh, I reckon the good Lord who made 'em 
 understands 'em, but it's a blamed sight more'n I 
 do. Not even Mrs. Todhunter, suh!" 
 
 He chuckled. Then he added, "Least of all, Mrs. 
 Todhunter, suh!" 
 
 308 
 
CHAPTER XXII 
 
 MISSOURI SPEAKS AT THE POLLS 
 
 DICK CANTRILL, because the Nineveh 
 Blade was Colonel Strickland's home organ, 
 enterprisingly arranged for a bulletin service of elec- 
 tion returns on the night of the primary vote, and 
 Colonel Todhunter and the Honorable William J. 
 Strickland were among the first to arrive at the 
 Blade office that evening. 
 
 Dick himself, with Lycurgus Quivey as his assist- 
 ant, was to handle the bulletins, the poet-schoolmas- 
 ter's most arduous assignment being that of keeping 
 the Blade's "devil" in swift action between the news- 
 paper plant and the telegraph office across the street. 
 There was a quite considerable gathering of Nine- 
 veh voters to hear what news might come, and much 
 speculation as to the result was being voiced. 
 
 "What do you think about it now. Bill?" asked 
 Colonel Todhunter as the candidate himself ap- 
 peared on the scene. 
 
 309 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "Just the same as IVe been saying right along 
 here lately," replied Colonel Strickland quietly. 
 "I'll go into Kansas City and St. Louis considerably 
 ahead of Yancey, and I'd carry St. Louis on an 
 honest count. Kansas City, being Steve Yancey's 
 home, will roll up a big majority for him, even if 
 they've got to give the penitentiary a close shave 
 in doing it. Still, I'd stand a fighting chance if the 
 St. Louis crooks didn't have a free hand — ^but 
 they've got it, and that's what's going to cook my 
 goose." 
 
 "Well, then, givin' 'em St. Louis and Kansas 
 City both, what do you figure your plurality in the 
 state'll have to be to overcome that ?" 
 
 "I reckon they won't dare to count more'n ten 
 thousand plurality for Yancey in St. Louis — it 
 would be too plain a showing of crooked work if 
 they did — and on that basis I'd need something like 
 a twenty-five-thousand plurality in the state. Where 
 am I going to get it ?" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter looked dubious. "That cer- 
 tainly is saddlin' a mighty big contract on Miz- 
 zoorah, to offset the crooked count in St. Louis. 
 But I'll just be double- whipsawed if we won't fight 
 
 310 
 
MISSOURI SPEAKS AT THE POLLS 
 
 'em to the last ditch, suh. No man's licked till he 
 says so himself. Why, right on that point, suh, I 
 knew an old fellow over yonder in Callaway that 
 never got licked in his whole life — he died fightin' 
 to his last breath, like a reg'lar old Davy Crockett, 
 suh!" 
 
 The Honorable William J. Strickland smiled. 
 "I'm not throwing up the sponge, either," he re- 
 sponded, "but the wisest way is to look facts straight 
 in the face. If you don't you simply build a fool's 
 paradise that'll make you feel all the worse if things 
 don't turn out right." 
 
 Colonel Todhunter chuckled. "All the same," he 
 commented, "I'm a-goin' to use my bricks, right 
 down to the last one, buildin' a house that suits me, 
 not one that suits the other fellow. *Hope on, hope 
 ever,' that's my motto — and the devil take the hind- 
 most !" 
 
 "Here you are, folks!" called out Dick Cantrill. 
 "The bulletins are beginning to come in I 
 
 " 'Incomplete returns from fifty counties, includ- 
 ing Kansas City and St. Joe, give Yancey 38,750; 
 Strickland, 18,248; Judson, 17,416, and Sanford, 
 10,385/'' 
 
 311 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "Hooray for our side!" exclaimed Colonel Tod- 
 hunter. 
 
 The others laughed. 
 
 "What are you hoorayin' about, Thurs ?" drawled 
 Colonel Strickland, amused. "Trying to keep your 
 courage up?" 
 
 "No, suh, not by a blamed sight!" retorted 
 Colonel Todhunter. "First news, bad news, that's 
 what I'm hoorayin' about. It's always meant good 
 luck, and it means good luck now, as sure as shoot- 
 in'!" 
 
 A ripple of reassured laughter greeted this sally. 
 
 "Here we are again!" announced Dick Cantrill. 
 " 'Jackson, Yancey's home county, gives him 5,000 
 votes, according to early returns, with less than 100 
 for his opponents !" 
 
 "That isn't so bad," commented Colonel Strick- 
 land, "if the later returns don't increase it." 
 
 " 'Greene, Buchanan and Vernon Counties,' " 
 read Dick Cantrill, " 'go for Yancey ; also Andrew, 
 Cass, Cole, Daviss, DunkHn, Henry, Johnson, Liv- 
 ingston, Platte, Sullivan and Wright.' " 
 
 "Shucks !" scoffed Colonel Todhunter. "They've 
 312 
 
MISSOURI SPEAKS AT THE POLLS 
 
 been conceded all along. The figgers — ^the figgers 
 is what we'd like to get !" 
 
 Cantrill waved a new bulletin jubilantly. 
 
 " 'Strickland's heavy lead,' " he read, " 'is in Jas- 
 per, Callaway, Pike, Marion, Audrain and Laclede 
 Counties. The following counties also go for 
 Strickland: Berry, Barton, Bates, Butler, Camden, 
 Clark, Franklin, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Moniteau, 
 Phelps, Pulaski, Polk, Ripley, St. Francis, Ste. 
 Genevieve, Saline, Shelby, Stoddart, Wayne and 
 Webster.'" 
 
 "Yeow-wow !" yelled Sim Birdsong. "We've got 
 'em on the run !" 
 
 "Figgers is still what's needed, Sim," said Colonel 
 Todhunter. "We've knowed them was our coun- 
 ties all the time — ^but by how much? That's the 
 question." 
 
 "'Later returns,'" read Dick Cantrill, "'show 
 Yancey leading in Kansas City, St. Joseph and in 
 thirty-three counties by 18,307.' " 
 
 "Now we're gettin' down to it," spoke Colonel 
 Strickland grimly. "Let's see; — thirty-three coun- 
 ties — um-hum — and St. Joe — say, Thurs, according 
 
 313 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 to these figures they're countin' up an all-fired heavy 
 Yancey vote in Kansas City !" 
 
 "'St. Louis,'" read Editor Cantrill. "'Many 
 disturbances reported at the polls. Reliable return 
 on vote will be late. Police have made numerous 
 arrests.' " 
 
 Colonel Strickland looked worried. "Todhun- 
 ter," he said, "the St. Louis gang's getting in its 
 work for Yancey all right." 
 
 But Colonel Todhunter disdained this view. "I 
 ain't so almighty sure; who knows but what that's 
 a good sign for us?" 
 
 "The police can't reach crooked work done by 
 judges and clerks of election," pointed out Colonel 
 Strickland. 
 
 "Well," replied Colonel Todhunter, "they can 
 prevent intimidation at the polls, anyway." 
 
 But even he had to join in the laugh that followed. 
 
 " 'Partial returns from thirty-six rural coun- 
 ties,' " read Dick Cantrill, " 'give Yancey plurality 
 of 4,000.' " 
 
 Then the bulletins began to come in swift succes- 
 sion. The Blade's editor read them breathlessly. 
 
 " 'Returns from twenty-five counties, no figures, 
 314 
 
MISSOURI SPEAKS AT THE POLLS 
 
 show Strickland leading in thirteen, Yancey in ten, 
 and Judson in two/ '* 
 
 " *The following county pluralities for Yancey 
 are reported: Nodaway, 500; Barton, 700; Jeffer- 
 son, 200; St. Clair, 200; Linn, 400/ " 
 
 " *The following county pluralities for Yancey 
 are reported: Cooper, 50; Cole, 300; Buchanan, 
 
 1,500. 
 
 " *Henry County's vote for Strickland, 1,063; 
 Yancey, 629; Sanford, 534; Judson, 87.' '* 
 
 " 'Country and small towns have gone for Strick- 
 land.' " 
 
 " 'Sixteen out of twenty-one precincts in Linn 
 County give Strickland 517 plurality.' " 
 
 " 'Yancey leads in Adair County.' " 
 
 " Tolk County gives Strickland 307 plurality.' " 
 
 " 'Clinton County goes for Strickland.' " 
 
 " 'Grundy County goes for Yancey.' " 
 
 " 'Close race in Pettis County.' " 
 
 " 'Jefferson City gives Yancey 692 ; Strickland, 
 287; Judson, 125; Sanford, 39.' " 
 
 " 'Ten precincts in Sullivan County, Yancey, 248 ; 
 Strickland, 186; Sanford, 71 ; Judson, 19.' " 
 
 " 'Lafayette goes for Yancey.' " 
 315 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 " *It is now estimated, accepting Yancey's man- 
 agement's claim of 10,000 plurality in St. Louis, 
 that Yancey has a plurality of 15,742.' " 
 
 There was an ominous pause. 
 
 "Maybe that's so, and maybe it ain't," said 
 Colonel Todhunter defiantly. "But we ain't accept- 
 in' no Yancey claims at this stage of the game — not 
 by a jugful !" 
 
 Returns with official figures now began to come 
 in so rapidly that Colonel Strickland, keeping tab 
 with pencil and paper, made no reply. 
 
 Suddenly Dick Cantrill's voice, sounding a note 
 of apprehension, rang out : 
 
 " ^Kansas City gives Yancey a plurality of 
 12,093.' " 
 
 Dead silence followed the announcement. 
 
 Colonel Bill Strickland laid down the pencil with 
 which he had been figuring. 
 
 "That settles it, gentlemen," he said, "we're done 
 for." 
 
 "We ain't heard from St. Louis yet. Bill," sug- 
 gested Colonel Todhunter. 
 
 "We don't need to wait for St. Louis," replied 
 Colonel Strickland. "If they've counted up a 12,000 
 
 316 
 
MISSOURI SPEAKS AT THE POLLS 
 
 plurality against me in Kansas City, they'll play the 
 game to the limit in St. Louis, too. They're only 
 holding St. Louis back to see what's needed. If 
 necessary, they'll plug me with a 10,000 plurality 
 there. I'm probably beaten by 18,000, the way 
 things look now." 
 
 Again Dick Cantrill's voice sounded. " Tt is 
 now estimated that Yancey will carry the state by 
 19,000. His managers claim that he is nominated 
 as the returns now stand.' " 
 
 Far down the street arose the sound of music and 
 cheering. 
 
 Soon the strains of There'll Be a Hot Time in 
 the Old Town To-night were plainly distinguish- 
 able, brought nearer and nearer by a large marching 
 body. 
 
 It was the Nineveh Bugle and Drum Corps, head- 
 ing the Stephen K. Yancey Campaign Club, starting 
 out on a triumphal parade to celebrate the victory 
 of the Honorable Stephen K. Yancey over the Hon- 
 orable William J. Strickland for the Democratic 
 nomination for governor of Missouri. 
 
 Colonel Bill Strickland smiled grimly. 
 
 "Look pleasant, Thurston," he said. "Put on 
 317 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 your sweetest expression. They'll be marching by 
 here in a minute." 
 
 "I'll just be eternally condemned if I do!" re- 
 torted Colonel Todhunter. "I can take my medi- 
 cine just as gracefully as the next man when I know 
 it's comin' to me, but I'll be jim-swizzled if it's com- 
 in' to me yet. The cards has all got to be laid down 
 on the table before I'll let any man take the pot, 
 suhr 
 
 Colonel Strickland shook his head, smiling. 
 
 The next moment the vanguard of the approach- 
 ing column came in sight. In another instant the 
 Nineveh Bugle and Drum Corps and the Stephen 
 K. Yancey Campaign Club, followed by a crowd of 
 cheering Yanceyites, were swinging proudly past 
 the Blade office. 
 
 "Hooray for Yancey !" the paraders shouted. 
 
 Colonel Todhunter, stiff as a grenadier, stood at 
 the open door. His jaws were set hard as he con- 
 fronted the triumphing foe. Suddenly a mocking 
 voice sounded. 
 
 "We're sorry for poor old Bill Strickland!" it 
 cried. "But he never ought to ha' bucked up against 
 Steve Yancey!" 
 
 318 
 
MISSOURI SPEAKS AT THE POLLS 
 
 Colonel Todhunter's fighting blood leaped in his 
 veins. "Who are you that's so sorry for Bill Strick- 
 land V he asked. There was an ill omen in his level 
 tone. 
 
 No reply came. But Colonel Todhunter identified 
 the speaker by following the glances of his fellows 
 in the line. 
 
 "Oh, it's you, is it, Jeff Harris?'' he said. "You, 
 that didn't know at first whether you was for 
 Colonel Strickland or old Steve Yancey. Couldn't 
 make up your mind till you saw which way it was 
 most profitable for you to jump. Well, Jeff, your 
 man ain't nominated yet. And, in the meanwhile, 
 I wouldn't like nothin' better, you white-livered 
 skunk, than to wipe up the ground with you — " 
 
 But at this critical moment Colonel Bill Strick- 
 land, laughing, pulled Colonel Todhunter back into 
 the Blade office — -and Jeff Harris passed on with 
 the Yancey parade. 
 
 "You old firebrand, you !" the candidate sput- 
 tered, shaking with laughter. "What the blue 
 blazes and Sam Hill do you want to let a thing like 
 that ruffle you up for? I thought you had more 
 sense !" 
 
 319 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 "Fve got sense enough. Bill," said Colonel Tod- 
 hunter. "But all my life I've been ready to clench 
 with any man that tried to mock me or my friends, 
 thinkin' we was down and out— and I'll just be shot 
 full o' holes if I ain't still ready !" 
 
 Dick Cantrill's voice interrupted. "Here's an- 
 other bulletin !" he cried. 
 
 Then he read : " 'Returns from St. Louis just be- 
 ginning to come in. It is now claimed that Strick- 
 land has carried that city. Yancey's managers are 
 charging Randolph Carter, the newly appointed 
 chairman of the Board of Election Commissioners, 
 with unlawfully using his authority in Strickland's 
 behalf. Last night Carter removed many judges 
 and clerks of election, claiming to have proof that 
 they had been appointed to insure Yancey's victory 
 by fraud, and appointed others in their places. The 
 Chief of Police is supporting him by giving the new 
 appointees ample police protection at the polls. 
 Many disturbances at polling places have re- 
 sulted.' " 
 
 Colonel Todhunter's jubilant hand came down 
 heavily on Colonel Strickland's shoulder. 
 
 ".What did I tell you about Randolph Carter and 
 320 
 
MISSOURI SPEAKS AT THE POLLS 
 
 old Chief Stacey, Bill?" he cried. "Didn't I say 
 that I made old Ran feel ashamed of himself? And 
 that Chief Stacey was white clear through and 
 would use his policemen in favor of an honest vote 
 if he got half a chance? Yes, suh! I was a-castin' 
 my bread on the waters when I had that-there talk 
 with them in St. Louis — and it's comin' back to us 
 after these many days, you mark my words !" 
 
 There was a joyous cheer from his hearers. 
 
 But Colonel Todhunter himself held up a warn- 
 ing hand. "Don't be too previous, boys! Leave 
 that sort of foolishness to the Yancey crowd that 
 just went prancin' by here, if anything of that sort's 
 got to be done. Wait for the figgers before you do 
 any hollerin' !" 
 
 But Dick Cantrill gave another whoop, notwith- 
 standing. "Here's another bulletin!" he cried. 
 " Tt is now said that Strickland has a heavy plural- 
 ity in St. Louis as a result of the honest count of 
 votes cast. Yancey's managers are claiming 
 fraud.' " 
 
 And then the "figgers" began to roll in. The re- 
 turns from St. Louis by precincts and wards, until 
 now delayed, were at last well in hand. Dick Can- 
 
 321 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 trill read bulletin after bulletin in unbroken suc- 
 cession. Colonel Strickland, with lips compressed, 
 tabulated the vote by wards. Once or twice he 
 nodded significantly to Colonel Todhunter. At last 
 there came a break in the steady stream of returns. 
 Lycurgus Quivey grasped a bulletin from the hands 
 of the Blade's "devil" as the latter rushed in breath- 
 less. He handed it to Cantrill. 
 
 The Blade's editor gave one swift comprehensive 
 glance at the bulletin and excitedly hurled his hat 
 high in the air with an unrestrained yell of exulta- 
 tion. 
 
 " *It is now conceded by Yancey's managers,' " 
 he read, " 'that Strickland has carried St. Louis by 
 at least ii,ooo plurality. With the returns now in 
 from the state, this gives Strickland a total plurality 
 of at least 3,000, with several Strickland counties 
 still to hear from. A conservative estimate indi- 
 cates that Strickland will be nominated by over 
 5,000 plurality.' " ^ 
 
 Colonel Strickland laid down his pencil" and 
 leaned back in his chair. 
 
 "That's reliable," he said. "We've got 'em beat, 
 boys. Anybody that feels like hooraying for Strick- 
 
 322 
 
MISSOURI SPEAKS AT THE POLLS 
 
 land now has got my full permission. It*s perfectly- 
 safe." 
 
 At this moment the little "printer's devil" of the 
 Blade delivered a personal telegram to Colonel 
 Strickland. As the latter read it an expression of 
 the deepest relief and satisfaction sprang into his 
 face. 
 
 "Thank God !" he muttered. "I wanted that spe- 
 cial piece of news more than anything else in all 
 this world. Here, Thurs, just you read this, my 
 friend !" 
 
 Colonel Todhunter took the bit of paper from 
 Colonel Strickland's hand. The message was signed 
 by Governor Leslie. It read : 
 
 "Due to enthusiasm caused by Tom's acquittal 
 and the public's realization of cowardly fight made 
 on you through him, a popular movement to raise 
 fund covering total deficit in Strickland campaign 
 fund was begun to-day and successfully completed 
 M at our headquarters to-night. Every dollar needed 
 has been subscribed and paid. Reliable election re- 
 turns now all in show that you are nominated by 
 nearly 6,000 plurality. Congratulations." 
 
 Colonel Strickland laughed as gleefully as a boy 
 323 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 when Colonel Todhunter glanced up at him from 
 the reading of the telegram. 
 
 "That settles it, Thurs !" he cried. "And by the 
 Lord Harry, I'm gladder to know you're safe on 
 the money end of this fight than to know I've been 
 nominated. It's given me more than one sleepless 
 night of worrying, I can tell you !" 
 
 "It hasn't made me lose a wink o' sleep," replied 
 Colonel Todhunter calmly. "I know I ain't as re- 
 ligious a man as I ought to be. Bill Strickland, but 
 I got an abidin' faith in the Good Marster up above, 
 all the same. I ain't never doubted He'd see me 
 safe through on that-there proposition. He knows 
 the tricks o' that machine gang we're fightin' bet- 
 ter'n we do, and He ain't a-goin' to let 'em prevail 
 over us !" 
 
 Saying which, Colonel Todhunter read aloud that 
 sentence of the telegram authoritatively announcing 
 Colonel Strickland's nomination. 
 
 Dick Cantrill's loyal voice led the mighty cheer 
 with which this announcement was greeted. Sim 
 Birdsong's was second only to his. Colonel Tod- 
 hunter, gulping just once after having read the proc- 
 lamation of victory, did not join in the cheering. 
 
 324 
 
MISSOURI SPEAKS AT THE POLLS 
 
 But, when Lycurgus Quivey came to him with out- 
 stretched hands, he took them in a close grip of his 
 own, his dauntless old eyes showing just a hint of 
 dampness. 
 
 "Colonel Todhunter," spoke Lycurgus, "I'm go- 
 ing to write a poem describing this great triumph 
 after seeming defeat — it's the finest thing I ever 
 saw in all my life !" 
 
 "Bully for you, Lycurgus !" replied Colonel Tod- 
 hunter. "And I bet it'll be a rip-snortin' good poem, 
 too — that one you wrote at the openin' of the cam- 
 paign hit the target plumb center, suh !" 
 
 Then, amidst the general confusion, the colonel 
 slipped out of the office through a rear door. The 
 next moment, as if in response to a signal from him, 
 a titantic crash of music was heard. Its first echoes 
 had hardly died away when the Nineveh brass band, 
 headed by Drum-Major Samson Meek, wheeled 
 around the corner from where Colonel Todhunter 
 had held it in reserve. 
 
 It came to a glorious halt in front of the Blade 
 office, where Colonel Strickland stood, his head 
 bared. The assembled crowd that had heard the 
 election returns fell in line behind the band. 
 
 325 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 There was a moment of expectant silence. 
 
 Colonel Todhunter faced the candidate. "Colonel 
 Strickland," he said impressively, "I reckon you 
 and me, suh, won't take no part in this-here demon- 
 stration, which is a-goin' to rub gall and wormwood 
 into the raw places on the hides o' that-there Yancey 
 gang that just went by here, but it's up to you to 
 give the boys a send-off, suh. Yes, suh — they'd 
 like to hear from their successful candidate for the 
 Democratic nomination for governor of Mizzoorah, 
 suh!" 
 
 Colonel Bill Strickland was one of the most 
 effective off-hand orators in all Missouri. He was 
 profoundly moved by the sudden and totally unex- 
 pected change in his political fortunes. Colonel 
 Todhunter 's friendly voice, shaking just a little, 
 touched him deeply with its significance of love and 
 loyalty. The men waiting for him to speak were 
 stanch friends to the last one. The little speech 
 with which he answered Colonel Todhunter's appeal 
 was a model of homely eloquence and utter sin- 
 cerity. 
 
 A great and ringing cheer marked its close. 
 
 "Now, boys !" said Colonel Todhunter. 
 326 
 
MISSOURI SPEAKS AT THE POLLS 
 
 Samson Meek, in all the glory of his full regalia 
 as drum-major, gave his baton a splendid flourish 
 in the air, and then brought it down in front of 
 him with a magnificent sweep. It was an impressive 
 signal. 
 
 And as it was given the Nineveh Brass Band 
 smote the ear of night with a clamorous paeon of 
 victory, the bass drum and the snares punctuating 
 it with a compelling rhythm of irresistible time- 
 beat. As one man the Strickland procession moved 
 to its encounter with the Yancey parade. First be- 
 hind the band itself marched Sim Birdsong, and 
 second only to Sim was Lycurgus Quivey. Down 
 the main street the jubilant procession swung, un- 
 winding its length into a marching column with ad- 
 mirable military precision. 
 
 The Honorable William J. Strickland, with 
 Colonel Todhunter by his side, watched the impos- 
 ing line. As it neared a corner that would mean 
 its turning and disappearance from view, the pa- 
 raders sent back a rousing cheer. 
 
 Colonel Todhunter, one hand resting on Colonel 
 Bill Strickland's shoulder, lifted his gray soft hat 
 with the other and waved it above his head in re- 
 
 327 
 
COLONEL TODHUNTER OF MISSOURI 
 
 sponse. Then, with a suspicious gulping of a sud- 
 den lump in his throat, he turned to his companion. 
 "Look here, Bill Strickland !'' he said, almost in- 
 dignantly. "It's high time we was gettin' home to 
 our folks with all this good news! And let me tell 
 you one thing, my friend, and that ain't two. You 
 and me have got to get a heap more sleep'n we've 
 been gettin' here lately if we mean to dance very 
 spry at Mary's and Tom's weddin', suh !" 
 
 THE END 
 
W^^ 14 DAY USE 
 
 "'return to desk from which borrowed 
 
 LOAN DEPT. 
 
 This book is due on the last date stamped below, or 
 
 on the date to which renewed. 
 
 Renewed books are subject to immediate recall. 
 
 'ij„r,'«>7lCn 
 
 
 ^ ^■— ■■■■- :^r '. ..'"'': 
 
 
 j;;:i -^ 4 i^^y 
 
 
 MAR 22 1968 48 
 
 
 l ■ 
 
 
 ^,„^o-fi8-9?^ 
 
 
 
 
 L-V" 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 LD 21-100m-6,'66 
 
 General Library 
 University of California