The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-01-08
CHAPTER XVII.
lContinued.)


(Continued)
They've published the story of the aaaf
rel between Tom and STAN Tucker the
night 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 po-
litical enemy, and that he and his son
were working tooth and nail for
Stephen X. Yancey, and that this po-
litical feud has resulted in the assas-
sination OF Eph fuckers son by my
son. It's 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 | understand II. your
son himself doesn't know that II was
he who shot Sam Tucker. He's bound
TO plead not guilty, and the prosecu-
| lions got TO prove the fact OF guilt
In the second place. the real reason
! for deadly trouble between Tom and
STAN Tucker was the story told by
that Doggett girl, and its bearing upon
their rivalry for the hand OF Miss
Mary Todhunter. The Doggett story
puts an entirely new light on the feud
between the two boys"
Not the way the Yancey organs are
presenting e." said Colonel Strick
land, 1T only serves 70 intensity the
original trouble and 10 make a thrill
! ling murder story with what they cell
romantic as we'll as political trim
mings. They're featuring II on that
basis, and they're going to get Steve
Yancey nominated just that way"
Il thought this was what you wanted
10 see me about" commented dd
Governor Leslie, so / had a confer
ence with the St Louis men who
worked with me to put you In the race
! But before | tell you any more about
that | wan, to ask you just one ques
ton, Bill Strickland"
A moment OF silence followed these
words. Colonel Strickland held Gov
ernor Leslie's eyes with his own, In
Quiringly.
do you want your son to be con
victed OF the murder OF Stamford
| Tucker" asked Governor Leslie.
Good Lord. man" cried Colone
Strickland. How can you ask suct
thingr'
Governor Leslie turned to Major
Gentry Dryden. Dryden" he queried
what would be the effect OF Colone
Strickland's withdrawal from the cam
paign at this timer
1T would be taken as a confession
OF his belief in his sons guilt" replied
the lawyer without an instants hesita
ton. at would be the worst blow
possible to the defense right now.
should strongly protest against Colone
Strickland's withdrawal"
There you are!" exclaimed oil
Leslie, turning TO the. candidate. Tina
was exactly the view | took or it
you've got TO consider your sons In
terest above all else, Strickland. An'
now I'll tell you what your st. Loui
hackers said. They authorized me Z
refuse to accept your withdrawal a
HCHndfdate for the Democratic noml
nation for governor of Missouri. Asid'
from whatever personal regard the
may have for you, they believe that
even as matters now stand. you're tn
strongest man in the state, and tina
you've still got a better fghtin
chance to win than any other maj
would have. You've got TO stay IN
Strickland"
But, good Lord. man, how can
, fight TO any purposeY" asked Colone
Strickland piteously. II must des
fairly with you, so tell you right her
and now that, compared with Tom
/ safety, | don't give a damn what be
, comes OF my chances In the campaign
I'm going to stay right here and NOV
, Heaven and earth to clear my son O
, the awful charge against him-an
: by the time his trials ended the can
? paign win be over, too"
|, mot quite" answered Governo
Leslie, unmoved. But II that wa
. the case. II wouldn't make any differ
: ence. The Lord knows you're just
fed in sticking to Tom through THO
,, and thin, 10 the finish, and REGARDLESS
! OF all other demands upon you.
wouldn't wipe my feet on you II 20
were capable OF doing anything else
: SO don't you worry about that We'r
going TO do all the fighting for 20
from now on--and we've picked o
Colonel Todhunter here as the bes
man TO lead what you seem dispose
TO call forlorn hope"
Now you're talkin', subj" broke 1
Colonel Todhunter, his grim old fac
alight with the lust of battle. Dam
, their cowardly souls, won't ask AM
thing better'n TO get out on the STUN
3 and skin 'em alive. They're crowdir
} old Bill Strickland to the wall b,
: cause they think they've got him fou
, and Bits friends has got to stand b
him closer'n ever Turn me loose O
'em. Leslie--I'll make Mizzoorah to
hot TO hold 'eml"