The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-01-05
CHAPTER XIV.
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sim Birdsong was not gone long.
We'll, Colonel" he said upon return
ing, I've just seen STAN Tucker aud
told him what you said, and he told
me TO say TO you that he wouldn't
come In town at all tomorrow Says
he don't want 10 have any trouble
with Tom Strickland now, II he can
help IL, because II would be serious
trouble, and he amt In the humor for
IL just at present"
Sim" asked the Colonel, what did
Siam do or say when you told him
that II was on account OF Lottie- May
that Tom was lookin' for him."
Colonel Todhunter," replied Sim,
he got white clean TO his lips new
er saw mans face go white as quick
as his'n. But he didn't make no com
ment on that part OF the message, sub,
He just stood still for a minute when
what I've just said to you"
Al look OF deep relief sprang into
Colonel Todhunter's face. That's all
right. then" he spoke. And il tells
me what wanted TO know Now. sim.
I'm goin' TO ask you II You can't con-
trive some plan thatll take STAN
Tucker away from Nineveh and keep
him away, for a few days, at least IL
we can do that, Sim, We may be able
TO prevent the trouble altogether.
Sim Birdsong looked mt the speaker
with something of helpless bewilder-
ment in his honest eyes. Then, sud
denly, his face frightened.
'I-crackey, I've got it," he exclaim-
ed. "Some of the boys was arrangln
this very night for fshin' frolic down
on BLACK Bottoms Lake, and they plan
ned TO start before sunrise day AFTER
tomorrow. I'll make EN- count STAN
Tucker in on the deal, and I'll go out
to the fuckers and give him their In
vitation myself, tomorrow, and see
that he consents to go. Then. Colonel
all we've got to do is just keep him
and Tom apart for one day and night
land we've turned the trick!
Bully for you, Sim" approved the
Colonel. 1T begins to look like We
can See this thing through TO sensi-
BILE finish--and that's a blamed sight
more than II looked like TO me a few
minutes ago, ! can tell you!'
Shortly after noon the next day,
Colonel Todhunter stopped In at the
Htrfcklands' on his way home, as was
not unusual for him to do In reply
to an apparently careless question,
Margaret Strickland, Toms elder sis
ter, 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 for
gotten to execute certain housekeep-
Ing missions for Mrs. Todhunter be-
Tore driving out. But he found no
trace OF Tom Strickland until he came
to certain bar-room frequented main
" by the Yancey and Tucker factions
Ia politics.
.Colonel," said the bartender, In an
swer 10 a question. tom Strickland
was I'm here, sir about two hours ago,
lookin for STAN Tucker. Not findin
him, and waitin' here quite a while in
hopes Of his turnin' up. he wrote q
note yonder at that table and sent IT
out by one OF the town boys TO STAINS
house. Then he went away, sir"
Have you any idea where he went2'
The bartender hesitated for a mo-
menf. Then--"Well, Colonel Todhunt-
err be said at last, Il believe, from
the way he was talkin'. that he went
to see that girl Lottie-May Doggett,
that the scandals about now, sir. He
was drinkin' pretty heavy, Colonel,
and he talked pretty thfeatenin' about
STAN Tucker. and IL seemed to me
that the two things was connected in
some way-his trouble with STAN and
his trouble with the girl. I'm inclined
to think there's a difficulty brewin'.
Colbnel!"
Leaving the bar-room, Colonel Tod
hunter drove directly out TO old Rafe
Doggett's place. Neither the girl nor
her grandfather was at home. Return
Ing into Nineveh he encountered Sim
Birdsong, who wore an anxious face.
tive just seen STAN Tucker, sub,
cried Sim. I'VE aren't bit too soon
IN layin' our plans to prevent trouble,
Colonel Todhunter. He's just got
note from Tom Strickland tellin him
to come into town tonight II he don't
want to have serious trouble at his
own home instead, so it's plain that
Tom Stricklands on the warpath,
tf1h."
'What's Sam Tucker goin' TO dor
He amt goin' into town, Colonel.
He told me that he had an engage
ment to call on young lady, SO he
wouldn't be at home anyway, IL Tom
came there lookin' for him. and, be-
sides, he says he'll do most anything