The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-01-03
CHAPTER XIV.
(Continued.l

In accordance with this promise,
/ Colonel Todhunter found opportunity
TO speak with Lottie-May Doggett.
Very frankly he told her OF the danger
In which she stood The girl. vitality
beautiful, apparently as conscienceless
as some Wild thing of the woods. flash
ed her hot resentment OF his words
: Il amt thankin' you for what you've
/ just said, Colonel Todhunter!" she
cried. 1T strikes me you're in mighty
small business TO come to ME with this
story"
Il reckon | am. Lottie-May," agreed
| Colonel Todhunter In all honesty.
But | wanted to save you and your
ODD grandfather from shame, and
that's why | done It,"
The girls bosom was heaving with
passionate anger. I'D like TO know
who II was that got you to come and
speak TO me about it," she exclaimed
Who was IL. Colonel Todhunter? Was
II one-of them ladies' what thinks
amt good enough TO associate with
their daughters? I've got the right
to ask you this, and do ask IT, Who
sent you here. Colonel Todhunter?"
! 1t wasn't none of the ladies, Lottie-
May" Colonel Todhunter made an
swer without the slightest hesitation.
1T was Tom Strickland. He heard
what was goin' on. and he felt sorry
for you. the little girl he went to
school with when he was boy And
it want meddlin ON his part, either.
| Ii was plumb good
The girl shivered as II she had been
struck. Tom Strickland" she re-
| 10 10 hAr
self. tom Strickland-of all men!
He's maxim love TO Miss Mary Tod
hunter, your own daughter, and
ne knows that I'd lay down and
die for him any day he give
the word And it's Mrs. Todhunt-
er that's been told OF all this talk
about me. and that's goin' 10 shame
me here before all Nineveh, oh, but
it's fine game you-all are playin' to
get me where 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 shant ruin me this way!' she
cried Neither Tom Strickland nor
Miss Mary Todhunter nor Mrs. Tod
hunter, nor you, neither! I'll bring
you all TO taw I'll make Tom Strick-
land come in for his share. Since him
and his sweetheart and his sweet
hearts mother have set the ball
a'rollin', he's got to face the music
along with mel"
What do you meant" exclaimed
Colonel Todhunter.
All color had gone out OF the girls
face as she spoke
"Tll show you what meant" she
half-whispered, her fingers fiuttering
at her throat. I'll show you | amt
good girl no more, Colonel Todhunt-
er. amt fifteen TO breathe the same
air with your daughter Mary. Tom
Strickland and the rest OF ems
mighty anxious TO get me out OF tho
way I'm a-goin'. too. But not TILL
I've said my little say 70 Mrs. Tod
hunter, sir. Not tin then-not even
II Judgment day come to me the next
minute!"
Stop that, Lottie- May" cried Colo
mel Todhunter sternly. You can't talk
that way without reason--and you
aln't got no reason to cay what you're
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 excite
ment, Lottie-May sped ominously to
where Mrs. Todhunter stood with a
group Of other Nineveh ladies, Mary
Todhunter standing close behind her
mother
MRS. Todhunter," said the outcast
girl, her eyes defantly holding those
OF the person whom she addressed,
Il understand that you want me to
leave this party because you think !
amt fifteen to be here-that I'm bad
woman. Amt that SO, ma'am?"
Mrs. Todhunter was at first shock
ed into shrinking 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 II 10 true that we think
you should not be here. But was go
ms to tell you this privately, to spare
you as much as possible"
NO, you wa'n'tl" interrupted the
girl passionately. "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 | amt denyin'
anything, either, nor | amt a-beggin'
any of you for mercy You're goin' to