The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-01-02
80 COLONEL - |
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and Angelica's ma took dinner with
us right afterwards aha-the Whole
thing was patched up before you could
blink an eye. subj"
That's fne-that's fine. Sim" re.
piled the Colonel 1T makes me feel
I so good that | b'lieve I'll so right
over now and tell Mrs. Exall just how
glad | am"
Colonel" spoke Sim, suddenly EN-
barrassed and stealing "A frightened
look from Colonel Todhunter to the
distant yisage OF his mother-in'law.
! II don't believe. II was you, that
I'd do that right now. sub"
IF you was me-" queried the Col.
onel Indignantly What on earth do
you mean by that, Sim Brdsong?
Amt the very one. next TO you and
Miss Angelica herself, sub. that ought
TO feel glad over this thing?"
| Sim Birdsong cleared his throat
nervously. Colonel Todhunter," he
spoke finally. that's percisely where
| the trouble comes in. Angelica's ma
has forgiven us. suh-but she says
she done II only because she now
realizes that YOU are the one that's
more 10 blame than any one else, and
she says she can't forgive you the
! longest day she lives. sub. | know
that amt fair, Colonel. but IL seems
TO be the way she feels: about It, and
Angelica and can't persuade her no
different"
/ Colonel 'Todhunter gazed at Sim
Birdsong in deep silence for a mo-
ment. Then, moving away, he deliv.
cred his panied ultimatum
A.. 81 nj
| said. The next time you or any
other moonstruck young fool here in
F, Nineyeh wants TO run OF with q girl
ana marry her, | warn you not 10
come TO me unless you're lookin' for
trouble, sub. 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 IL. You go back TO your
mother-in-aw and help her 10 run me
down all she knows how, subj"
Saving which, and refusing TO await
the conclusion OF honest Sim Bird.
| song disclaimer Of the remotest in.
tention OF Joining in Mrs. Exalls con.
uemnation OF him, Colonel Todhunter
| strobe loitily away. But he shook
! Win laughter when he related the In.
cldent 10 Mrs. Todhunter relishfully.
Well. he philosophical, better
men them, anyway, because Angelica
needs her ma-and can certainly get
along f1ne without her. But it's a les.
son TO me, Mary wash my hands
OF all that sort OF fool business from
this time henceforwardr weria-wtth.
cut end, amen"
HAIR an hour later Tom Strickland
came TO the colonel with a troubled
] face u
| colonel, he said. that little Iot-
tie May Doggett is booked for a mighty
unpleasant experience In a few min
utes, II somebody don't give her a
friendly warning"
What's the matter with I,ottie-Mav
now. Tom2"
Wei. sir, it's pretty serious.
Ihere's an ugly story about her that's
got TO the ears OF the ladies' tonight,
something scandalous, in which the
name or the man doesn't seem to be
known, and I've just had a tip that
shes going 10 be asked TO leave the
ballroom. It'll shame her beyond re-
demption, 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 claim
ing"
You amt mixed up in this trouble,
are you, Tom?"
Tom Strickland flushed No sir
amt mixed up in IT, But good Lord.
! Colonel, | went to school with I>ottie-
Nav when she wasn't knee-high to a
duck, and | swear I'd hate to see her
| publicly disgraced. And you know
and | know-it would hurt old Rafe
| Doggett 80. 1t would break his heart,
/ sir"
Colonel Todhunter made no reply.
II thought, maybe, If you could get
! the chance. Colonel" resumed Tom
anxiously. that you might tell her and
so make 1t possible for her TO slip
away before the ladies can do what
they're threatening TO do, sir. She'll
take II from you, knowing that her
grandfather was in your old regiment
and that you're telling her for her own
! good, where she might fare up and
kick over the traces IL anybody else
/ limited at such a thing. Don't you
think you could work it. Colonel?"
IF do. Tom" replied Colonel Tod
hunter, It'll be for old Rafe Doggett's
safe. He's too good a man to be
brought face to face with shame In his
old age. Yes, I'll try to do II, Tom"
tTo he Continued3