The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-01-16
CHAPTER XXI.
Following a Great Victory, Colonel
Todhunter Confronts Defeat.

Todhunter confronts Defeat.
During a lull i'm the excited jubila-
ton that followed Tom Strickland's
acquittal, and having first congratu-
lated Tom himself, Mrs. Todhunter
turned TO Colonel Strickland. who
stood with her husband a few feet
away, Colonel Todkunter having by
this time joined the group.
Il feel sure you know how rejoiced
| am that Tom has been acquitted"
she said, her frank eyes testifying TO
the truth. II have always loved him
as II he was my own son. had
TO do what did after that dreadful
night OF the party at the hotel 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."
II know just how you felt, Mrs. Tod
| hunter" replied Colonel Strickland.
1T was a terrible situation. Naturally,
II hurts us all that Tom was made to
appear guilty, but there was the cold
fact that .Lottie-May Doggett publicly
| declared him guilty, and Ii seemed in
credible that she would do this II he
was innocent And | know now that
you are sincerely glad because the
truth has come out. You don't have
to tell me anything about 1t. 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
1 turned to her with a smile.
II delivered the message or yours 10
Tom, Miss Mary" he said. THE mes
sage you gave me when he was In the
jail. | just wish you could have seen
how proud and happy 1t made him!
He needed Il mighty bad that day
Mary blushed rose-red. please don't
remind Tom OF my message, Colonel
Strickland" she cried in pretty con
fusion. I'll be ashamed to look him
In the face again II you do"
II don't see why you should be.
laughed Colonel Strickland. at JUS
simply proved to Tom at mighty
welcome time that the young lady he
loved so dearly loved him in return
SO you ought to be proud Of 1t instead
OF ashamed"
And at this juncture Colonel Tod
l IL
that Mary Todhunter fool you. Bill
Strickland" he chuckled. shes al
proud of that there love-sick message
to her sweetheart at such a romantic
! moment as IL IL was all In senti
mental story and she was the heroint
OF the story! And when she and Ton
have gone and got married-well, be
! tween you and me and the gatepost
I'll bet poor Tom never hears the las
Of iti''
: Mary blushed furiously as the other'
laughed.
when she and Tom are married!
repeated Colonel Strickland, his eye
resting fondly on Mary's face. 'Doesn'
: that sound good, thought"
Then he turned point-blank to Mrs
Todhunter. When shall 1t be, Mrs
Todhunter?" he asked. "You and Mis-
Mary have got to be good now an,
: name an early day! When shall
: be?"
Z, But at this alarming question Mar
e herself gave a little cry OF maidenl
I protest, frantically clutched her moth
4 er's arm and fairly dragged Mrs Too
!, hunter out OF range. Yet not with er
q tire success, for the latter turned
!: laughing face back to Colonel Stricl
q land as she was thus conveyed away
Never you mind, Colonel Stricl
land!" she made fleeing answer or
going TO work hard for Tom. / ough
to do it, and I will"
Colonel Todhunter, with a partin
word to his old friend, set out to joi
Mrs. Todhunter and Mary. But h
had not gone twenty PAGES when h
ran plump into Mr.. and Mrs. Sir
Birdsong and the redoubtable Mr..
Exall. Astonishing to relate, II wa
Mrs. Exall herself. her grim face trans
formed into beaming visage of tn
utmost friendliness, who spoke first.
You and me have just got to b
friends. Colonel Todhunter!" she al
nounced fervently. There amt n
ifs, ands nor butts about 1t, after whs
you've done for poor Tom Strickland
never was SO scared for anybod
in all my life as was for him-an
tell you, Colonel Todhunter. the wa
you worked for his sake and learne
all the truth and got him cleared an
free was just too fine for anything
I'm sorry / raked you over the coal
that way the night you come to m
house and told me that Sim and Al
gelica had run away and got married
h The Coloners lips twitched.
h. reckon I didn't get any more'n I d
served, Mrs Exall,' he made answe
l, aAnvuov tie all mast and onna an