Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-28
III II M u 4 &; ~ NJ go 5
Colonel
T0|DtIUNTFR
Of Missouri
By RIPLEY .! SAUNDERS
I GssrsAt 1911. y ~ Bsals.aasns
cssrsAt 1911. y ~ Bsbls.alsns
Csnpsy
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
1For osvsrnsr. William J. Strickland
Of Ninsvsh."
~OLONEL TODHUNTERS
heart swelled with an unselfi5h
s.pridefulness.
The favorite old Mississippi
steansHs Gray Eagle, now in full view
from WbArs be stood at the Nineveh
landing, was bringing homeward the
Hon. william ]. Strickland Of Nineveh.
at last an avowed candidate for the
Democratic nomination for governor Of
Missouri.
Colonel Todhunter himself had or.
Eanized the public reception at this
very moment awaiting the most distin-
guished Of Nineveh's citizens. I'll b.
shot full o holes, -suh.' he said to Dick
Cantrill. editor and proprietor Of the
Nineveh Weekly Blade, iii we don't
show the people Of this here state what
old Bill Etrickland's home folks think
Of him, anyway. Tn amt nothin' more
helpful to Q candidate than provin'
that them AZ knows the most about
him has the least against him, subj"
~What about Squire fuckers opposi-
tion, colonel?' asked Dick Cantrill.
That's better'n his Endorsement.
suh!' retorted Colonel Todhunter.
.Long as I've known Bill Strickland
I'll knew old Eph Tucker was sup,
portin' him I'd be against him on sus.
picion, sub, blamed IL wouldn't!"
Knowing the speaker better than he
knew himself, Dick Cantrill laughed.
Colonel Todhunter and Colonel Strick-
land were friends from boyhood.
Friendship was something In the ma.
ture of q religion with Colonel Tod
hunter. In his simple creed he did not
simply ''like' his friends. He loved
them with trustfnl steadfastness that
knew no limitations Of loyalty or Of
potential sacrifice.
"Barrin' his wife and children, sub"
Colonel Todhunter was wont to say,
"a mans friends IL all that's worth
while in this here world Of our'n. And
his old friends, them that was young
with him when he was maxim as many
different kinds Of q fool Of himself As
the law allows-well. sub, tn amt no
price can Be Get on 'em. neither gold
nor rubies nor Jasper nor frankincense
and myrrh, as the good book says, sub! -
Colonel Todhunter had been vastly
impatient for the return of the Hon.
william ]. Strickland. When the
Gray Eagle rounded the bend in the
river two miles below Nineveh and
walked the Missouri echoes with the
mellow tunefulness Of her famous bari
tone whistle the colonel's face became
splendidly illumined.
There he comes, folks!" he cried.
'.There comes old Bill Strickland, the
man we're a-goin' to nominate and
elect governor Of Mizzoorah! All
ready, now7 Hip. hip. hooray!"
mighty cheer rose from the crowd
assembled on the Nineveh wharf boat
and smote afar the ears Of Colonel
Bill Strickland where he stood beside
Captain Beverly Leigh on the Gray
Eagles upper deck. The candidates
eyes twinkied as they met those of the
weatherbeaten riverman.
That's old Thurs T. Todhuntef's do
Ing, Bev," he spoke. "I'll bet he's got
nigh about all the male population Of
Nineveh rallyin' around him at that
landing. The old rascalv'
Once more the cheering from Nine
veh throats rose As the Gray Eagle
neared the landing, and the Hon. Will
liamgJ. Strickland waved his hand to-
ward the waiting multitude. 1t in
creased in volume rs he made his way
downward until he stood pictorially
framed In at the farther end Of the
lowered gangplank. 1t was great
moment for Nineveh.
Already the Nineveh brass band was
playing 'Hail to the Chief" with ire
mendous fervor. The gorgeously uni
formed Nineveh Light infantry stood