Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-06-24

screen" of a newspapers front page
appalled, Colonel Todhunter. He shrank
from it. shocked, with all country
mans dismay at sudden prominence
before the world.
"It's all right for you. Bill; you can
afford to laugh" he said Indignantly.
But I'm the one that's holdin' the
bag, sub! It's me that's put on that
there Internal circus poster like the
wild man O. Borneo. not you. And I'll
be shot full O holes If 1t ain't me that's
agoin' to hold them there two young
rascais to an accountin' for It. you
mark my words, suh!'
Colonel Strickland wiped the tears
from his eyes
you're all wrong, Thurs-honest,
YOU are!' he protested. There aln't
line In that story that don't speak good
of you. and what you say there Is as
sound as II dollar It's you talking. to
the life. old fellow. and you're talking
for me. and every word you say helps
us more than column Of ordinary.
newspaper stuff. wouldn't take ST.
COO for 1t. right now!"
I'D sell II for blamed sight less'n
that, subj hotly replied Colonel Tod
hunter. "And didn't ! warn you
didn't tell you beforehand that they'd
shorely size me up as country jake
from the very beglnnin' and that Ia
bungle you all up here In st. Louis,
sub? Didn't say that as sure as l
came to these here city headquarters
O. your'n Id play the very old blue
blazes and Sam Hill fore got through.
sub? Yes, suh-and I'm a-headin'
straight back for Nineveh this very
day, sub"
"No, you ain't-not by jugful!' re-
torted Colonel Strickland. manfully
striving to straighten his face into
gravity. mo, sir. You'll speak Mt the
coliseum this very night. just as we've
planned, Thurs. and I'll tell you nm
other thing. You'll speak to the big
gest and most enthusiastic audience
the coliseum ever held. or else don't
know the signs Of mans popularity
when l see 'em. sir!'
Colonel Bill Strickland prophesied
truly. The coliseum was packed to the
doors.
Great Scott and Maria, suh," said
Colonel Todhunter, describing the scene
to Dick Cantrill upon his return home.
"you couldn't ha' wedged knife blade
In between any two men in that there
crowd, sub. And the way they cheered
and hollered when was interduced by
the chairman Of the meetin'. sub!
Blamed If you wouldn't ha' thought
was the original roarin' ring tailed
guyasticutus Of Calaveras county, sub.
and the only one in captivity. sub.
never saw grown men behave that way
before In all my life, Dick Cantril,
and It made me hottern blazes. But l
kept my shirt on, sub, say1n' to myself
that was there to help old Bill Strick-
land all knew how. So l just took 1t
out I'm talkin' to 'em like Dutch
uncle, sub, givin' 'em the straight Dem
ocratic doctrine and tellin' 'em they
needed it blamed bad, too. sub. And /
laid the law down to 'em. sub, that 1t
want me, but old Bill Strickland, they
ought to be a-hollerin' for by rights, II
they was the good Democrats they per-
tended to be. sub. Yes, sub, and then
they hollered louder'n ever. But let
me tell you one thing. Dick Cantrill.
III be shot full O. holes II didn't have
'en every one up on their hind legs
a-whoopin' themselves black In the face
for old Bill Strickland fore got
through with 'em. sub. tell you. Dick.
that there Satan straddled newspaper
done its durndest to ruin me, but got
even with It right then and there. sub"
Bully for you. colonel!" vociferated
Dick CantrilI. his humorous lips trem.
ulous with mrth. I'D gladly give the
last dollar had In the world If !
roud have been there and heard you"
But the colonel's face fell. "Dick." he
said. would you believe 1t? Them there
'rferiul rartonnistS came back at me
the ne IT day worse'n ever. sub. They'd
been there ut that iGeetii and got me
In action. III be eiernaliy condemned
II | ever saw such pictures Of Il livin'
human bein' as they drew of me then.
sub. 1t was sin and shame. What's
man goin' to do these days. Dick
Cantrll? tell you. sub. the present
..'ivolity of the American press Is ut
terly destroyin' the dignity Of public
life, suh!"
ut is, colonel--it is!" agreed the edi-
tor Of the Nineveh Weekly Blade con.
tritely. And 1t is to Dick CantrllPs
everlasting credit that he held himself
in until Colonel Todhunter had stalked
away. Then he laughed as he had not
laughed in many a day.
God bless him" he said to himself
chokingly. "He and his speeches have
gained five thousand votes for Colonel
Strickland in st. Louis just as sure as
the sun rises and sets! And they're
worth 1t. too!'