The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-05-15

\~ @ax..
"PII make Mizzoorah too hot to hold
'em!"
the awful charge against him, and by
the time his trials ended the campaign
will be over too"
"Not quite" answered Governor Les
he, unmoved. But If that was the
case it wouldn't make any difference.
God knows you're justified in sticking
to Tom through thick and thin. to the
finish and regardless Of all other de-
| mands upon you. l wouldn't wipe
my feet on you If you were capable of
doing anything else. So don't you
worry about that. We're going to do
all the fighting for you from now on.
| and we've picked on Colonel Tod
hunter here as the best man to lead
what you seem disposed to call for
lorn hope"
Now you're talkin', subj broke in
Colonel Todhunter, his grim old face
alight with the lust Of battle. II
won't ask anything better'n tc get out
on the stump and skin 'em alive.
They're crowdin' old Bill Strickland to
the wal! because they think they've
got him foul. and Bills friends have
got to stand by him closer'n ever.
Turn me loose on EN-, Leslie. I'll
| make Mizzoorah too hot to hold 'em!
Old Governor Leslie smiled ominOus-
ly We've made arrangements to that
end, Todhunter." he replied. Il knew
Just how you'd feel about it. We want
you to tell the Democrats Of Missouri
| just exactly why we wouldn't let
Strickland withdraw, just exactly why
he himself won't do any more cam
| paigning for the nomination and just
| exactly why and where the Yancey
newspapers and the Yancey speakers
are distorting the truth of this case
against Tom Strickland to make it look
like political assassination. And it's
| going to be pretty hot work, Todhunt-
err You may have more than one per-
sonal difficulty on your hands before
you get through with it."
1--WE needn't talk about that feature
Of it, Governor Leslie" said Colonel
Todhunter There won't be no trou-
BILE 'less'n some o. the Yancey crowd
object to a mans talkin' straight from
the shoulder. We've just about got
time now for a lightnin' finish on the
stump, takin' it for granted that I'm
expected to reach all parts Of the state,
so the sooner start the better"
"You start tomorrow. Colonel Tod
hunter" responded old Governor Les
lie. "We've already made the speak
ing appointments for you, and I've got
the list of towns and dates right here
with me. It's a devilish big contract.
sir, and you won't get back here until
just a few days before the primary
elections"
II don't want to get back here before
then 'less'n could be of some use to
Tom Strickland" said Colonel Tod
hunter, sudden huskiness in his
throat as his eyes fell on Colonel Bill
Strickland's haggard face. THE main
thing l want is to give the Yancey
crowd a fight they wasn't expectin,
sub, and I'll be eternally condemned
If we amt a-goin' to do it too"
Wherefore the following morning
Colonel Todhunter started out in the
lead Of the forlorn hope that was to
make the last stand for Colonel Bill
Strickland in Missouri.
It proved to be soul wearying bat
tie. full Of battling chagrin and disap-
pointment. On the very eve of the
trial Of Tom Strickland for the killing
of Stamford Tucker, Colonel Todhun-
ter returned to Nineveh. He was met
by Colonel Strickland, whose face
seemed now not only haggard. but
hopeless.
They're pushin' US pretty hard. BILL"
said Colonel Todhunter. i've fought
'em the best I knew how, but Steve
Yancey's crowd is workin' Toms case
against us better'n thought was pos
sible among folks that know you like
our Mizzoorah Democrats know you,
sub. It's enough to make dog sick to
see how easy people can be turned
against q man when he's in trouble.
I'll Just be double whipsawed II it
aint!'
..That's all right, Thurs" replied the
other listlessly. Don't you 60 wor.
rying yourself any longer about my
campaign. / knew was beat the min
ute they got Toms trouble to use % a
weapon against me. But what hurts
mo most now, Thurs. = that Cover
nor I.eslie u Anding Il impossible TO-
ralss TINT canpaisn fund we counted
/ o.. I'm llck1d ana I've hurt you
llshty hsd at - 1870 tuns. {