The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-04-03

granddaddy.' she replied nervously, Il
just stayed to the political meettn,1|
that's all. There was to be brass
band there and speakin and all that
and just couldn't come away till u
was Overt"
The old man kept his accusing eyes
on the girls face for q moment. Then
he turned and looked searchingly first
at STAN Tucker and then at Tom
Strickland. Tom felt a sudden and
Oyerw helming sense Of shame and self
reproach and pity for the good old man
whose dread, harried eyes were 80 SOM
berly bent on him.
There was a moment Of silence.
We'll, SEEM al! there was to see," old
RATE Doggett resumed then. what did
you do after that. girl? How comes It
that you're here on the road with STAN
Tucker, facin' Tom Strickland like
there'd been a quarrel? Tell me tina
truth
L0ttieMay DOggett flashed q quick
appea! Of her eyes at Tom Strickland.
1t was plainly mute and desperate
ever she was about to say.
Then. Why. era nddaddy." she made
answer, 'Stam oTereT to escort ma
home. and we met Tom on the way,
and we just all three stopped TO talk
for miuute-that's all Quarrelin'!
STAN and Tom Wasa't thinkin' Of such
Il thing; that's the truth. cross my
heart please. sir"
The girls voice trembled with fear
of her grim old grandfather to whom
her mothers memory remained but AZ
meaning a lifelong disgrace and humi-
tation. The old man seemed not en-
tirely satisfied with her explanation.
He sat silent, still studying the group
confronting him. Then be sighed.
We'll, LottieM May" he spoke at last.
since STAN wants to escort you home
he can still do it, l reckon. But you
both better come along with ME IN the
wagon. There amt no sense in your
waikiki now"
Lottie- Mays frightened eyes were
pleading with STAN and Tom to abide
by her story and comply with her
grandfathers wishes.
All right, Mr.. Doggett,' spoke Siam
finally. IN be specially glad for Lot
tie-May to ride reckon sizes pretty
tired by now. 50 III just see her homo
that way. along with YOU
Tom Strickland stood silent as Lot
tie-May was lifted into the wagon by
Starr Tucker, who mounted to the seat
beside her Old ENfe Doggett clucked
to his horse.
Good night, Tom cried the girl.
Good night, Lottie- May" replied
Tom. Good night, Mr.. Doggett"
The next moment they were gone.
And Tom Strickland, shamed to the
soul at thought of what he had seen in
old Rafe Doggett's worn and wasted
face. made his own way homeWard.
The Hon. William J. Strickland and
Colonel Todhunter were parting COM
pany for few days after finaf con-
ference concerning preliminary cam
paign plans.
iii have to get back to st. Louis
and see how things are starting off at
my headquarters there" said Colonel
Strickland Then it'll be necessary to
take run across the state and estab-
lish headquarters in Kansas City, right
under Steve Yancey's nose. I'll want
you to make few speeches for me In
st, Louis about next week, Thurs, old
fellow. And don't forget-I'm going
to hold you to your promise to stump
the state for me-"
Il amt forgettin," responded Colo
mel Todhunter. I'm cooked and primed
for a campaign that'll bring every old
time Democrat in Mizzoorah out O. the
brush and set em to whoopin' things
up for you to beat the band, sub. The
almighty dollar amt the only thing
that talks in this here state yet-not by
a jugful-and I'm a-goin' to prove It.
Bill"
ITS what we've got to beat, though"
commented the candidate. Things
amt like they used to be in Missouri
politics, my friend"
That's why we got so many O. them
professional politicians and so few real
statesmen nowadays" replied the 9TH
er. But, all the same, the people OF
Mizzoorah's honest, if the politicians
amt and this here new primary laws
a-goin' to give EN- their best chance to
name their own choice for governor,
sub"
1T will, if there's no crooked work
at the polls" said Colonel Strickland
I'm afraid Of the cities for that red
SON."
Colonel Todhunter nodded his head
empha tically. I'll just be jig whitfield
if all the corruption in American poll
tics don't seem to come from the big
towns, sub. 1t looks like it's plumb
natural for cities to be sinful. It's been
that way ever since Sodom and Go
morrah, sub. Do you reckon the Old
Marster up above couldn't ha' found
ten honest men among the shepherds