Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-04-10
Copyright. 1911. BY the Bookseller.
r.ll Company.

9 Copyright. 1911. BY the Bookseller
rsll Company.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
CHAPTER xi.
Traasdy on the Road.
HORTLY after noon the next day
- Colonel Todhunter stopped In at
= the Stricklands' on his way
home, a. was not unusual for
him to do In reply to an apparently
careless question. Margaret Strickland.
Toms eldest sister, told him that Tom
had gone into town soon after break.
fast.
Colonel Todhunter returned into Min.
eveh ut once, after explaining to Mar
garet Strickland that he had forgotten
to execute certain housekeeping mis-
sions for Mrs. Todhunter before driv.
ing out. But he found no trace Of Tom
Strickland until he came to certain
barroom frequented mainly by tho
Yancey and Tucker factions in politics.
Colonel" said the bartender, in an
swer to a question. TON Strickland
was in here. sir, about two hours ago,
lookin' for STAN Tucker. Not fndin'
him. and waitin' here quite awhile In
hopes of his turnin' up. he wrote 4 note
yonder at that table and sent it out by
one Of the town boys to STAINS house.
Then he went away. sir"
Have you any idea where he went?"
The bartender hesitated for q mo-
ment Then: well. Colonel Todhunt-
err" he said at last, Il believe. from
the way he was talkin'. that he went
to see that girl. Lottie-May Doggett,
that the scandals about now. sir. He
was drinkin' pretty heavy. colonel. and
he talked pretty threatenin' about STAN
Tucker, and 1t seemed to me that the
two things was connected In some way
his trouble with Siam and his trou-
BILE with the girl. I'm inclined to think
there's a difficulty brewin', colonel!"
Leaving the barroom, Colonel Tod
hunter drove directly out to old Rafe
Doggett's place. Neither the girl nor
her grandfather was at home. Return
ing into Nineveh he encountered Sim
Birdsong, who wore an anxious face.
Eve Just seen STAN Tucker. subj
cried Sim. I'VE aren't bit too soon
in layin' our plans to prevent trouble.
Colonel Todhunter He's just got a
note from Tom Strickland tellin' him
to come into town tonight II he don't
want to have serious trouble at his
own home instead. so it's plain that
Tom Strickfand's on the warpath. sub"
What's STAN Tucker goin' to dot"
HE amt goin' into town, colonel.
he told me that he had an engage
rnent to call on young lady. 50 he
wouldn't be ut home anyway II Tom
came there lookin' for him. and. be-
sides. he says he'll do most anything
to prevent trouble just at this time.
He's as anxious to get away on that
fshin' fronc as we are to have him
get away, Colonel Todhunter."
'I'm powerful glad to hear It," COM
mented the colonel. well, with STAN
Tucker not goin' into town and not
stayin' at home and Tom Strickland
not KNOWN where he's to be found, l
reckon things are pretty tolerable safe
for tonight. But don't you fail to get
STAN OF on that fishing jaunt before
daybreak tomorrow, Sim"
II won't, subj" promised Sim Bird
song earnestly. It'll get him If have
to drag him by the scru6 o the neck!
Arising early the next morning.
Colonel Todhunter drew in a deep
breath Of fresh air, grateful Of soul.
THANK the Lordv' he said to him
self. "Stam fuckers gone with Sim
and the other boys, and we've got a
few days breathin' time anyway be-
fore there's any further danger"
But even as Colonel Todhunter thus
spoke young Stamford Tucker lay
dead at home. He had been shot the
night before. and Tom Strickland now
was held a prisoner in the little Nine
veh Jail accused Of his murder.
A messenger bearing these dreadful
tidings arrived as the colonel stood on
the front gallery enjoying the fresh
ness Of the morning. He came from
Tom Strickland himself.
Colonel Todhunter received the news
in silence. his gray brows bent until
his eyes were but two glints of metal
lie blue gray beneath, his grim lips set
in an infiexible line.
'.Tell Tom III be with him right
away" he said at the story's compile
ton. "And tell him to keep his cour.
age up-Tm going to do everything
can for HIM"
Nevertheless the colonels own heart
was heavy for Mary's sake. for Toms
dire peril and knowing well that /,
would all come near to breaking the
heart Of Colonel Bill Strickland. hi.
lifelong friend But Il was no time t.
sit in cold judgment upon Toms sin
The boy must receive all the help thai
was in the power Of mortal man Il
give.
Hating a moment at the Ninevel
hotel to send telegram to the Hon
william ]. Strickland. now himself
campaigning in northern Missouri
Colonel Todhunter then hurried to tn
Jail. The moment his eyes fell on Ton
Strickland's face he knew that the Lac
had been drinking heavily. The twt
clasped hands and stood facing eacl
other in silence. At last the colone
spoke.
"Tom." he said. II want to tell 70,
| at the start that I'm goin' to accep
| -.>.5 ,o,. Dnano1 and