The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-28
] Colonel TODHUNTER
 of Missouri
By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS
Copyright, G8RI, Hy tho BOSAs-MerrH
 ooWpsy
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 7A.9Eot uuite,'' answered Governor &es- Ne. unmoved. But if thak was the case it wouldn't make any difference. God knows you're justified 1n sticking to Eom through thick and thin. to the finish and regardless of all other de mands upon y0u. I wouldn't yipe my 6ae@ on you if Teu were capable of doing anything elss. So don't you worry aboaat thA& We're going to do aM Ga1S 0gEf1ng A1r EO1 from new on, And wNs%1 pACkDd on Colonel Tod huntsR hove ag tae hee3 man % lead whaE.Ro1 seam disposed to caN a for 41RA &scpePS
 Nov yUwxR tAAE4ns, sutf'' brolae in COEon& DUdRSunteR, h4B grAm old face aR1kAE vim t4te lust of battle. '1 ~Wgxa9v@sA. Gnw wAkkng b~eHer'n to get out on tEe scamp ana el<tn 'sm alive. TheysFo~cHDwdAR old Bala Strickland to sRe wuz because they think they've sDt hA@ Gou&, end Bi1Fs friends have got to RtAAd bg him clOser'n ever. EurN Mhs loose o0 'Gn, Leslka- I'll noaABe Ng1OoRa4a SOa het to hold emp
 0F0 GGWgEner Leslie smiled ominous- ly. We've made arrangements to that end. Eodfrunesr," he replied. q knew 5sG<aow yen'0 Asal about it. We want Yaa bO tsn the Democrats of Missouri just exBctRy why we wouldn't let EtriekEand wftaGEAw, just exactly why he hArnSeM won't do any more cam Pa1Gn1ng for the nomination and just exactly why and where the Yancey newspapers and the Yancey speakers are d1stortAng the truth of this case against ToSn StxickIand to make 1t look like a political assassination. And it's going to be pretty hot work, Todhunt- CT. Y6u may have more than one per sOnaI difficulty on your hands before you get through with 1&"
 "We needn't talk ab0ut that feature of it, Governor LeslEe,o said Colonel Todhunter. There won't be no trou- ble 1ess,n some O the Yancey crowd object to a mans talfCin' straight from the shoulder. We've just about got time now for a nghtnin' 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
 T don't want to get back here before then 4ess'n could be of some use to Tom Strickland,.a said Colonel Tod hunter, a sudden huskiness in his throat as his eyes fell on Colonel Bill StrickIand's haggard face ''The main thing I want is to give the Yancey crowd a fight they wasn't expectin', suh, and I'll be eternally condemned if we ain't 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 a soul wearying bat tie, full of baf1ing chagrin aPd 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 new pot only haggard, but hopeless
 They're pushin' us pretty hard, Bill,'' eaid Colonel Fodhunter. ''I've fought 'em the best I knew how. but Steve Yancey's crowd is workin' Toms case against us better'n I thought was pos sible among folks that know you like
  suh. It's enough to make dog sick to see how easy people can be turned against a man whena he's in trouble. I'll just be double whipsawed if it ain't!'
 That's all right, Thurs replied the other hstlessly. Don't you go wor- rying yourself any longer about my campaign. I knew I was beat the min ute they got Toms trouble to use as a weapon against me. But what hurts me most now, Thurs, is that Cover nor Leslie Is finding it impossible to raise that campaign fund we counted on. I'm licked, and I've hurt you mighty bad at the same time"
 But Colonel TodhUnter fred up at this. "I'll be shot full O holes if you're icked-yetr' he exclaimed. And l aint hurt any till you hear me holler, suh. Don't you misunderstood me, Bill Strickland. I acknowledge that we've got a hard row to hoe, but that ain't no sign we ain't a-goin' to hoe it. Any way, by Godfrey, we'll make an ever lastin' good stagger at it. The next best thing to livin' victorious is dyin' game, suhY'
 Colonel Strickland shook his head There's mighty little fight left in me- he spoke sadly.
 "IlI do the fightin,'' retorted Colonel Todhunter. Then he looked his friend Rnxiously in the face. Flows Toms case goin'?" he asked.
 Tt looks mighty black,' answered the other. Its going to be a political sELAL bitter as sin. because the old SzxG counts oa Toms conviction to drive me out of Missouri politics. The evidence in the case is all against the boy. The courtroom will be packed with Yancey heelers- there's no way to prevent it-and they'll make every demonstration possible to influence the jury. And every man connected with the court wears the gangs collar, even