The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-17
CHAPTER ",

In the Nineveh Blade Sanetun.
TT was shortly after this that Colo
mel Todhunter and Judge Strick-
land parted Colonel Todhunter
went direct to the office OF the
Nineveh Blade when he had seen Strtck-
land OF for st. Louis.
Dick Cantriu, editor OF the Blade,
was red headed young Democrat who
cherished old fashioned principles.
There was no thought in his clean
mind of devious ways to make politics
pecuniarily profitable. One could no
more have bought him than one
could have bought Patrick Henry or
"Old Hickory Jackson, and he was
just about as fiery and fearless as
those two earlier Americans. Conse-
quently. many politicians spoke OF him
as that stubborn young fool, Dick
Cantrin Of the Nineveh Blade.''
As Colonel Todhunter entered the
Blade Office a Tuning little man almost
extinguished under a big and very
rusty silk hat was terminating what
had plainly been a stormy interview
with Dick Cantrill.
"Hello, Ephl'' said Colonel Todhunter,
surprised cit amt often find you
hobnobbin' with Dick Cantrin. Go
your
There was a wicked smile on young
CantriIrs mouth. Were just about
done now, colonel he interposed.
esquire Tucker was trying to induce
me to support Yancey in this campaign,
but had to decline. The Blades for
Colonel Strickland tooth and nail, now
that he's out for the nomination"
I '-And you and the Blade are both
burned fools, sir-that's all I've got to
sayr' snapped the little old man under
the big hat. ''You don't know which
side your breads buttered on, Dick
Cantrillr'
Squire" said Dick, grinning cooIly,
'~that amt the only viewpoint from
which I look at the matter. I know
Colonel Strickland and know Steve
Yancey, and 1 know Strickland's the
best man. That makes it my duty to
support him, squirrel
IT'S to your interest to support the
winner, you young idiot, and was
talking to you for your own goodr'
cried old Tucker. stephen <. Yancey
has got all the money influence behind
him in this campaign, and he'll be NOM
mated by an Overwhelming majority.
You'll put up a mighty poor mouth
then, Dick CantriIl, begging for the
| public printing in the Blade, and I'll
see TO 1t that nothing comes your wayi''
Go right ahead. Crack your whip,
BquireP' retorted Dick Cantriu calmly.
ST reckon you and I have different
ideas about politics, but there needn't
| be any hard feelings unless you insist
on it, Anyway, we might as well get
/ the whole thing thrashed out right
now, as long as we've got started"
"I'1l see if I can't make you change
your tune before I'm done with you,
sir!'' And old fuckers cold little eyes
narrowed venomously. You're talk
/ ing mighty big now, Dick Cantrill, but
| the Yancey administrator have the
/ last say, my young gamecockr'
1.-The Yancey administration be hang
edI'' replied Dick CantrIll, and then
he laughed and settled back in his
chair. But, shucks, squire, I can't
talk to you like could to a younger
man Let's go easy. You're for yam
cey, and I'm for Strickland, and that's
all there is to it Every mans got a
right to his own opinion in a free
country, squire"
every well. sir. very well, If you
will have it that way" retorted old
Eph Tucker. but you're backing a
loser, Dick Cantrill. and you're going
to suffer for it Stephen K. Yancey
will snow Bill Strickland under so
Geep that BfITs friends II never be
able to dig him out, siri''
Dick Cantrill stretched his arms
above his head. "Such being the case
SQUIRE he replied, lit don't make any
| difference to you Yancey people what
me and the Blade see fit to do, so you
can just keep your shirt on