The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-15
Colonel
TODHUNTER
of Missouri
BY RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS
Copyright. 1911. by the Bobhs.MeFrFH
ComDaHV
(Continued.)

buttOned up and padded In MS gor-
geous drum majors uniform, topped
OF with gigantic fur shake, that the
sweat poured down his lank and hon
est Missouri face like rain.
Samson" spoke Colonel Todhunter
ominous1y, eff we run across that Ste
phen K. Yancey bugle and drum corps,
I want you to drown 'em out and keep
sem drowned out, sub. Do you under :.
gtandT'
Samson Meek brought his baton to
q present. Colonel Todhunter, wen
smother 'em, sub. just been waiting
for the chance"
Then you go back and tell your
horn tooters what's expected OF 'em,
SUBJ" commanded Colonel Todhunter.
s. specially that little fat fellow with
the horn bigEer'n he is. Tell him to
blow himself inside out. This here
Strickland parade amt a-goin' to be
interrupted by no Steve Yancey and
Eph Tucker foolishness as long as I'm
in charge of the welcome ceremonies,
suht'
Then he turned to Colonel Bill Strick-
land. THAT settles it, suhr' he snort
ed. sTm be shot full o. holes If don't
take the stump for you myself, Bin
Strickland, If they're startin' the fight
right In your own town, sub, the fust
minute you come home, sub. I'll make
imperial AdizSoorah howl for William
J. Strickland, too, sub; hang my pic
ture If I don'tP'
In full view of the parading crowd
Colonel Bill Strickland grasped Colonel
Todhunter's hand. "You old war
horser' he cried. IT'D rather have you
stumping Missouri for me than all the
state committee spellbinders that ever
breathed the breath Of life! Bully for
you, Thurs! Wen fight 'em to the
last dftchP' Great was the cheering at
this incident.
But the Strickland parade did not
encounter the Nineveh bugle and drum
corps and the Stephen K. Yancey Cam
paign club at this juncture.
The encounter came later.
It came at that tremendous moment
when Colonel Thurston T. Todhunter,
majestic on the town hall stage, was
Just reaching the fervid peroration of
q speech that was to close with the in
spring mention of the name Of the
Honorable William ]. Strickland as
Missouri Democracy's sure choice for
governor -ss-l4
1t was a. premedit lated blow atssthe
glory az the TodhGHter brand of ora
tory, the cherished pride of Colonel
Entering the town hall and def1antly
marching up the main corridor to the
wide double doors that gave a view of
the Strickland meeting, the Nineveh
bug1e and drum corps, heading the
Stephen K. Yancey Campaign club,
awoke the resounding echoes.
Never, it would seem, had earth
heard such clamor of trumpet and
tambour. +---.---
It crashed into and through the town
hall assembly room 1t rose to the
roof and came laundering back into
the aisles. 1t smote the ears as with
cataclysmic bolts of sound It stil1ed
the eIoquence of Colonel Thurs Z. Tod
hunter as If that mighty speaker were
an infant lifting voice against the
voice OF elemental chaos. -A--
And Colonel Todhunter paused,
crestfaI1en.
Then the lust of righteous battle
famed from his indignant eyes. He
waved his right hand with a Jovian
gesture Drive 'em away, Samson
he shouted. "You and Sim Birdsong.
amt done yetT'
And the gallant Samson Meek rose
to the occasion. With mighty wave
of his baton he rallied his bandsmen
in close order behind him. Captain
Sim Birdsong, no less dependa bic,
formed the Nineveh Light infantry in
line behind the band. There was
magnificent flourish of Samson Meek's
silver knobbed rod of Office, a quick
command from Captain Sim Birdsong,
and then
The Nineveh brass band and the
Nineveh Light infantry depIoyed into
the corridor and charged upon the en-
envy.
1t was an assault sonorous and 1r-
resistible. It's slogan was "Hai1 Co
lumbar This gave the big horns an
almost unearthly opportunity. The
~littie fat fellow with the horn big
germ him. seemed resolved to obey
Colonel Todhunter's injunction and
&'bloW himself inside out His fell
lows followed his example. The re-
sultant cyclone of wind clamor wiped
put the Nineveh bugIe and drum corps
as if it had not been. Triumph shone
On the face of Drum Major Samson
Meek, truculently waving his glitter
Ing baton.
But an ominous cry rose from his
'front.' Rush 'em, boys! Make rough
houser'
Even as the Strickland forces leaned
forward for a countering rush into
combat, however, a resolute figure
Eprang in between the battle lines. 1t
was the figure of Constable Pete Fan
shaw, embodying the law of Nineveh.
It waved a sternly forbidding hand for
z moment
None o. that. you boysr' he shout
ed II amt takin' no sides. but this
here's a public meetin' and it's my
sworn duty to see that there amt no
Hfsturbin of the peace Siam Tucker,
you turn your men right around and
march 'em out o here double quick!
And you. Tom Strickland, quit your
sdgin' up to git a lick at STAN! There
amt goin' to be no fightfn' here this
load o poles