Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-06-24

Not at all, Colonel Todhunter,
came the quick response. Its been
well worth while. sir. intend using
some Of your talk. If you have no OBJ
lection. 10 you're really helping me out
you know"
The colonel looked at his companion
pityingly. You're wastin' your pow
der. young man. i can talk by the
hour. but what ! say amt got no more
business bein' printed in a great city
newspaper n Whit O. wind a-rustlin'
the dry leaves In the woods, sub. You
better be mighty careful. tryin' to
make somethin' worth while out o
them there observations Of mine.
Your folks Mt the paper II think you're
worse'n q old huntin' dog that goes
skyhootin' off licketysplit after a rab-
bit when it's .pa'tridges they was
a-countin' on him to pint. SUBJ"
The newspaper man leaned back and
laughed zestfully. Colonel, I'm will
Ing to take the chances on that If you
are. And I'll leave 1t to you tomorrow
afternoon If don't know what's worth
while when | see 1t, sir. You've given
me crackerjack talk on Missouri poll
tics. and I'm very much obliged to you.
colonel
You're mighty welcome" replied
Colonel Todhunter, genial but doubt
full. "Ill be shot full o. holes II see
how you're u-goln' to write a piece
from what I've been sayin', sub"
Then suddenly he nodded to his
front. What In blue blazes and Sam
Hill is that man a-doin' there?" he
asked. The one with that placard In
his hand. squntin' at me every two
seconds and then jabbin' down some
THU with his pencil? That's the con-
fOundedest most singular proceedin' ]
ever laid my two eyes on. suh!"
The young newspaper man shook
with laughter Colonel" he said. his
humorous lips twitching. don't worry
about thut man. He's perfectly harm
less know him. He's got bug on
political celebrities. sir. It's a case Of
bats In his beifry on that one subject.
He goes around recording his impress
sions at close range during every cam.
paign just the way you see him now.
Most remarkable character. colonel
I've known him for long time"
well, suh." replied Colonel Todhunt-
er. I'll be eternally condemned If he
mustn't ha' wrote whole book about
me. then. He's been jabbin'H that there
pencil o his'n up and down for the
last twenty minutes or SO worse'n u lit
tie girl playin' tlt-tat-too behind her
jogaphy durin' schooltilne. subj
The newspaper man wiped tears Of
laughter from his eyes. I'll take him
away now. colonel" he said at last.
rising. 1--we got to go back to the
office. and 1t always tickles him to talk
to somebody about his Impressions |
expect he'll have lot to say about
you. sir"
. well. you keep 1t dark, sub. II he
does" replied Colonel Todhunter. 81
got enough to stand up under here In
St Louis without no comments from
such Ill almighty curious specimen O.
humanity us that. subj
And at this the newspaper man fair
ly exploded He was still shaking
with laughter when he Joined the mys.
terious stranger. The latter promptly
pOcketed his pencil. stuck his bit of
cardboard under his arm. and then to
gether the two departed
ITS this here crazy-like city life that
makes such wrecks rs that poor simple
Simon" nused the colonel "I-gnd, IL
beats me why any human bein' is
willin' to live 1t. let alone pay such u
price as that for 1t! But it takes al!
sorts O people to make Il world III
Just be Jim swiZzled If 1t don't. suh!"
The next afternoon when Colonel
Todhunter's eyes fell on the front page
Of the leading Independent Democratic
paper Of St Louis he fairly gusped
with horror Then followed an almost
tragic pause az he absorbed the full
meaning Of what had so suddenly
stricken him with dismay. The next
moment he handed the newspaper to
Colonel Strickland.
What did tell you. Bill?" he groan
ed. I'm a-goin' back to Nineveh just
as fast as the good Lord'll let me.
subj"
Colonel Strickland's gaze rested upon
the newspaper page. He saw Colonel
Todhunter's name boldly typed In the
fiaring headline that extended across
three columns. A full length ''charac.
ter cartoon" Of the colonel surrounded
by thumb nail" impressions Of his
face and bodily pose at various inter
esting moments Of his talk Of the pre-
ceding day surrounded the larger por
trait
Colonel Strickland began reading
Of the article smile crept upon his
face. Slowly his eyes went down the
printed pnge. The smile broadened
Soon II became q chuckle Later. ab-
sorbed In the reading. the candidates
shoultess shook rs he read. Finally.
with one big fist pinning the newspa'
Der to the table In front Of him, Colo.
mel Bill Strickland leaned back In his
chair and ronred with laughter.
"I.Ord have mercy on us. Thurs" he
gasred. ITS the best and truest thing
/ ever SAW In my life. They've got
you finished off to the queens taste"
81 don't know nothin' about the
queens tuste. suh." spoke Colonel Tod
hunter grim!y. but | know one thing
almighty we'll. I'm agoin' to dust tha'
newspaper mans jacket for him the
next time he comes In reach o me
Great name above, sub, tn amt NJ
man cnn handle Colonel Thurs L. Tod
hunter like that and not get 1t vel
taken out of his hide. suh."
Again Colonel Strickland shouted
with laughter "You old fool" he sput
tered. THAT newspaper man know
you better than you know yourself
It's wonderful. Thurs! He's made
character study Of you that's nothing
more or less than u miracle, IN!
friend"
1t was the truth. Colonel Todhunte
had come under the vision OF a master
fully gifted newspaper expert In "char
acter values" The young fellow witt
whom he had chatted 80 freely and n
such ease OH the preceding afternoon
had temperamentally absorbed" hin
body and soul. Then he had gone t
his newspaper desk and written q de
scriptive interview TINT was sheerl,