Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-07-08
Colonel
|TODHUNTER
of Missouri
By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS

. Dy MI LII D' oAoNDLhS
. Copyright 1911. by the Bookseller
rill Company.
ssssssssssssssssssssssssss
CHAPTER xL
Tragedy on the Road.
HORTLY after noon the next day
- Colonel Todhunter stopped In at
|A the Stricklands on his way
home. as 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 q certain
barroom frequented mainly by the
Yancey and Tucker factions In politics
Colonel" said the bartender. In an
swer to a question. Tom Strickland
was in here. sir. about two hours ago.
lookin' for STAIN Tucker. Not 6ndin'
him, and waitin' here quite awhile In
hopes of his turnin up. he wrote note
yonder at that table and sent 1t 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 mo-
ment Then: We'll. Colonel Todhunt-
err" he said at last. II 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 STAN 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
Doggetts place Neither the girl nor
her grandfather was at home, Return
ing into Nineveh he encountered Sim
Birdsong, who wore an anxious face.
"Ive Just seen Stam Tucker. sub!
cried Sim. I'VE aren't bit too SOON
In layin' our plans to prevent trouble.
Colonel Todhunter He's just got
note from Tom Strickland tellin' him
to come into town tonight If he don't
want to have serious trouble at his
own home Instead SO it's plain that
Tom Strickland's on the warpath. sun.
whats Stum Tucker goin' to dor
HE amt goin' into town. colonel.
He told me that he had an engage
ment to call on young lady. 80 he
wouldn't be at 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
Hshin frolic 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.
reckon things are pretty tolerable safe
for tonight. But don't you fail to get
STAIN of on that fishing jaunt before
daybreak tomorrow. Sim"
81 won't. suh." promised Sim Bird
song earnestly. "I'll get him If have
to drag him by the scruff O the neck"
Arising early the next morning.
Colonel Todhunter drew In a deep
breath Of fresh air. grateful Of soul
"Thank the Iordr he said to him.
self. "Stnm fuckers gone with Sim
and the other boys. and we've got
few days breathin' time anyway be-
fore there's any further danger"
But even as Colonel Todhunter thus
spoke young Stamford Tucker lay
dead mt 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 I'll be with him right
away" he said at the story's compile
ton. "And tell him to keep his cour'
age up-I'm going to do everything |
can for him."
Nevertheless the colonel's own heart
was heavy for Mary's sake, for Toms
dire peril and knowing we'll that It
would all come near to breaking the
heart Of Colonel Bill Strickland. his
lifelong friend But 1t was no time to
sit In cold judgment upon Toms sin.
The boy must receive all the help that
was In the power Of mortal man to
give
Hating moment at the Nineveh
hotel to send telegram to the Hon.
William ]. Strickland, now himself
campaigning In northern Missouri,
Colonel Todhunter then hurried to the
Jail. The moment his eyes fell on Tom
Strickland's face he knew that the lad
had been drinking heavily. The two
clasped hands and stood facing each
other in silence. At last the colonel
spoke.
"Tom," be said. II want to tell you
ut the start that I'm goin' to accept
every word you say as gospel. and
want you to tell me the whole truth.
Then while we're waitin' for your ia
ther to get here I'll know better what
to do In beginnin' arrangements for
your defense You must tell me the
Gods truth. my boy"
Tom Strickland's plucky eyes, uR-
Pickering, though still bloodshot from
overnight drinking. held those Of the
speaker in level glance.
"Ill tell you the truth, colonel" be
answered. II won't vary from 1t by q
hair II know It"
"How did the meetin' between you
and STAN Tucker come about TomT'
asked Colonel Todhunter. Tell me