The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-05-08

STAN Tucker would marry Miss Mary
Todhunter. your daughter, now that
she's got to throw him over. It's her
that's to blame for the KILN, not me-"
Something came into the girls throat
that seemed to choke her. She threw
her hands up to her eyes and began
sobbing
HE want thinkin' about me at ALL"
she cried brokenly. And Siam Tuck
er didn't really care nothin' for me
neither. They was both Of 'em think
in about Miss Mary Todhunter. amt
nothin' but poor white trash in their
eyes. to be th'owed like rag to one
side. And Tom Strickland knows
love him with all my heart and all
my SOUL" Here her voice broke pitt
fully.
Then. And he wouldn't ha' known
anything about STAN fuckers maxim
! love to me if hadn't told him myself!
Yet he don't think nothin' about me-
it's only how be can clear his own
skirts by loadin' the blame on STAN.
And if he killed him he killed him for
your daughter Mary's sake, out O. jeal-
Ousy, and nothin' else in the wiSs
world! Well, I've done said my say.
and you all got to take it for the truth
whether you're wilin' or not. STAN
fuckers dead and gone. but that amt
a-goin' to clear the way for Tom Strick-
land to marry Miss Mary Todhunter.
I've told her mother the truth, and you
and Mrs. Todhunter can't let her marry
| Tom Strickland with the blame for my
ruination restin' on his good name"
She threw back her head and laugh
ed at him mockingly.
you've come here to make me help
you to get Tom Strickland out O. dan
ger, amt you, Colonel Todhunter?
You're just like all the rest Of 'em. I'm
settled and done for. I'm dirt under
you airs feet. But maybe l can help
save Tom Strickland il tell the right
sort Of story-thats it. amt it:
: Well, amt goin' to do it, Colonel Tod.
hunter.''
Tom Strickland's got just one chance
for his life, Lottie-May,' said Colonel
Todhunter, land that is, to prove that
you accused him Of Il sin that ought to
ha' been laid at STAN fuckers door in
, stead aud that he quarreled with Siam
and killed him for refusin' to acknowI-
edge publicly that this was the truth
Even this amt much Of chance. but
if we don't get it Tom StrickIands go
in to the gallows just as certain us the
sun rises and sets. If you told what
amt so. LottieMay, his blood will be
on your head"
The girl shrank back and shivered
as if she had been struck. Then. again.
the hard hooking light leaped into her
eyes, and she laughed aloud.
And if l change my story to please
you ALL" she scoffed, what does it
amount to, Colonel Todhunter: Just
two things. and III tell you what they
are. l help to get Tom Strickland out
O. danger for KILN STAN Tucker and
l clear his good name so be can go
straight and marry your daughter
Mary. That's what do-if I'm willin'
to tell the story you all want ME to
tell. and so lift my shame off'n Tom
Strickland and put it on dead man
instead-put it on STAN Tucker. that
was shot and killed by Tom Strickland
because both of 'em loved Miss Mary
Todhunter!'
I'm askin' you to tell the truth.
Lottie- May!' said Colonel Todhunter:
that's all. I'm askin' you to tell me
now what you will surely have to tell
under oath in the Nineveh courtroom
at Tom Strickland's trial unless you
mean to perjure your soul by kissin'
the Bible and then sweari4' to lie.
That's where you are. my girl! II you
told the truth in what you said to Mrs.
Todhunter about Tom Strickland l
amt got another word to say. But.
II you didn't, for Gods sake tell It now.
LottisMay, and help me and Toms
father to save be Mfeg'