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

was IN mere. Sir, about two hours ago.
lookln' for STAN Tucker. Not fndin'
him, and waitin' here. quite awhile in
hopes Of his turnin' up. be wrote note
yonder at that table and sent it out by
one Of the town boys to STAINS house.
Then he went away, sir"
Have you any idea where be went?
The bartender hesitated for a mo.
ment. Then: well. 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 it 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 difficulty brewin'. COLONEL"
Leaving the barroom. Colonel Tod
hunter drove directly out to old Rafe
Doggett's place. Neither the girl nor
her grandfather was at home. Return
ing into Nineveh he encountered Sim
BirdsOng, who wore an anxious face.
"Tve just seen STAN Tucker, subj"
cried Sim. I'VE aren't bit too soon
in layin' our plans to prevent trouble.
Colonel TOdhunter He's just got a
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, sub
whats STAN Tucker goin' to do?'
He amt goin' into town, colonel.
He told me that he had an engage
ment to call on young lady. so he
wouldn't be at home anyway if Tom
came there loozin' for him. and. be-
to prevent trouble just at this time.
He's as anxious to get away on that
fishin' 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
STAN Off on that fishing jaunt before
daybreak tomorrow, Sim"
Il won't, subj" promised Sim Bird
song earnestly. "l'll get him If have
to drag him by the scruff O. the neck!'
Arising early the next morning.
Colonel Todhunter drew in deep
breath of fresh air, grateful Of soul.
THANK the Lordr he said to him
self. ''Stam fuckers gone with Sim
and the other boys, and we've got a
few days breathin' time anyway be-
fore there's any further danger"
But even as Colonel Todhunter thus
spoke young Stamford Tucker lay
dead at home. He had been shot the
night before. and Tom Strickland now
was held prisoner in the little Nine
web 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 indexible line
"Tell Tom III be with him right
away" he said at the story's compile
ton. And tell him to keep his cour-
age up-1'm going to do everything
can for him."
Nevertheless the coonel's own heart
was heavy for Mary's sake, for Toms
dire peril and knowing we'll that it
would al come near to breaking the
heart of Colonel Bill Strickland. his
lifelong friend. But it 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 Hoo
, William J. 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. Z
'Tom," he said. II want to tell you
at 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
Their 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, I'M
Pickering, though still bloodshot from
overnight drinking, held those Of the
speaker in u level glance.
It'll tell you the truth. colonel" he
answered. Il won't vary from it by a
hair if l know it.
How did the meetin' between you
and STAN Tucker come about. Tom|'
asked Colonel Todhunter. 'Eell me
; just when and how you killed him."