Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-06-24
Colonel
:T0DHUNTER
Of Missouri
By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS
Copyright. 1911. by the Bobbs-Mer-
rill Company.

Sopyri8nt. ISL, py tne ooopseA q
rili Company. .
ssssssssssssssssssssssssss
CHAPTER VII.
Colonel Todhunter Cuts Q Wide Swain
In Missouri's Metropolis.
TO Colonel Todhunter, a country
man born and bred and Of an
innate rusticity Of soul that
was an essential part OF his
being, contact with the throbbing lie
Of big city was SO rare and foreign
picturesque unlikeness to the urban
that 1t never failed to emphasize his
type He stalked into the busy St
Louis headquarters Of the Hon. VIII
liam ]. Strickland on the parlor floor OF
the Laclede hotel. the living embodi-
ment of that political figure dear to
the amused metropolitan imagination.
"the delegate from the rural districts.
II was brave and honest face that
showed itself In Colonel Bill Strick-
lands private office, but somewhat dis
mnyed ut thought Of an impending
ordeal
I'll Just be eternally whipsawed II
you amt a-tryin' to make round peg
fit into u square hole. Bill" he protest
ed earnestly. something like awe OF
his surroundings stamped upon his sum
burned features. I'm willin' to do
most anything in the world for you.
and you know 1t. But when you turn
me loose in big town like this and ex'
pect me to behave like anything
more'n II wall eyed plow horse with his
tail full u cock!eburs I'll be everast-
inly condemned If you amt maxim a
mighty serious mistake, suh!"
Nonsense. Thurs!" laughed Colonel
Strickland I'm counting on you Tor
some st Louis speeches thatu be
worth their weight In gold. my friend
We need you here, sir-a man that
talks old fashioned American Demor'
rae straigh, from the shoulder, CITY
politicians have forgotten what the
real Democratic doctrine Is, Thurs, ana
we've got 10 revive 1t In the peoples
hearts If we expect 'em to vote right
That's why | want you to help me
open my 81. Louis campaign You've
got TO do II, Thurs!
Colonel Todhunter gaZed ut his friena
pensively rasll.' he said. I'm a-goin
TO do II. uS you well know. Id strip
the shirt oA'n my back and head per-
cession wavin' II for u Strickland ban
ner If yCu asked me to. whether
thought 1t was the best thing to do un-
der the circumstances or not. But
bid YOU remember, Bill, that l warned
YOU in time. It'll be your fault II you
have occ; sion to regret havin' brought
me In from the pasture and stacked
me up against these here bang tailed
city thorourhbreds. sub"
"I'll take the chances. old fellow.
said the candidate. his eyes twinkiinS.
You Just oblige me now for ola
friendships sake and I'll be responsi
BILE for everything that happens after
ward. uin't the least bit afraid.
"I'll eat my hat II ! don't wish |
could say the same. suh!" calculated
Colonel Todhunter. a vehement panic
I'm his tone. Pm skeered to the mar
row, sub. because I'm out o my oaili'
wick and up against proposition that
| don't know any more about II Il hog
knows about holiday. sub. And
you're a-goin' to discover, sub. before
we get through with this piece OF fool
ishness that | had mighty good rea
sons for bein' skeered too"
"Shucks, you old warhorse? laughed
Colonel Bill Strickland. "Once you
get into the fight you'll warm up like
two-year-old and show these 81
Louis folks what real Missouri Dem
ocrat is. You're going to make the
hit Of your life. sir"
Maybe am and maybe l amt
Bill Strickland" quoth Colonel TOD
hunter moodlly But all ask at the
finish is that you'll remember 1t
want me that made the prediction,
sub I'm natural born optimist.
sub. but that don't necessarily mean
that I'm n natural born jackass at oil
times and under all circumstances and
on all subjects. as some folks seem
to think, subj"
And In this frame Of mind Colonel
Todhunter returned into the general
headquarters Offices and was intro
duced to his Nineveh friends st
Louis hackers and campaign stan.
A quiet young newspaper man who
happened to be drifting through the
rooms seemed Instantly impressed by
Colonel Todhunter's picturesque per
sonality. He studied the colonel In
tently. a growing appreciation In his
thoughtful and latenly humorous
eyes.
After exchanging few words with
this new addition to the Strickland
forces the journalist went into one OF
the private telephone booths at the
| end of the reception room and called
| up his paper. Then he came back to
Colonel Todhunter. engaging him In
conversation. A few minutes later a
second man casually appeared and un
oDtrusively stationed himself where he
had a good front view Of the colonel.
who was being deftly led into political
dissertation by his new acquaintance.
| Colonel Bill Strickland. passing
through the main room at one moment.
saw the two with their heads togeth
er. Something like gleam Of laugh.
ter leaped Into his eyes. and he nod
ded. almost imperceptibly, an approx
Ing signal to Colonel Todhunter's com.
panion. Then. for an hour or more.
the two were left undisturbed
They chatted pleasantly on many top.
cs The colonel himself was led to
ak discursively on the political stu
,tion In Missouri. the distinctive types
If party leaders in the country dis
:ricts, his own personal views and am
pie "reminiscences Of past campaigns IN
the state, his quaint valuation Of De
mocracy's great historic figures. He
was in reality being trapped into sell
revelation. Behind his talk. animatinl
It and shining though its unsuspectinl
frankness and utter naturalness, ap
peared the childlike and simple sou
Of the speaker. presented with abso
lutte unreserve. The colonel's compan
lon was the most appreciatve OF listen
| ,rs. aud as he listened light Of whim
| rionl rann rd daananad In hia aYe6