Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-29
Colonel
TODHl|NIER
Of Missouri
fy RIPLEY D! SAUNDERS
e.,mtla 1911. v i. s.sa.-aa.rs
c.,rtht 1911. " II ssals-assrs
y Csnpsg
CHAPTER w
Lstti..may Dess.tt Wsavss : WEI.


lsttis. May Dossstt Wsavss Wei.
YoTTIE.MAY DoGGEIT. her dark
and eager face alight with ex-
element, had attended the po-
litical meeting which followed
the Strickland parade. Nearly all
Nineveh indeed, ordinarily SO quiet.
was in public evidence this night.
grateful for little diversion.
The girl was q witness therefore to
the dire interruption Of Colonel Tod
hunters speech and had also seen the
clash Of the rival factions, headed by
Tom Strickland and STAN Tucker. Her
eyes shone with expectancy OF per-
sonal encounter between the two
young men.
Lord, I'd like to see 'em clinchT'
she exclaimed, pushing bit forward
as she spoke. They'd make a GOOD
fight, too, SEEM as how there amt
been no love lost between 'em Tor
some time. 1 bet they'll get at it!'
Her companion. girl who envied
Lottie- May that partial acceptance by
Ninevehs good families which was
due to her grandfather's honorable
Confederate record, laughed bit sig
nifcantly. 1T won't be your fault It
they don't fight some day, Lotde-May
Doggett! she charged. Il hear you've
been settin' your cap at both OF EN-
In mighty dangerous way.
II amt been dom nothin' Of the
sortr' Indignantly denied Lottie-May,
resentment in her face. 1T amt my
fault II STAN Tucker sets up to me. Is
It? And / reckon Tom suickland's
got the same right. amt he? You
better mind your own business and
let my affairs alone"
Land alive! What a spit cat about
nothin'w protested the other. But
Tom Strickland better leave Siam
Tucker alone. Ny brother says STAN
always carries a pistol and Is dan
zerous man when his blood's up"
Lottie-May's eyes flashed instant dis
dain. Il reckon Tom Strickland can
take care Of himself" she retorted hot
". Il wouldn't be afeared for him IN
a difficulty with STAN Tucker"
Her companion laughed triumphant
". II caught you that time. Lottie-
Mayy" she cried. II just wanted to see
(which you liked the best, Siam or Tom.
And it's Tom, that's who 1t Isl"
"You think you're smart. don't your"
countered Lottie-May. but blushing an
grily. We'll. you amt. Neither one
Of 'em is maxim me lay awake Of
nights. l can tell you"
"Itm be Tom does 1t. If anybody
does" calmly returned the other. But
they amt a-goin' to clinch this time.
at any rate. Pete Fanshaw's just call
ed 'em down and put stop to their
fOolishness."
Lottie-May was still Turning with re-
sentiment Of this open bantering con-
corning Tom Strickland and STAN
Tucker when she started homeward.
Not at all unwilling to accept the Sc
cret wooing Of either. she intuitively
shrank from the open coupling Of their
names with hers The shadow of her
mothers shame oppressed her. and 1t
was only in moments of sudden anger
or other excitement that she surren-
dered to a mood Of reckless defiance Of
her dark Inheritance.
Even now, however, it gaze Lottis-
Nav a thrill Of vainful triumph to re-
member that STAN Tucker was await
ing her somewhat farther along her
lonely homeward way through the
night and that he would accompany
her as near to her suspicious old grand
fathers house as she dared permit
But Tom Strickland himself interviewed
before her meeting with STAN Tucker
this night. He. too, was homeward
bound, encountering the girl at Sc
cluded crossing of their respective
roads. Lottie-May's heart gave a great
leap as she recognized him in the dark
ness. A sudden impulse Of passionate
entdcement possessed her soul
Goodness me. Tom Strickland !'t she
cried. "You skeered me most to death!
I took you for one Of them Black Bot
toms men from the trappin' camp"
Emphasizing her claim Of panic, she
stood very close to Tom. A loose
strand of her hair blew against his
face. Her dark eyes were velvety with
unconcealed tempting, her voice VI
brant with appeal.
"You oughtn't to be going home by
yourself at this time of night, Lottie-
May" suid Tom. 1T amt safe-for as
young and-and as pretty girl as you
are" His voice shook Just little.
Lottie-May laughed. There. Tom.
you've actually paid me compliment
she exclaimed, a perilous exultation
curving her red lips Its the first
one. too. Maybe you amt so hard
hearted in the nighttime us you are In
the daytime. Tom"
There was the frankest wooing in
the girls manner. She moved until her
softly rounded young shoulder touched
Toms arm.
II never, saw the day was afraid
to tell you how pretty you are" he
said. "But that's just the trouble
right now. don't like to sec you 60
ing home alone 20 late at night"
Lottie-May Doggett felt sudden
glow Of love for Tom thrill her. At
the same instant. though remembering,
she recklessly ignored the fact that
STAN Tucker was waiting for her far.
Their along the way.
"Maybe you better come home with
me. then. Tom.' she said softly. Tom
Strickland laughed.
..That's what I'm going to do. Lottie-
Nav no responded I'D never for.