The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-25
! Colonel
TODHUNTER
of Missouri
BY RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS
Copyright, 1911. BY the Bobbs-MerrB
COmpaHy
CContinued.)

know who it was that got you to
come and speak to me about it?' she
exclaimed. who was it, Colonel Tod
hunter? Was it one; of them ladies
what thinks amt good enough now
to associate with their daughters2 I've
got the right to ask you this, and Il do
ask it. Who sent you here, Colonel
Todhunter?"
at wasn't none of the ladies. Lottie
May" Colonel Todhunter made answer
without the slightest hesitation. 1T
was Tom Strickland He heard what
was goin' on. and he felt sorry for
you, the little girl he went to school
with when he was a boy. And it
want meddlin' on his part, either. 1t
was plumb good heartedness."
The girl shivered as if she had been
struck tom StrickIand?' she re-
peated, almost as if speaking to her
self. tom Strickland-of all men!
He's maxim love to Miss Mary Tod
hunter. your own daughter And he
knows that I'd lay down and die for
him any day he give the word And
it's Mrs Todhunter that's been told of
all this talk about me, and that's goin'
to shame me here before all Nineveh!
oh, but it's a fine game you all are
playin'> to get me where 1 can't do no
harm to Tom Strickland or to your
daughter Mary, his sweetheart
She stood rigid. her hands clinched.
Then swiftly she spoke again. 'SThey
shan't ruin me this way!" she cried.
Neither Tom Strickland nor Miss
Mary Todhunter nor Mrs Todhunter,
nor you. neither! I'll bring you all to
law. I'll make Tom Strickland come
in for his share of my trouble Since
him and his sweetheart and his sweet
hearts mother have set the ball roll
in, he's got to face the music along
with mer' .>-0-,,
What do you mean" exclaimed
Colonel Todhunter.
All color had gone out of the girls
face as she spoke.
'fI'n show you what 1 mean she
half whispered, her fingers duttering
at her throat. I'll show you. L amt
a good girl no more. Colonel Todhun-
ter. i amt f1tten to breathe the same
air with your daughter Mary. Tom
Strickland and the rest of ems mighty
anxious to get me out Of the way. I'm
a-goin', too. But not till I've said my
little say to Mrs Todhunter, sir. Not
till then-not even If judgment day and
hell itself come to me the next min
uter''
Stop that. Lottie-May" cried Colo
mel Todhunter sternly. You can't talk
that way without reason-and you amt
got no reason to say what you've Just
said about Tom Stricklandr'
For a reply the girl laughed in his
face-and the next instant she had
darted past him.
Her head high. her eyes flashing, her
little hands clinched at her side. her
frame all a-Quiver with excitement.
Lottie-May sped omtnously to where
Mrs. Todhunter stood with a group of
other Nineveh ladies, Mary Todhunter
standing close behind her mother.
Mrs Todhunter." said the Outcast
girl. her eyes defiantly holding those
of the person whom she addressed. 81
understand that you want me to leave
this party because you think 1 amt
f1tten to be here-that I'm a bad WON
an. Amt that so, ma'am?"
Mrs. Todhunter was at first shocked
into shrinking from the girl. Then she
looked at her pityingIy.
''Lottie-May.' she replied, with a
frank dignity, "I'm sorry you've made
such a scene. 1t is true that we think
you should not be here. But ! was GO
ing to tell you this privately, to spare
you as much as possible
mo. you wa'n'tv interrupted the
girl passionately. you was a-goin' to
put all the shame on me you could!
But I'll say my say before you do it,
Mrs. Todhunter. And 1 amt denyin'
anything. either. nor 1 amt a-beggin'
my of you for mercy. You're goin' to
make me paS for my sin, amt you
me. the sinful daughter of a sinful
mother2 But why don't you make the
man pay at the same time, Mrs. Tod
hunter? That's what I'm asking you
Why don't you make the man pay.
loop
A dead silence followed these words.
Maybe you don't know who the
man is?' inquired the girl. MAYBE
you can't name him? Maybe that's
the reason you amt dom nor sayin
nothin' against him?"
There was no reply.
Then I'll tell you who he isp' cried
The girl. And at this 1er voice broke
and her fingers again went 1utterinP
10 her throat. Til tell you his name
It's Tom Strickland the man that
wants to marry your daughter, Miss
Mary Todhunter, ma'am-it's Tom
Strickland. that's who it is"'
A piteous little cry came from Mary
Todhunter. Lottie- May Doggett heard
Il and laughed.
Now you've got it good and plenty
both of you-more'n you bargaineC
ror!' she cried tauntingly- Already she
mad moved toward the nearest door
Her reckless eyes were full of scorn
ful defiance.
Make the man pay, tooP' she flung
back at the group of which now 8
mother and her downward swayin2
Slaughter were the central figures
Make Tom Strickland pay-alone
with meT'
The next moment she was gone.
-coloneN Todhunter saw Tom Strick
land spriAg to Mary's side, catch heI
In his arms, and, thus holding her, face