The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-04-03
! Colonel
TODHUNTER
of Missouri
By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS
GODyriaht, 1911, by the Bobbs-EIerrili
Company
NConfinuedl
Continued.)


In The returns from st. Louis by pre-
cincts and wards. until now delayed,
were at last well in hand. Dick Can
trill read bulletin after bulletin in I'M
broken succession. Colonel Strickland.
with lips compressed, tabulated the
vote by wards Once or twice he nod
ded significantly to Colonel TOdhunter.
At last there came a break in the
steady stream of returns Lycurgus
Ouivey grasped a bulletin from the
hands of the Blades "devil'' as the lat
ter rushed in breat hless. He handed it
TO Cantrill.
The Blades editor gave one swift,
comprehensive glance at the bulletin
and excitedly hurled his hat high in
the air with an unrestrained yell OF ex-
ultation-
sit is now conceded by Yancey's
MANAGERS" he read. that Strickland
has carried St. Louis by at least 1000
plurality. With the returns now in
from the state, this gives Strickland a
tntal plurality of at least 1900, with
several Strickland counties still to hear
from A conservative estimate tpdi-
Gates that Strickland viii be nominated
by over 5000 plurality"
Colonel Strickland laid down his pen
ell and leaned back in his chair.
That's reliable" he said. We've
got 'em beat. boys. Anybody that feels
like hooraying for Strickland now has
got my full permission. It's perfectly
snfe-"
At this moment the little printers
devil'' of the Blade delivered a personal
telegram to Colonel Strickland. AS the
latter read it an expression of the deep
- .-7soN 49, -,ks-e,o@1.,- snA~
his face.
THANK God?' he muttered. II want
ed that special piece Of news more than
anything else IN all this world Here,
Thurs. just you read this, my friend!"
Colonel Todhunter took the bit of pa
per from Colonel Strickland's hand.
The message was signed by Governor
Leslie. It read:
Due to enthusiasm caused by Toms ac-
quittal and the public's realization Of cow
ardly night made on you through him, a
popular movement to raise fund covering
total deficit In Strickland campaign fund
was begun today and successfully com
pleted at our headquarters tonight. Every
dollar needed has been subscribed and
paid Reliable election returns now all in
show that you nominated by nearly
5000 plurality Congratulations.
Colonel Strickland laughed as gIee-
fully as boy when Colonel Todhunter
glanced up at him from the reading of
the telegram.
THAT settles it. ThuFs!' he cried.
And By the Lord Harry, I'm gladder
to know you're safe on the money end
of this fight than to know I've been
nominated It's given me more than
one sleepLess night Of worrying, l can
tell your
1T hasn't made me lose a wink o.
Sleep replied Colonel Todhunter
calmly. ''I know amt as religious a
man as I ought to be. Bill Strickland,
but 1 got an abidin' faith in the Good
Marster mp above. all the same. 1 amt
never doubted he'd see me safe through
on that there proposition. He knows
the tricks o. that machine gang we're
fightin' better'n we do. and he amt
agoin' to let 'em prevail over usT'
Saying which, Colonel Todhunter
read aloud that sentence of the tele-
gram authoritatively announcing Colo
mel Strickland's nomination
Dick Cantrill's loyal voice led the
mighty cheer with which this an
nouncement was greeted. Sim Bird
songs was second only to his. Colonel
Todhunter, gulping just once after
having read the proclamation of vic
rory. did not join in the cheering. But
when Lycurgus Quivey came to him
with outstretched bands. he took them
in close grip of his own. his daunt-
less old eyes showing just a hint of
dampneSs-
Colonel Todhunter," spoke Lycur-
gus, I'm going to write a poem de-
scribing this great triumph after SEEM
ing defeat-it's the finest thing 1 ever
saw in all my life!'
Bully for you, Lycurgusr' replied
Colonel TOdhunter. 'And 1 bet it'll
be a rip snortin' good poem. too-that
one you wrote at the openin' of the
campaign hit the target plumb center,
suhF'
THE END. .,