The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-03-13
/ Colonel
TODHUNTER
of Missouri
By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS
Copyright. 1911. BY the Bobbs-MerlH
=. -. Company


=, <e1se- OO-'poHy >-.szc-
eContinued.)
--Colonei Todnunter,'' said Sim sol
EMMY, you're the very man wanted
TO see, sub. I'm in a peck of trouble,
and I'm a-goin' to ask you to tell me
the best way out of it, If you'll be so
kind. srh-you haEins more experience
1rrth9 SFarld tlisn metz
sim replied Colonel Todhunter, SCI
don't know whether I can or not, but
11lsdo my level best, sub. Specify your
trouble"
Colonel" responded Sim wearily,
'1t's Miss Angelica Exalrs ma; that's
what it is. l can't shake her OFF, sub.
TaaHt old. woman,as GForsg1 the seven
year 101hss L cant GET nd of her for
minute. Colonel Todhunter."
'sWhat do you want me to do, Sim?'
Il want you to see if you can't toll
Miss Angelica's ma away from her for
a little while. colonel; that's what
want The old lady. hates me worse'n
poison, so dasn't come right out and
face-her, sub ! can see right now,
plain as the nose on my face, that I've
got to leave this picnic without sayfn'
a blessed word to Miss Angelica less'n
somebody helps me out o. the fix I'm
/ in Couldn't you figure out some way
of doin' it, sub? Miss Angelica's ma
thinks heap o. you" ,
Colonel TodhunteF smiled grimly.
'-Sin, there amt but one way. and
that's by draggin' Mrs. Todhunter into
it 1 amt got no business dom that,
but TIL try IL can make the rifle. I'll
see IL I can't fool Mrs. Todhunter into
sendin' word to old Mrs. Exall that she
1r. 20 hnfva n EQr1<i
you got to hide out when that word is
delivered, sub From what you say
Miss Angelica'H have to GO right along
with her ma If there's any sign O. you
bein' I'm the neighborhood, Sim
Colonel TodhuElter. that's mighty
fne idea, and believe it'll work like
charm. sub. If get any kind of talk
with Miss Angelica. colonel, I'll be
grateful to you all the rest OF my born
days"
Colonel Todhunter chuckled, but
made no reply. The next moment he
was headed for the spot where his
wife ruled the dinner arrangements.
well. well, Colonel TodhunterI'' that
lady cried "Im certainly surprised to
see you. honey. But reckon you must,
have heard that all the works done
and dinners about ready, and you're
too hungry to wait any longer
Colonel Todhunter laughed into Mrs.
Todhunter's bantering eyes. Mary"
he said '1 want you to do a good turn
for poor Sim Birdsong."
why. what in the worlds the mat
ter with Sim? That boy hasn't gone
and hurt himself. has.her'
Mary" said Colonel Todhunter,
''Stm's havin' the very old scratch of
time He's tryin' to get just a minutes
chance to court Miss Angelica Exall.
and her ma won't let him. have it. We
got to help him. Don't you need old
Mrs ExaII over here for minute?''
Mrs. Todhunter contemplated her
husband sternIy
well. do declare. Colonel Todhunt-
erI'' she CALCULATED eff 1 was such a
dyed in the wool matchmaker as you
I'D be afraid to go out among young
folks at all. You ought to be ashamed
of YOURSELF.
But Colonel Todhunter held his
ground manfully. He knew Mrs. Tod
hunter. Her bosom yearned even now
to succor Sim Birdsong in his senti-
mental plight "a 1 a&L11Kf u y
You go and tell Mrs Exan to hurry
over, here she said 1T so happens
that 1 do need her to help dish up the
dinner If 1 didn't I wouldn't send for
AeE u save SAH DAFuSOHSS llIe. but
Colonel Todhunter knew better.
Half an hour later Sim wayIaid him
in a grateful ambuscade. Colonel Tod
hunter he said. 1T worked And I've
said some words to Miss Angelica Elk
all that I've been trying to say for a
month. sub III never forget you and
Mrs Todhunter the longest day / live,
aolonel.'
Later in the afternoon Colonel Tod
hunter laughed to himself
I'll tell you. subj he concluded, eff
old Bill Strickland amt solid with the
Daughters of the Confederacy here in
Nineveh it amt my fault. amt never
worked so hard with the women since
courted Mrs. Northumberland she
shore did make me work overtime and
no mistake, suhr'