The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-20
! Colonel
TODHUNTER
of Missouri
By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS
Copyright, 1911, by the BObbS-Merrill
Company
(COntinued.)

expenses. Old Governor Leslie was
sure he could raise a Strickland cam
paign fund by asking the right men
and telling them what he proposed to
do with it, they knowing that Steve
Kancey amt fit to be governor of Mis-
souri, But so far he's met with mighty
poor success He. told me all about 1t
in St Louis yesterday. I amt got
dollar in the world, and we've estab-
lished headquarters in st. Louis and
Kansas City that's got to be kept up.
How we're going to do it is what 1
can't figure OUT
The two old friends faced each other
silently.
THAT certainly is a serious situation,
Bill" spoke Colonel Todhunter at last
ITS so almighty serious, Thurs re-
turned the other, that 1 can't see my
way out OF it,
But at this Colonel Todhunter snort
ed That's where you're wrong, Bill
Strickland" he exclaimed. give been
in tighter places N anybody on earth,
'ceptin' the fellow who come out Of
spree with hot coppers in hades, but
I'll be Jim swizzled If ever got into
one couldn't get out of. And we amt
in that kind of a one now. How much
money do you needT
Colonel Strickland shook his head.
There's no good you and me figuring
along that line, old fellow. We need
at least 5000, and while it's pretty
certain old Leslie will raise that amount
eventually that doesn't cut any ice
now. We need the money right here at
the start" ..---... ~
"And you can't raise it," asked Colo
mel Todhunter. Is
enc Colonel
Strickland. "And get what a man
deserves for thinking he knows how to
save the country when he don't even
know how to take care of himself"
THAT amt so, Bill" answered Colo
mel Todhnnter sturdily. t'And anybody
that thinks they canzkeep you from be-
In governor of Mizzoorah simply be-
rause you're a poor man has got an
other think comm, sub. You draw
your personal note for $4,000 in my
favor I'll indorse it right here, and if
I don't get that money it's because the
Nineveh National bank don't know
good thing when 1T sees it,
What do you mean, Todhunter?"
asked Colonel Strickland, instant pro-
test in his eyes.
81 mean this, Bill Strickland" re-
Piled Colonel Todhunter. I'm the first
to raise that there campaign fund. In
the second place, all heaven and hell
hates a gutter, and you amt a-goin'
to be one. In the third place, the Tod
hunter farm is as pretty. a piece of
collateral for a Sc, 0Oo-ioan as old. Shy
lock himself would have the heart to
ask
That's exactly what 1 thought you
were going to say" quietly CONNIE ted
Colonel Strickland. 'tBut it don't go
for a minute. 1 amt going to tie you
up on this proposition
9TH amt nobody goin' to tie me up
said Colonel Todhunter. "And I amt
goin' to tie myseIf HI5 etther I'm. goin'
to tie the other fellow up. I'll tie up
them there tricksters in St. Louis that's
quesrin' old Governor LesIie's game
They're the ones that's putin a frost
on the Strickland campaign fund. If
they can do that successfully they've
got you whipped right here and now.
But I'm a-goin' to fool en-
mo, Thurs, don't do it," protested
Colonel Strickland. Putting up a
FOOD fight is one thing, but running
Jour friends is something entirely diff
ferent. 1 haven't fallen that low yet"
You haven't fallen anywhere said
Colonel TOdhunter, but you've got my
fghtin' blood up, and by the Lord Har-
~, if you amt man enough to fight
alongside O. me, I'll fight by myse1fr'
''Todhunter,' said Colonel SfrickI
its all wrong. You haven't got any
call to do thing like that for me.''
1.-The man that amt got no call to
help friend that needs help" replied
Colonel TOdhunter, ''ain't got no call
to keep on livin'. You set down there
and make out that there note"
Reluctantly Colonel Strickland obey
ed But he smiled cynically as he
passed the paper to Colonel Todhunter
You forget. Thurs he said, that
old Eph Tucker is president of the
Nineveh National bank Is he likely
to finance our campaign against Steve
Yancey?''
Colonel Todhunter laughed. ''I amt
forgettin' nothin','' he responded "And
don't you forget that old Eph Tucker
was note shaver long before he was
a politician. and he's got note Shawn
In his blood bigger'n a mule. He
couldn't no more let a good piece of
paper get away from his bank than he
could fly, and angels'H have to be
mighty scarce before old Eph Tucker
hoes any flynn"
Nevertheless when Colonel Todhunt-
n presented the Strickland note, IN
-Orsed by him and with his unencum-
bered farm as collateral, for discount
he found old Eph Tucker solicitously
nquisitive.
whats it all about, Colonel Tod
hunter?" the banker asked. You and
Bill Strickland going i'll together on
some business deal? What's the con-
sideration for the note2"
Colonel Todhunter looked old Tucker
square in the eyes. "Eph,' he replied
I'm goin' to play my cards face up on
the table. Bill Strickland needs mon
ey to pay his campaign expenses
That's why I'm indOrsin' his note and