Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-10


man enough 10 try and get Iottie-May
out OF IL myself without bothering any
body else. No, sir. amt mixed up in !
it But. good Lord colonel. / went to
school with Lottie-May when she
wasn't knee high to duck. and
swear Id hate TO see her publicly dis
graced. And you know-and | know
it would hurt old Rafe Doggett so. Il
would break his heart. SIR
Colonel Todhuuter made no reply.
II thought. maybe. if you could get
the chance. colonel" resumed Tom anx-
iously. that you might tell her and so
make it possible for her TO slip away
before the ladies can do what they're
threatening to do. sir. She'll take it
from you. knowing that her GRANDPA
Their was in your old regiment and that
you're telling her for her own good,
where she might fare up ard kick over
the traces if anybody else hlnteo at
such a thing. Don't you think you
! could work it, colonel?"
IF 1 do. Tom" replied Colonel Tod
| hunter, it'll be for old Rafe Doggett's
! sake. Hes too good a man 10 be
| old age. Yes. I'll try TO do it. Tom.
But Id like to wiring the neck of the
/ young rascal that's got old Rates.
! granddaughter in such a mess, subj
! In accordance with this promise Colo
/ mel Todhunter found opportunity to
/ speak with Lottie- May Doggett- Very
frankly he told her of the danger in
which she stood. The girl. vitality beau
tiful, apparently as constituencies as
some wild thing of the woods. flashed
her hot resentment of his words.
Il amt thankin' you for what you've
just said. Colonel Todhunter." she
cried. 1T strikes me you're in mighty
small business to come to me with this
story"
Il reckon l am. Lottie-May." agreed
Colonel Todhunter in all honesty. But
l wanted to save you and your old
grandfather from shame, and that's
why done it"
The girls bosom was heaving with
passionate anger. I'D just like to
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 l amt good enough now
to associate with their daughters? I've
got the right to ask you this. and do
ask it. Who sent you here. Colonel
Todhunter:"
1T 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 rs if she had been
struck Tom Strickland" 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 Id 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 fine game you all are
playin' to get me where 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. They
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
r in for his share of my trouble. Since
him and his sweetheart and his sweet
hearts mother have set the bali roll
: in, he's got to face the music along
: with me-
What do you mean" exclaimed
Colonel TodhuntF.
All color had gone out of the girls
; face as she spoke.
{ IN show you what l mean she
half whispered. her fingers tiuttering
at her throat. I'm show you: / aint
I d good girl no more. Colonel Todhun
= ter. | amt titten TO breathe the same
: air with your daughter Mary. Ton
i Strickland and the rest of ems mighty
anxious to get me out of the way. In
! R-goin', too. But not till I've said my
little say TO Mrs. TOdhunter. sir. No
y till then-not even if judgment day anC
= he'll itself come to me the next min
q ute"
, Stop that. Lottie-May." cried Colo
mel Todhunter sternly. You can't tall
that way without reason-and you ain
got no reason TO say what you've jus
said about Tom Strickland"
- For reply the girl laughed in hi
face-and the next instant she haC
a darted past him.
o Her head high. her eyes flashing. he
g little hands clinched at her side. he
n frame all a-quiver with excitement
IS Lottie-May sped ominOusly to wher'
Mrs. Todhunter stood with group o
n other Nineveh ladies. Mary Todhunte
& standing close behind her mother.
IS Mrs. Todhunter," said the outcas
Y girl. her eyes defantly holding thos'
5 of the person whom she addressed g
IS understand that you want me to leay'
D. this party because you think l ain
n htten TO be here-that I'm bad WON
FL an. Amt that so. ma'am;"
Mrs. Todhunter was at first shocke'
n I-sw- IL. -