Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-03-21

preached tn. subject and I've heard
what | have will you let me give you
a word OF adviceE'
"Certainly. colonel" replied Tom.
well. Tom. sreakin' plainly. it's this
You better ticht mighty shy of Iottie-
May hereafter sub. | don't mean any
thing against { girl. But she thinks
lot of you. and she don't mind lettin'
you know it, and that makes mighty
I dangerous situation"
Then. seeing that the young man was
i'll at ease and maybe inwardly resent
full. Colonel Todhunter left him, to his
Obvious relief.
But the colonel himself shook his
mead doubtfully. There amt no big
ger foot on earth. sub" he communed
with himself. than a healthy young
chap in his twenties. with a head fuller
of women than II squash is Of seeds
and just about as soft as that there
squash. too. sub. | don't like to think
! of Tom Strickland. with Mary on one
side of him. and him lovin' the very
ground she walks on. and Lottie-May
| Doggett on the other side of him and
her lovin' him the way she does love
| him.
Even as he thus unused an approach
ing figure brought Il humorous grin to
Colonel Todhunter's lips. 1t was the
martial figure of Captain Sim Birdsong
of the Nineveh light infantry. but
without the aggressive support of his
regimentals and with detection in ev.
cry line Sims face was the tragic
mask itself
Great name above. cap'n." vocifer-
ated the colonel. mock apprehension in
his tone. what in thunderation is the
matter. sub? You look like you'd lost
your last friend on earth!'
Colonel Todhunter,' 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. suh-you havin' more experience
in the world than me-"
sim" replied Colonel Todhunter. IL
don't know whether can or not. but
I'll do my level best. sub. Specify your
trouble"
! Colonel" responded Sim YEARLY
Its Miss Angelica EXalrS ma; that's
what it is. | can't shake her off. sub
That old womans worse'n the seven
year itch. can't get rid Of her for Il
minute. Colonel Todhnnter.''
"What 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
.I,sI 81
want The old lady hates ME worse'n
poison. SO | dasn't come right out and
face her. sub. | can see right now.
plain us the nose on my face. that I've
got to leave this picnic without sayin'
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 dom it. sub? Miss Angelica's ma
thinks a heap O. you
Colonel Todhunter smiled grimly
"Sim. there amt but one way. and
that's by draggin' Mrs. Todhunter int
it. amt got no business dom that,
but I'll try If can make the rifle. III
see If | can't fool Mrs. Todhunter into
sendin' word to old Mrs. Exall that she
needs her to help with the dinner. But
you got to hide out when that word Is
delivered. sub. From what you say
Miss Angelicall have to go right along
with her ma If there's any sign O. you
bein' in the neighborhood. SIM"
Colonel Todhunter. that's mighty
fine idea. and believe It'll work like a
charm. sub. II get any kind Of a 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.
I well. well. Colonel Todhunterw that
lady cried. "l'm 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. II want you to do 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 hep"
Mary" said Colonel Todhunter
''Sims havin' the very old scratch of
time He's tryin' to get just minutes
chance to court Miss Angelica Exall.
and her ma won't let him have 1t. We
got to help him. Don't you need old
Mrs. Exall over here for minute?'
Mrs. Todhunter contemplated her
husband sternly.
'Well. do declare. Colonel Todhunt-
err she calculated. "If 1 was such a
dyed in the wool matchmaker as you
Id 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.
You go and tell Mrs Exall to hurry