Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-26
CHAPTER III.
"For Governor. William J. Strickland
of Nineveh."

heart swelled with an unselhsh
" pridefulress.
The favorite old Mississippi
steamer. Gray Eagle now in full view
from where he stood at the Nineveh
landing. was bringing nomeward the
Hon. William J. Strickland of Nineveh.
at last an avowed candidate for the
Democratic nomination for governor of
Missouri.
Colonel Todhunter himself had or
ganized the public reception at, this
very moment awaiting the most distin-
guished of Ninevehs citizens. III he
shot full o. holes. subj he said TO Dick
Cantrill. editor and proprietor of the
Nineveh Weekly Blade. III we don't
show the people of this here state what
old Bill StrickIa els home folks think
of him. anyway. Tn amt nothin' more
helpful! to 4 candidate than provin
that them rs knows the most about
him has the least against him. sub
What about Squire fuckers opposi-
ton. co.onel?" asked Dick CIntrill.
That's hetter'n his Endorsement.
sub retorted Colonel Todhunter
Long AZ I've known Bill Strickland
If | knew Old Eph Tucker wIs sup
pDrtin him ia bc against him On Sus.
pcion. sun blamed if ! WON dn't,"
Knowing the speaker better than he
knew himself. Dick CaT.riI laughed.
Colonel Todhuutcr and Colonel Strick-
land were friends fyCm boyhood.
Friendship was something in the M
ture OF Il religion with Colore! Tod
hunter. Ia his simple creed H.. did rot
Sinlply Like" his friends He loved
them with Il trustful ste"dfaStuesS that
knew no Invitations of loyalty or of
potential sacrifice
"RarTin' his wife and children. sub"
C0.one: Todhumtcr was wont to say.
n mans friends is al that's wOth
while in This here world of our'n. And
his Old friends. then! that WIS Young
with his! VIXEN nc WAS ua',in' as many
dlTcrent Ei"dSor Il fool uf himSef as
the law aiIoVs-wCil. st!h. til ain't no
price can b" sci on EN-. nei'iior god
ror rub,cs nor .jasncr nor frankiuccnse
and Iu;rrh. rs the good Look says. sab"
Cu!oIc! TnGhuntcr had been vastly
impatient for the return of the Hon.
William J Strickland. When the
Cray Eagle rounded the ipad in The
river two miles below Ninevrh and
walked ,hr Missouri echoes with the
u>'!iov ;unrfulneSs Of her famous bari
tone whistle the coioncIS face became
sp!enadiy il!Enined
There be comes. folks he cried.
There comes old Hill StriCE< nj. the
man were a-GUin' to nominate and
elect governor of MiZZoOrah. All
ready. now: Hip. hip. hCoray."'
4 mighty cheer rose from the crowd
assembled on the Nineveh wharf boat
and smotc afar the ears of Colonel
Bill Strickland where he stood beside
Captain Beverly Leigh on the Gray
Eagles upper deck The candidates.
eyes twinklcd as they met those of the
weathcrbeaten riverman.
That's old Thurs T. Todhunter's do
ing. Bev." he spoke IN bet he's got
nigh about all the male population OF
Nineveh railyin' around him at that
landing. The old rascal"
Once more the cheering from Nine
veh throats rose as the Gray Eagle
neared the landing. and the Hon. vii
liam j. Strickland waved his hand TO
ward the waiting multitude. IT in
creased In volume as he made his wag
downward until he stood picturialiy
framed In at the farther end OF the
lowered gangplank. 1t was q great
moment for Nineveh
Already the Nineyeh brass band was
playing Hail to the Chief with ire
mendous fervor. Tine gorgeously uni
formed Nineve> Light infantry stood
In company front at parade rest he
hind the band All Nineyeh. it seem
ed. was assembled back Of them or
the wharf boat and along the imme
diste river front The ardent gather
ing split the air with shouts Of higl
acclaim as the we'll known figure OF
Colonel Bill Strickland crossed the
steamers gangpIank. The next mo
ment Colonel Thurs T. Tedhunter, ad
vanciDg. was seen to grasp his hand
Each man accomplished a splendid
cavalier sweep of his wide brimmeC
soft hat. Then they stood facing eacf
other in fine attitude of cordial dig
nifty. They were prime types Of two
of the four strains OF pioneer blooC
that are blended in the Missouri typ,
itself. Colonel Todbunter coming Of
Kentucky stock and Colonel Strick
land of Tennessee Virginia and New
England were the other contributor
to the blend. The three southern
states named are responsible for The
emotional endowment that has rnad'
Missouri ''SHciibinders" long famou.
on the Sunni The eastern states hayt
supplied that cooler Stead!er and NOR
practical Strain that constitutes Mis-
souri's balauce wheel in character al
justmenf
Linking arms. Colonel Todhunte
and the Hon, William J Strickland
novel through The applaudins hos ::
70 an open carriage
After :ou. sub" said Colonel Tod
hunter. ceren"Rifcsly waving his com
panion 10 Lie seat Of honor And