The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-05-15

Colonel
":TODHUNTER !
OF Missouri"
By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS :
Copyright, 1911, by the Bobbs-Mer- :
rill Company. 3
By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS
Copyright, 1911, by the Bobbs-M
rill Company.
CHAPTER XII.

lduu 3 OWu IeIUEu uOLIG. liz
came in response to an urgent tele-
graphic summons from the candidate,
whom he found in close conference
with Major Gentry Dryden. one Of
Missouri's most famous criminal law
yers. Colonel Todhunter was with
them.
well bring Tom through all right,
governor" said Colonel Strickland. al
though his worn and worried face be-
lied the brave words. but in the mean
time thought it best to get you down
here so that could straighten myself
out in the matter Of my campaign for
the nomination for governor with as
little delay as possible"
z"What do you mean to do?" asked
ID Leslie.
-lmean to withdraw from the race"
replied Colonel Strickland. II can't
run, carrying this weight Of Toms
trouble. It's got me beat right now.
I won't ask my friends to make
hopeless fight"
you'll stay right where you are. :"
said Governor Leslie. you're not re-
sponsible for Toms reckless folly, and
the Democratic voters in Missouri
won't hold you responsible"
1.-THE Yancey crowd will make it ap-
pear that the killing OF STAN Tucker
was political murder" Colonel
Strickland answered. They're doing
1t already. Their newspapers are han
ding the case along that line. They've
published the story Of the quarrel be-
tween Tom and STAN Tucker the night
we opened my campaign here in Nine
veh and of their fight in the barrsom
the next day. They point out that old
Eph Tucker IS my bitterest political
enemy and that he and his son were
working tooth and nail for Stephen X
Yancey and that this political feud has
resulted in the assassinatio of Eph
fuckers son by my son. It's pretty
black story handled that way. and it'll
do me all sorts Of harm throughout the
state" ...... +.. ..-.
''They can't ignore the facts In the
case," retorted Governor Leslie. I'm
the first place, as l understand it. your
son himself doesn't know that 1t was
he who shot STAN Tucker He's bound
to plead not guilty. and the prosecu-
tons got to prove the fact. Of guilt.
In the second place, the real reason for
deadly trouble between Tom and STAN
Tucker was the story told by that Dog
gett girl and its bearing upon their
rivalry for the hand Of Miss Mary Tod.
hunter. The Doggett story puts an en-
tirely new light on the feud between
the two boys" ..
mot the way the Yancey organs are
presenting It," said Colonel Strickland.
1T only serves to intensity the original
trouble and to make a thrilling muir
der story with what they call roman
tic as we'll as political trimmings.
They're featuring it on that basis. and
they're going to get Steve Yancey nom-
mated just that way"
II thought this was what you want
ed to see me about" commented old
Governor Leslie, $50 had a confer
ence with the st. Louis men who
worked with me to put you in the
race. But before tell you any more
about that l want to ask you just one
question, Bill Strickland" ~. ~@
A moment of silence followed these
words. Colonel Strickland held Gov
ernor Leslie's eyes with his own in
quiringly.
do you want your son to be con-
victed of the murder Of Stamford
Tucker?" asked Governor Leslie.
Good God, man" cried Colonel
Strickland. How can you ask such
q thingY'
Governor Leslie turned to Major
Gentry Dryden. Dryden" he queried.
what would be the effect of Colonel
Strickland's withdrawal from the cam
paign, at this timer
1T would be taken as confession OF
his belief in his sons guilt. It would
be the worst blow possible to the de-
tense right now. should strongly
protest against Colonel Strickland's
withdrawal"
"There you are!' exclaimed old Les
lie, turning to the candidate. That
was exactly the view ! took Of it
you've got to consider your sons In.
terests above all else. Strickland.
And now I'll tell you what your St
Louis hackers said. They authorized
me to refuse to accept your with
drawal az candidate for the Demo
cratic nomination for governor Of Mis-
souri,. Aside from whatever personal
regard they may have for you. they
believe that, even rs matters now
stand, you're the strongest man In the
state and that you've still got better
sighting chance to win than any ether
man would have You've got to stay
"a, strickland.
::.But, good Lord. man. how can !
nsht to ny purpose7'' asked Colonsl
stricklaad pitsously = must 81
e-a-s 3.itA you, - 4 tell yo1 righei
1eW fAak c. M1th