Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-06-03

Colonel
|TODHUNTER
Of Missouri
By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS
} Copyright. 1911. by the Bookseller
rill Company.
By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS
Copyright. 1911, by the Bookseller.
rill Company.

. Copyright. 1911. by the Bookseller =
= rill Company. .
ssssssssssssssssssssssssss
(coNTINUKD.l
1t was premeditated blow at tn
glory of the Todhunter brand OF ora
tory, the cherished pride OF Colone
Thurs T. Todhunter's ardent soul.
Entering the town hall and defianti!
marching up the main corridor to th'
wide double doors that gave a view O.
the Strickland meeting. the Ninevei
bugle and drum corps. heading tn
Stephen X. Yancey Campaign club
awoke the resounding echoes.
Never. 1t would seem. had eartl
heard such clamor Of trumpet ant
tambour.
It crashed into and through the tow
hall assembly room. It rose to th'
roof and came laundering back Int
the aisles. 1t smote the ears as will
cataclysmic bolts Of sound. 1t stllet
the eloquence Of Colonel Thurs T. Tod
hunter as If that mighty speaker wer'
an infant lifting voice against th'
voice Of elemental chaos.
And Colonel Todhunter paused
crestfallen.
Then the lust of righteous battle
famed from his indignant eyes. Ill
waved his right hand with Joviai
gesture. Drive 'em away. Samson!
he shouted You and Sim Birdsong
ain't done yet!
And the gallant Samson Meek ros'
to the occasion. With a mighty wav
of his baton he rallied his bandsmel
I'm close order behind him. Captain
Sim Birdsong. no less dependable
formed the Nineveh Light infantry IL
line behind the band. There was
magnificent flourish Of Samson Meek
silver knobbcd rod Of office, n quicl
command from Captain Sim Birdsong
and then
The Nineveh brass band and tht
Nineveh Light infantry deplOyed Int
the corridor apd charged upon the en-
emy.
1t was an assault sonorous and ir
resistible. Its slogan was "Hail Co
lumba!" This gave the big horns al
almost unearthly opportunity. Tht
little fat fellow with the horn big
germ him" seemed resolved to obey
Colonel Todhunter's injunction and
"blow himself inside out" His fel
lows followed his example. The re
sultant cyclone Of wind clamor wipet
out the Nineveh bugle and drum corps
as If it had not been Triumph shont
on the face Of Drum Major Samson
Meek. trucuIently waving his glitter
ing baton.
But nm ominous cry rose from hi
front. Rush 'eln, boys! Make a rough
house,
Even rs the Strickland forces Leaned
forward for a countering rush init
combat, however. resolute figure
sprang In between the battle lines. Il
was the figure Of Constable Pete Fan
shaw. embodying the law Of Nineveh
It waved q sternly forbidding hand fo
moment.
None O that. you boys" he shout
ed. ~ amt takin' no sides, but thi:
here's a public meetin' and it's my
sworn duty to see that there amt nj
disturbin' of the peace. Siam Tucker
you turn your men right around ant
march 'em out O. here double quick
And you. Tom Strickland. quit you
edgn' up to git lick at STAN! There
amt goin' to be no fghtin' here thi!
load O pOles!'
Every young chap In Nineyeh knew
Pete Fanshaw's fiber. He stood re
strainingly between the lines. He wal
not to be trifed with. II necessar!
he could enlist either faction under thu
standard of the law. to punish the az
gressor If battle were precipitated.
Stamford Tucker glOwered at hin
| for a moment Then his eyes narrow
ed In Il venomous fash ut Tom Strtck
land.
At last. sullenly, Tucker gave the or
der that set the Yancey clan In motor
to abandon the field.
War had been averted.
And five minutes later, again getting
I'D steam. Colonel Todhunter completed
his speech The Hon. William ]. Strick
land advanced to the front Of the stag
and began his own address. Soon thu
| first rally Of the Strickland campaign
| for the govprnorship of Missouri peace
fully tearhed its appointed finish, ant
the crowd dispersed.
CHAPTER w.
Lottie. May Dossett Weaves . Web.
YoTTIE-MAY DoGGETT. her darl
and eager face alight with ex
| citement. had attended the pc
liticul meeting which followe'
the Strickland parade. Nearly al
Nineyeh indeed, ordinarily 80 quiei
was in public evidence this night
grateful for a little diversion.
The girl was a witness therefore +
the dire interruption Of Colonel Tod
hunters speech and had also seen tn
clash of the rival factions. headed b.
Tom Strickland and Siam Tucker He
eyes shone with expectancy Of a pei
sonal encounter between the tw
young men.
Lord, I'd like to see 'em clinch!
she exclaimed, pushing a bit forwar
as she spoke. They'd make a goo
fight, too, seein' az how there ain
been no love lost between 'em 70
some time. bet they'll get at I'll"
Her companion. girl who envie
Lottie-May that partial acceptance b
Nineveh's good families which wa
due to her grandfather's honorabl
Confederate record. laughed bit sig
nificantly. 1T won't be your fault
they don't fight some day. Lottie-Ma
Doggett!' she charged. II hear you'v
been settin' your cap at both OF 'er
in mighty dangerous way"
II amt been doin' nothin' Of tn
sortr' Indignantly denied Lottie-MaJ
resentment in her face. ut amt m
fault II Stnm Tucker sets up to me,
II? And l reckon Tom Strickland
got the same right, amt he7 70
better mind your own business an
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