Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-06-17

'ceDtin' the fellOW WnO-colle out VI
spree with hot coppers In hades. but
I'll be Jim swizzled If ] ever got into
one couldn't get out Of. And We ain'I
in that kind Of one now. How much
money do you need"
Colonel Strickland shook his head
There's no good you and me figuring
along that line. old fellow. We need
at least $1,000. and while it's pretty
certain old Leslie will raise that amount
eventually that doesn't cut any Ice
now. We need the money right here at
the start"
"And you can't raise it?" asked Colo
mel Todhunter.
mo, can't" answered ColoneI
Strickland "And get what man
deserves for thinking he knows how to
save the country when he don't even
know how to take care Of himself"
THAT uint so. Bill" answered Colo
mel Todhunter sturdily. And anybody
that thinks they can keep you from be-
In governor Of MIzzoorah simply be
cause you're u poor man has got an
other think comm. sub. You draw
YOUR personal note for $4,000 in my
favor I'll indorse It right here. and II
| don't get that money it's because the
Nineveh National bank don't know
good thing when II sees It."
what do you mean. TodhunterE
asked Colonel Strickland. instant pro
test In his eyes.
~ mean this, Bill Strickland" re
piled Colonel Todhunter I'm the first
place, old Governor Leslie Is dead sure
to raise that there campaign fund. lr
the second place, all heaven and hel!
hates a gutter. and you amt a-goin
to be one In the third place. the Tod
hunter farm is as pretty a piece OF
collateral for q $1,000 LOAF. rs old Shy
lock himself would have the heart to
ask"
That's exactly what thought you
were going to say" quietly commented
Colonel Strickland. "But 1T don't 60
for minute. amt going to tie you
up on this proposition"
9TH amt nobody goin' to tie Inc up.
said Colonel Todhunter. And ! amt
goin' to tie myself up. either I'm goir'
to tie the other fellow up. III tie up
them there tricksters In st. Louis that's
Queerin' old Governor Leslle's game.
They're the ones that's putin frost
on the Strickland campaign fund. If
they can do that successfully they've
got you whipped right here and now
But I'm a-goin' to fool EN-"
mo, Thurs. | don't do It." protested
Colonel Strickland. Putting up n
good fight Is one thing. but running
your friends is something entirely diff.
ferent. haven't fallen that low yet. >
you haven't fallen anywhere" said
Colonel Todhunter. but you've got my
hghtin' blood up. and by the Lord Har'
ry. II you amt man enough to fight
alongside O. me. I'll fight by myself"
"Todhunter." said Colonel Strickland.
Its all wrong. You haven't got any
call to do thing like that for me-"
"The man that ain't got no call to
help a friend that needs help" replied
Colonel Todhunter. "ain't got no call
to keep on llvin'. You set down there
and make out that there note"
Reluctantly Colonel Strickland obey
ed. But he smiled cynically as he
passed the paper to Colonel Todhunter
You forget. Thurs" he said. that
old Eph Tucker is president Of the
Nineveh National bank Is he likely
to finance our campaign against Steve
Yancey?"
Colonel rOdlIunter laughed. 81 ain't
forgett!n' no'hiu'." he responded And
don't you forget that old Eph Tucker
was note shaver long before he was
a politician. and he's got note Shawn
In his blood higger'n Il mule. He
couldn't M more let good piece OF
paper get AWAY from his bank than he
could fly. and angels'll have to be
mighty scarce before old Eph Tucker
does any ayin'."
Nevertheless when Colonel Todhunt
er presented the Strickland note. In
dorsed by him and with his unencum-
bered farm as collateral. for discount
he found old Eph Tucker sol!citously
inquisitive.
whats 1t all about. Colonel Tod
hunter?" the banker asked. "You and
Bill Strickland going In together on
some business deal? What's the. con
sideration for the note?"
Colonel Todhunter looked old Tucker
square In the eyes. "Eph." he replied
I'm gofn' to play my cards face up OIL
the table. Bill Strickland needs mon
ey to pay his campaign expenses
That's why I'm indorsin' his note and
askin' this bank to discount It."
Old fuckers little eyes narrowed
"And you're gettin' no good out Of II
yourself?" he asked. studying Colonel
Todhunter curiously. "You're lending
your credit and risking your farm just
to help Bill Strickland along In poll
tics2"
"That's what I'm doin', Eph." replied
Colonel Todhunter.
"Then," said the banker. you're a
bigger fool than took you for. Bill
Strickland amt good for 500 with this
bank"
"He's good for any amount with me.
Eph," returned Colonel Todhunter, q
sudden menace In his tone. But that
amt the question. Is this note good
as It stands nowT
"Bill Strickland don't staId no more
show for the nomination than a rab
Bit" spoke old Tuker. Hell never
get his hands or the governors salary
If that's what' you're counting on. Colo
mel TodMnter."
"Eph. said Colonel Todhuntsr. "rll