Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-06-10

Colonel
! |TODHUNTERj !
Of Missouri
; By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS !:
Copyright. 1911. by the Bobbs-Mer-
rill Company.
CHAPTER v.
In the Nineveh Blade Sanctum.
Copyright. 1911. by the Bobbs-Mer-
rill Company.

| IL
went direct to the office Of the
Nineveh Blade when he had seen Strick.
land OF for st. Louis.
Dick Cantrill. editor Of the Blade,
was red headed young Democrat who
cherished old fashioned principles.
There was no thought in his clean
mind Of devious ways to make politics
pecuniarily profitable. One could no
more have bought" him than one
could have bought" Patrick Henry or
"Old Hickory" Jackson. and he was
Just about as fiery and fearless as
those two earlier Americans. Conse-
quently. many politicians spoke Of him
as that stubborn young fool. Dick
Cantrill Of the Nineveh Blade"
AS Colonel TOdhunter entered the
Blade Office fuming little man almost
extinguished under big and very
rusty silk hat was terminating what
had plainly been stormy interview
with Dick Cantrill.
"Hello. Ephw said Colonel Todhunter.
surprised 1T amt often I find you
hobnobbin' with Dick Cantrill. Go
right ahead Don't let me interrupt
your
There was a wicked smile on young
Cantrills mouth We're just about
done now. colonel" he interposed.
Squire Tucker was trying to induce
me to support Yancey in this campaign.
but had to decline. The Blades for
Colonel Strickland tooth and nail. now
that he's out for the nomination"
And you and the Blade are both
burned fools. sir-that's all I've got to
sayr snapped the little old man under
the big hat You don't know which
side your breads buttered on. Dick
Cantrill!"
Squire" said Dick. grinning coolly.
'thut amt the only viewpoint from
which | look at the matter. | know
Colonel Strickland and I know Steve
Yanrey. and | kcow Strickland's the
best man. That makes 1t my duty to
support him. squirrel"
ITS to your interest to support the
winner. you young idiot. and ! was
talking to you for your own good!
cried old Tucker stephen X. Yancey
has got all the money influence behind
him in this campaign. and he'll he nom
mated by an overwhelming majority
iou'll put up mighty poor mouth
then. Dick Cantrill, begging for the
pibli' printing in the Blade. and I'll
see to 1t that nothing comes your way"
"Go right ahead Crack your whip.
squire." retorted Dick Cantrill calmly.
Il reckon you and have different
ideas about politics. but there needn't
be any hard feelings unless you insist
OF It Anyway. we might as well get
the whole thing thrashed out right
nov. as long as we've got started"
"I'! see n l can't make you change
your tune before I'm done with you'
sir" And old fuckers cold little eyes
narrowed venOmously. you're talk.
ing mlghty big now. Dick Cantrill. but
the Yancey enthusiastically have the
Inst say. my young gamecock"
"Tne Yancey administration be hang.
edw replied Dick Cantrill and then
he laughed and settled back In his
chair. But. shucks. squire. ! can't
talk to you like could to younger
mn Let's 10 easy. You're for Yam
cey. and I'm for Strickland. and that's
nll there tx to it. Every mans got
right to his own opinion in free
country. squire"
Every well. sir. very well, If you
will have it that way" retorted old
Eph Tucker but you're backing a
loser. Dick Cantrill. and you're going
to suffer for 1t. Stephen X. Yancey
will snow Bill Strickland under so
deep that Bits friends II never be
able TO dig him cut. sir!''
Dick Cantrill stretched his arms
al.ovc his head. "Such being the case,
squire" he replied, 1T don't make any
difference TO you Yancey people what
me and the Blade see fit to do. so you
cin just keep your shirt on"
Old Tucker glared ut the amused
speaker.
At this moment a fourth figure was
added to the group. 1t was that of
Lycurgus Quivey. the schoolmaster Of
Nineveh. II gaunt and hOmely repre-
sentative of rustic learning with a
face pathetic in its meek wistfulness.
"Well. well. Lycurgus!' cried Dick
,Cantrill cordially. I'm glad to see
you. Blest II hadn't begun to fear
the Blade wasn't going to have a poem
from you this week. And that would
never do. sir"
Lycurgus Qulvey cleared his throat
nervously. 81 reckon you'll be surpris.
ed, Mr.. Cantrill." he said ut last, but
the truth Is I've written political
poem this time. I know Colonel Strick.
land so we'll. sir, and like him 80
much that thought I'd write Strick.
land campaign song. 1t might do some
good at mass meetings and barbecues
and such things. 1t seemed to me-"
Old Eph Tucker snorted and glared
at the embarrassed speaker. Colonel
Todhunter beamed his approval. Dick
Cantrill's sense Of humor reveled In
the situation
"Bully for you. Lycurgus" he ex-
claimed. That's Just Anel You bet
the Blade will print your campaign
song. And. by George. sir. come to
think Of 1t, here's Squire Tucker doing
hls level best to convert me to the Yam
cey cause. I'll just read your poem to
him and see II 1t won't bring him over
to the Strickland sider
At this old Eph fuckers wrath ex'
ploded.. .l
"You won't do anything Of the sortr'
he calculated. "You and your fool
poets can 60 1t alone supporting Bill
Strickland. It's about all the support
he'll getr'
Then he turned on Lycurgus Quivey.
'As for you. Mr.. Schoolteacher." be
snarled. IF writin' campaign poetry
for Bill Strickland is the best you can
do III see II we can't get you more
time for 1t by gettin' you out Of the
Nineveh school. sir. l can do 1t too.
I'm chairman Of the school board, and
I'll hist you out of your Job without
Iettin' any grass grow under my feetr'