The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-25

man, and know, besides, he wouldn't
ask nothing better'n for Miss Mary
to throw me over on account of this SO
that he could marry her. That's the
situation, Colonel Todhunter, and no
man fit to be called a man would let
Siam Tucker go freeT'
''If- you go lookin' for STAN Tucker
now, Tom,'' said Colonel Todhunter
quietly, ''there'n be a shootin' scrape
in less'n two minutes after you two
come together and somebody's mighty
apt to get killed. If it's you, the diff
Guilty amt helped you any that I can
zee. If it's STAN Tucker, then you're
worse of'n ever, because he'll be dead
and you'll be held for KILN him and
Lottie-M May Doggett's accusation will
stand against you. Have some sense,
my boy, before it's too late"
Tom Strickland laughed at the words.
I'LL have sense enough" he retorted.
"I'II see that Siam Tucker don't profit
by this thing. And there's only one
way to see to it-and that's by having
1t out with STAN Tucker himself and
making him tell the truth. You can't
interfere in this matter, sir, even
though you are Miss Mary's father.
No third party can take q hand in it,
SIR"
Colonel Todhunter contemplated the
speaker earnestly for a moment. Then
he nodded.
You're right, Tom," he conceded 'T
reckon you'n Siam Tucker'n have to
sift this out between you, and tn
amt nobody else can lift finger. But
I've just got one favor to ask of you
before you go any further, my boy"
whats that, STRIP asked Tom. ST
don't mean to be disrespectfuI, colonel,
and I'm willing to meet you as far as
! can, but you see now just how things
are between STAN Tucker and me-"
I'm not saying another word" an
swered Colonel Todhunter. 1.-THE only
thing I want you to do, Tom, is not to
20 lookin' for STAN Tucker tonight. In
the first place, he's right here, and
you amt got no business runntn' the
chance of provokfn' a serious personal
difficulty where there's women, and in
the second place, you'd better get
nights sleep for your own good, Tom.
I'm talkin' plain to you, my boy, be-
cause a good deal depends on it. The
chances are million to one that there'll
be some shootin' before you'n STAN
Tucker get through with your argu-
ment, and a cool head and a steady
udI0 are Highly " AoFO
at snch a time
'sI'm cool enough, SIR" replied Tom
Strickland.
But the colonel shook his head.
''Tom.' he said, 81 want you to prom
Use me to go quietly home right now
and go to bed. After tonight the games
in your own hands, and you can play
it any way you see fit. This is all I'm
goin' to ask of you Go home and get
a good nights rest, Tom There was
just the least shake in the speakers
voice.
Tom Strickland hesitated.
go home, Tom,'' said Colonel Tod
hunter. ST wouldn't be a true friend
of your father if l let you take any
foolish chances in an affair of this
kind. And I'm thinkin' of Mary, too,
when say this You go home now"
The colonel's grim lips were trembling
a little.
Tom Strickland nodded. 'All right
colonel he spoke finally. 'fI'l go
home. 1 won't try to do anything fur
ther until tomorrow, sir
"That's all / ask. Tom," replied the
colonel.
But he saw to it that the younger
man got away from the perilous scene
without being subjected to temptation
that might compel him to break his
word. And then. knowing that Tom
Strickland was safely on the road
home Colonel Todhunter looked up
Sim Birdsong without losing a mo-
ment's time.
"Sim," he said, Il want you to see
STAN Tucker tonight without fail and
tell him not to come into town to-
+o h hot
Tom StrickIand's !ookin' for him Oh
account O. this here Lottie-May Dog
gett business and there's a-goin' to be
trouble If they meet, and then you
come back here and tell me what he
says. I'm tryin' to prevent a shootfn'
scrape, Sim, and this is the only way
I can see to do it,
"All right, colonel replied Sim.
''I'll look up STAN Tucker right away
and deliver your message. then I'll re-
port to you again. SUBJ
"'Pn just be eternally condemned -
communed Colonel Todhunter to him
self when Sim had departed on his
mission. eff any other man meddled in
a serious private difficulty of mine like
I'm tneddlin' In this of Tom Strick-
lands I'd tell him in pretty plain Ian
guage what 1 thought of his interfer-
ence, even if I was engaged to his
daughter. But amt got no choice in
the matter. 1 want to save Tom and
keep Mary's heart from bein' broken.
and 1 want to save old Bill Strick-
land from such q tragedy as this
would be, and I've got to take the
bull by the horns to do it. I'll keep
those two young fools apart If I've got
to break my neck a-doin' itP'
CTo be Continued.)