The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-03-27


gray-blue eyes twinkled significantly.
Judge" he said. the Nineveh Daugh-
tiers Of the Confederacy are givin' a
picnic down at Indian Springs today.
and they're goin to set a dinner at a
dollar head for the benefit Of the
Confederate Soldiers home at Higgins
vile, sub. l reckon all that amt no
particular news to you, but thought
maybe you'd enjoy goin' down there
with me. sub. Id be tickled to death
to have YOU
Judge Bollings lips twitched You
old devil. you. You couldn't any more
keep from campaigning among the
daughters than a yearling colt can keep
from kicking up its heels in the pas
ture and you know it. You can't fool
me-"
What can't do and what yearlin
colt can't do are two mighty different
things. judge" answered Colonel Tod
hunter. "But | amt connected with
old Bill Stricllland's campaign in 70
official capacity that I'm aware Of. and
if see fit to turn a trick on my own
hook, that's nObOdy's blame business
but mine, subj
Then the colonel chuckled. III tell
you one thing and that amt two: I'd
ruther have woman's promise to
make her husband vote for me or my
candidate than to have a mans own
word on stack o. Bibles a mile high.
sub. It's only up to the man to keep
his word. But it's up to the woman to
prove that she can manage her hus-
band. And she'll do that. sub or die
in the attempt"
Old Judge Boiling laughed. ''Well
Thurs" he said, give just been fooling
with you anyway. Mrs. Todhunter
herself stopped at our house this morn
ing and took Mrs. Boiling along with
her, and she made me promise to come
later, so it's al! right. They'll have no
excuse for saying that we're there In
Colonel Strickland's interest, so you
and l can go down to Indian Springs
with perfectly easy conscience"
An hour later old Judge Boiling and
Colonel Todhunter emerged upon the
picnic grounds in company. having
driven down in the colonel's buggy.
Mrs. Todhunter, white haired old
aristocrat of the antebellum type. adj
vanced to meet her husband and his
friend. If Mrs. Todhunter had fault
it was that she tacitly regarded all
Nineveh as being vassaI to her social
suzerainty and bore herself something
as might the ruling monarch Of some
little principality. But this manner
was not apparent in her bearing to-
ward old Judge Boiling, whom she
knew as being of her own caste.
"I'm very glad you've come. judge
she said laughinsly. And especially
right now. 1t may take you and Colo
mel Todhunter both to make our Mary
and young Tom Strickland behave
themselves, sir Tom has already kid
mapped Mary away somewhere after |
put them to work spreading table
cloths and I've been vowing all sorts
of vengeance on both Of them. don't
approve Of Toms behavior at all.
Judge" 2.-...
1T pains me to disagree with lady.
madam" replied the white haired old
Judge CALAMITY, but must say lap
prove of Toms conduct in getting Miss
Mary Todhunter off to himself at ev'
cry chance. ma'am"
''That's all very fine. judge" said
Mrs. Todhunter, laughing and shaking
her head, but Mary has no business
permitting Tom Strickland to mOnopo-
lie her. She came out here with
Stamford Tucker wouldn't blame
STAN in the least if he got ngly about
It,"
Then Mrs. Todhunter laughed and
pointed an accusing finger. There they
are now, looking as if butter wouldn't
melt in their mouths. Won't you
20 over there for me, judge. and tell
Tom Strickland to behave himself and
send Mary to me right away? There's
no earthly use in Colonel Todhuntet
going, because neither one Of them
would mind a word he saysT Old
Judge Boiling. laughing, moved of to-
ward the young couple
Mrs. Todhunter turned to the colonel
"You see, l know you like book. Colo
mel Todhunter!' she said. her eyes
twinkling. You think everything
young Tom Strickland does is just
right. and you'd stand up for him
quicker than his own father And as
for Mary. she can twist you around her
finger any time. Don't think place
INV liependence upOn YOU where they