The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-06-26
Colonel
TODtiUNTFR
of Missouri
By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS
Copyright. 1911. BY the Bobbs-MerrB
Company
CHAPTER VII.
Colonel Todhunter Cuts Wide Swath
In Mssouris Metropolis.

u
In Missouri's Metropolis.
ITO Colonel Todhunter, a country.
man born and bred and of an
innate rusticity of soul that
was an essential part of his
being, contact with the throbbing life
of big city was so rare and foreign
picturesque unlikeness to the urban
that it never failed to emphasize his
type He stalked into the busy st.
I,Ouis Headquarters of. the Hon. Will
liam ]. Strickland on the parlor floor of
{the Iaclede hotel, the living embodi-
ment of that political figure dear to
the amused metropolitan Imagination.
..the delegate from the rural districts"
1t was a brave and honest face that
showed itself in Colonel Bill Strick-
lands private office, but somewhat dis
mayed at thought of an impending
ordeal
.Pll lust be eternally whipsawed If
YOU amt a-tryin' to make round peg
fit into a square hole Billt' he protest
ed earnestly something like awe OF
his surroundings stamped upon his sun
burned features. I'm .willin' to do
most anything in the world for you.
and you know it. But when you turn
me loose in a big town like this and ex-
pect me to behave like anything
more'n wall eyed pillow horse with his
tail full o. cockleburs I'll be everlast-
dn'ly condemned if you amt maxim
mighty serious mistake, subj
Nonsense, Thurst' laughed Colonel
Strickland. I'm counting on you for
some ST. Louis speeches thatH be
worth their weight in gold, my friend.
We need you here, SRA man that
talks old fashioned American Democ-
racy straight from the shoulder. City
politicians have forgotten what the
real Democratic doctrine Is, Thurs, and
we've got to revive it in the peoples
hearts if we expect 'em to vote right.
That's why | want you to help me
open my St Louis campaign. You've
got to do it, Thursr
Colonel Todhunter gazed at his friend
pensively Bill" he said. I'm a-goin'
to do it, as you well know. I'd strip
the shirt off'n my back and head per-
cession wavin' 1t for a Strickland ban
ner if you asked me to. whether
thought it was the best thing to do I'M
der the circumstances or not. But
bid you remember, Bill. that | warned
you in time It'll be your fault II you
have occasion to regret havin' brought
me in from the pasture and stacked
me up against these here bang tailed
city thoroughbreds, sub"
'I'll take the chances, old fellow,
said the candidate, his eyes twinkl1ng.
-'You just oblige me now for old
friendships sake and I'll be response
bic for everything that happens after
ward. / amt the least bit afraid.
"I'll eat my hat if l don't wish
could say the same. subj" calculated
Colonel Todhunter. vehement panic
In his tone. Pm skeered to the mar
row, sub. because I'm out o my balli-
wick and up against a proposition that
1 don't know any more about n a hog
knows about holiday sub. And
you're a-goin to discover. sub. before
we get through with this piece of fool
1shness that | had mighty good rea-
sons for bein' skeered too"
"Shucks. you old warhorser' laughed
Colonel Bill Strickland. '.Once you
get into the fight you'll warm up like
a two-year-oId and show these st.
Louis folks what real Missouri DEM
ocrat is. You're going to make the
hit of your life. sirl'
maybe / am and maybe | amt.
Bill Strickland" quoth Colonel Tod
hunter moodily. but all ask at the
finish is that you'll remember it
want me that made the prediction.
sub. Pm a natural born optimist. |
sub, but that don't necessarily mean
that I'm a natural born jackass at all
times and under all circumstances and
on all subjects. as some folks seem
to think. suhr'
And in this frame of mind Colonel |
Todhunter returned into the general
headquarters offices and was intro |
duced to his Nineveh friends st |
Louis hackers and campaign staff.
A quiet young newspaper man who
happened to be drifting through the |
rooms seemed instantly impressed by |
Colonel Todhunter's picturesque per-
sonality. He studied the colonel In
tently, a growing appreciation in his
thoughtful and latently humorous
eyes.
After exchanging a few words with I
this new addition to the Strickland
forces the journalist went into one OF
the private telephone booths at the
end of the reception room and called
up his paper. Then he came back TO
Colonel Todhunter. engaging him In
conversation. A few minutes later
second man casually appeared and I'M
stationed himself where he
had a good front view Of the colonel.
who was being deftly led into political
by his new acquaintance.
Colonel Bill Strickland, passing
through the main room at one moment,