Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-17
COL. ToDHUNTER. MISSOURI
Continued from Page ren)
suickland's friends near the door.


Suickland's friends near the door.
And twenty minutes later Thomas
". Strickland stood free man. cleared
of the dreadful crime that had been
laid TO his doing.
But Colonel Todhunter was not
among those who first crowded around
Tom Strickland with their congratula-
tons. He went instead to where he
had seen old Rafe Doggett almost fur
lively join Lottie-May, sitting apart
within the rallied Enclosure after having
given his testimony. Alike upon the
faces of the old man and his grand
daughter there rested an expression OF
! pathetic dread.
What air they a-goin' to do to my
girl. Colonel Todhunter:" asked old
/ Doggett piteously. "'Tain't all her
/ fault that she done what she done,
keepin' her mouth shet about Chicka-
saw Jesse and then runnin' away With
! him. She wanted to tell all she know
! ed, but she was a-skeered for her life.
/ Colonel Todhunter l amt excusin
her none for her own badness. God
J
punish her along o. Chickasaw Jesse's
SIM
The law amt goin' to punish her,
Rafe," replied Colonel Todhunter. 1--WE
already made sure just how Lottie-
May stands. She'd ha' been an accom-
plice o. Chickasaw Jesse's for not COM
In here at first and tellin' what she
knew If the truth wasn't plain now
that she didn't tell because Chickasaw
Jesse threatened to kill her If she did.
And her wantin' to testify in Tom
Strickland's behalf and dom it. like
she did proves that she was innocent
just the minute she was a free agent.
I've laid all these facts before the
court, Rafe. The law amt goin' to pun
ish Lottie-May."
Old Rafe Doggett bowed his white
head as if in prayer.
Thank the Lord God Almighty" he
spoke at last And me and Lottie
May won't trouble Nineveh's folk:
after this day. I'm a-goin' away fun
D here. Colonel Todhunter. l couldn'
L live here no more to save my life. AnC
l Lottie-Nay's a-goin' with me-goin
l somewhere away fun here where he
l mothers shame and hers won't be IL
? ever body's mouth like now in Nine
veh."
You can go any time you want to
? Rafe." said Colonel Todhunter. 'Th
amt no charge against Lottie-May OF
the docket O. this court. You can s.
s. now if you feel like it"
e The old man and the young CIR
moved toward the door.
Colonel Todhunter accompanied them
= screening both. as far as lay in hi
power. from the curious staring of tn
multitude.
Lottie-May spoke no word durin
= their progress. Her face was still tens
= with the shadow Of that dread but late
Il lifted from her soul. More than eve
did she seem the Hagar of this littl
% Missouri community-a Hagar now &C
&C ing into uttermost exile.
&c At the door she turned and locke
8 back into the courtroom. Her eye
70 rested upon Tom Strickland's fac,
&c A great Joy shone IN her eyes. Tom
&c glance fingered with a deep fondnes
IS upon this girl whom he loved so DEAR!
10 With little cry of poignant hear
IS break Lottie-May DogGett threw on
&c arm across her grandfathers nc
&c stopped shoulders. seeming TO dra'
20 him and herself beyond the seeing {
that which had SO moved her TO uncol
q trollable anguish.
The next moment the door had close
= upon the two, shutting them out frol
NinevehS vision