Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-07

Z ~ ~
OF party leaders In the country dis
tricts, his own personal views and am
pie "reminiscences of past campaigns in
the state, his quaint valuation of De
mocracy's great historic figures. He
was in reality being trapped into a self
revelation Behind hts talk, antmating
1t and shining though its unsuspecting
frankness and utter naturalness, ap-
peared the childlike and simple soul
OF the speaker, presented with absO-
Lutte unreserve. The coloners compan-
Ion was the most appreciaive Of listen
ers. and as he listened light Of whim-
sical regard deepened in his eyes.
But I'm a-takin' up a heap Of your
time, subj exclaimed the colonel final.
ly. u reckon you city newspaper men
have TO trot around after news till
your tongues a-hangin' out Of your
mouth a yard long. You mustn't let
me keep you from other things, sub"
Not at all. Colonel Todhunter,"
came the quick response. It's been
well worth while, sir. / intend using
some of your talk, if you have no OBJ
lection. so you're really helping me out,
you know"
The colonel looked at his comps Mon
pityingiy. You're wastin' your pow
der, young man. i can talk by the
hour, but what l say amt got no more
business bein' printed in a great city
newspaper II a Whit o wind a-rustlin
the dry leaves in the woods, sub. You
better be mighty careful. tryin' to
make semethin worth while out o
them there observations OF mine.
Your folks at the paper II think you're
wOrse'n a old huntin' dog that goes
skyhootfn' of hcketysplit after rab-
bit when it's pa'ridges they was
a-countin' on him 20 pint, sub
The newspaper man leaned back and
laughed zestfully. Colonel, I'm will
ing to take the chances on that If you
are. And I'll leave it to you tomorrow
afternoon If don't know what's worth
while when l see 1t, sir. You've given
me a crackerJack talk on Missouri poll
tics, and I'm very much obliged TO you,
colonel"
You're mighty welcome" replied
Colonel Todhunter. genial but doubt.
full. 18th be shot full o holes If / see
how you're 'a-goIn' to write a piece
from what I've been ssyin', sub"
Then suddenly he nodded to his
front What in blue blazes and Sam
I'm Is that man a-doin' thereY' he
asked The one with that piacard in
his hand, squintin' at me every two
seconds and then jabbin' down some
thin with his pencils That's the con.
| foundedeSt most singular proceedin ]
| ever laid my two eyes On, suhr'
The young newspaper man shook
with laughter. Colonel, r>he said, hs
humorous bps tw1tehtng, don't worry
about7that man. He's perfectly harm.
less- know him Hes got a bug on
! political eeaebrttieA, hr. Ess q cnse OF
bats I'm his bslfrys On that one subject
/ He goes Around REGARDING his fnspneS
sio0s at close range during every cam.
patgn tust the way 700 SIC him now
Most remarkable character, COLONEL
I've known him for a long ime.-
We'll. sub" replied Colonel Todhunt
er. I'll he eterzaily condemned IL hs
mustn't ma wrote q wsoIe back ahaui
me, then. Hes been in bbsaS that there
pencil O htsin- up an6 down for la
last tSSnnty minutes er 80 worse,a q H.
tie girl play4A' tit-tat4aoo behind he,
| JosRphy curin' ssaooIGIs1e, suhr'
LIE uRUHnQnars mar. -.
Laughter frsD' hts eges. TN take hifn
away now, esimel,' he said at iaxx
rising I've cot 70 20 back to ths
once, Gnd 1t always tiezies him to tail
70 soaasbody eheat his Impressions.
expect he'll have q lot to say abea,
you, SIR
We'll, yes keep II dark. sah. n h,
ooes- replisd Colonel Todhuntar. -
got enough 70 stand up under here ir
~ Louis gIthept no comments from
HEsh m almighty curious specimen a
humanity sSathat. saAF'
Ans at thiE mo leysRsaer fnsn fair
" e1pteded, He was stfH shaatns
"itf laughter when he Joined the ,uvs
tefiouS stfapgrT, Tue iEttnr nsnsnasiz
] 49, PNAClts STUCK ais oil az
eatsosasa Under his srB. and tAeH To
getheF the TIVE departed.
"lFs this iisna esrzy-liks city Me tina,
makes such WRECKS rs that poor ssmpl.
ssnon,H unused the coionel. -Ecad' n
beats me Why any human hein' /,
Tiilin' 70 Hive IT, Jet sIsne pay such I
price as that for it' But Il takes ar
sorts o people to make a world. III
just be Jim sEizzled il Il dsn.t SUR
The next afterneea whea Colone
Todhunter's eyes fell on the frsnt nag,
OF the leading independent Denerrati,
paper Of st Louis he fairly gasaet
with horreF. Then followed an slmoS
tragic pause as he absorbed the full
meaning OF what bad so suddenI,
stricken him With dismay The mex
moment he handed the Newspaper Z