Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-26

liam ]. Strickland took his place in
the carriage. Colonel TOdhunter fol-
lowed him. The mayor of Nineveh.
the editor of the Blade and other local
celebrities occupied the remaining We
hicles.~
Captain Sim Birdsong of the Nine
veh Light infantry, a veteran of the
Spanish war. now stiffcned until his
spine was as straight and rigid as
ramrod Ordinarily Sim was rather
an awkward young Missourian. sandy |
haired. freckle faced and easily abaSh-
ed. But he became fiercely martial
the moment he donned his regimentals.
''Cump'ny, 'tenshun-n-n" reared Cap
tain Sim. ''Carry-humps, shoulder
humps, Right fo'ward-fo's right
march! Corm right-march.'
Even as the thrilling commands /
were given and the Nineyeh Light in
fantry, in column of fours. came
swinging on and took its station in .
front of the Strickland carriage the !
Nineveh brass band at the head of the |
column struck up Stars and Stripes |
Forever" and the first parade of the |
Strickland campaign for the COVER |
norship of Missouri was under way.
Seems to me. Bill" said Colonel !
Todhunter as the carriage moved off. !
that you came out for the nomination
at exactly the right minute in that st.
Louis announcement OF your'n The
old machine crowds a-backn Steve
Yancey to fare you well. and the peo
pies sick and tired of the whole out
fit. sub. miss my guess if tn amt
stampede in your direction.
Colonel Bill Strickland smiled doubt
fully. Our side seems 20 think that
I'm the best man 10 make the race.
Thurs" he spoke. but you're way off
if you think there amt goim' 10 be a
fight. It'll be hot and heavy straight
down the line. Whoever wins viii win
after the toughest scrabble you and
me ever saw in Missouri politics. my
friend
Il amt objPctin none to Il fight.
said Colonel TodhuntCr. But this is
the fust time in the history of MiZzuo-
rah that the Democrats nominate their
. candidate for governor 1T the polls
stead of in Il nOminatin' convention.
and b'lieve they're a-rnin to make
sure Of an honest MAN. 1t looks good
to me. sub
PauSing for just Il moment hc re
sumed. Here's the way size up the
situation Miz.vorah Democrats KNOW
nov that the old gang is cruokedcr'p
q dogs hind lee. sub. They know
you've been frozen out of the state
committee craftsmanship because that
bunch amt got no more use for yuuu
Il boss thicfS got for Il square sheriff.
I0u stand for ii return To straight pol
ties in their eyes. And now the voters
don't have To leave the ItNninatin
business to Il convention that's fuller
of tricks'n cur dog is of i.caS. sub.
That's why I'm a-counIin Oh your
bcin nominated"
Maybe so replied the other. ''I5ut
the machines going, to tight me all it
( knows low from start to finish. Tie
fiGht1l begin right here in my own
town. Old Eph fucker the richest
man in NirrWeh. Is stephen *. Yam
ccy'S pcrSuuai representative i'm this
nee, o the vondS. aud old Eph TUCKER
hates nle 50 hard it keeps him awake
at nights"
We'll. sub" chucklcd Colonel Tod
hunter. IF the old gang waits for Eph
fucker Ia spend any of his money in
Politics they'll wait "A mighty long time,
sub. lie SquceZes ev'y dollar q his'n
till the eagle screams and flies back
INFO his own pocket. and you know it,.
Colonel Strickland laughed Sudden
ly he held w one finger WHATS
that"
a sound of strident music. punrtuat-
ed by teri lite and hollow thumrings
at rhythmic intervals. came from the
little strip of Nine, ch lying between
them and the town hall.
The light of battle Ieaped into Colo
mel Todhunter's eyes. 'Iil lie eternal
~ fimtammed" he cried. If il amt
that there Ninegeh huGle and drum
corps that's been cavoOrtin' round here
, at the head of the Stephen X. Iancey
Campaign club. You took a-hcre. Sill
Strickland! If them fellows has had
the impudence TO turn ont on parade
when were a-welcomin' you home tC
Ninevch I'll sick our boys on Ia EN- as
sure as nv names Thurs f. Todhun-
ter, subj
Colonel Strickland was laughing ont
right. What did | tell you:" he said
, They haven't lost any time declaring
waE. and somebody's paying guud mon.
ey for it too
Colonel TOdhunter leaned out of the
carriage and spoke 10 the nearest
strickland partisan. You run up yOn-
, der at the head of that there hand.
he said. land tell Samson Meek 10
come back here a minute | want tn
see him.
Samson Meek. leader of the Nineveh
brass band. hurried back. lie was 50
buttoned up and padded in his gor-
geous drum majors uniform. topped
| off with gigantic fur shake. that the
sweat poured down his lank and hon
est Missouri face like rain.
Samson" spoke Colonel TodhuBter
ominously. If wn run across thar Ste
,, phen * Yancey bucIp and drum corps
! want you 70 drown en- out and keen
'em drowned out. sub Do yon under
stsBd:"
, Samson Meek brought his hatnn e