The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-04-03
THE LEON REPORTER, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1913.

march 'em out o. here double quick
! And you, Tom Strickland. quit your
| edsin up to git lick at STAN! There
| ain't goin' to be no fightin' here this
| load O pOIeS.'
Every young chap in Nineveh knew
! Pete FanshaW's fiber. He stood re-
! strainingly between the lines. He was
not to be trihed with If necessary
he could enlist either faction under the
standard Of the law. to punish the az,
gressor If battle were precipitated.
Stamford Tucker gIowered at him
for moment. Then his eyes narrow
ed In yenomous fash at Tom Strick-
land
| At last, sullenly. Tucker gave the or.
! der that set the Yancey clan in motion
to abandon the field.
War had been averted.
And five minutes later. again getting
up steam. Colonel Todhunter completed
his speech The Hon William j. Strick-
land advanced to the front Of the stage
and began his own address. Soon the
! first rally of the Strickland campaign
for the governorship Of Missouri peace
fully reached its appointed finish, and
the crowd dispersed.
CHAPTER w.
Lottie May Dogeett Weavss a Web.
YOTTIE-MAY DOGGETT. her dark
and eager face alight with ex-
element. had attended the po-
litical meeting which followed
the Strickland parade. Nearly all
Nineveh indeed, ordinarily 80 quiet,
was in public evidence this night,
grateful for little diversion.
The girl was witness therefore to
the dire interruption Of Colonel Tod
hunters speech and had also seen the
clash Of the rival factions, headed by
Tom Strickland and STAN Tucker. Her
eyes shone with expectancy Of per-
sonu encounter between the two
young men.
Lord, I'd like to see em clnch!"
she exclaimed. pushing a bit forward
as she spoke. They'd make a good
fight, too. seem as how there amt
been no love lost between EN- for
some time. l bet they'll get at it,
Her companion, girl who envied
I.ottie May that partial acceptance by
Nineveh's good families which was
due to her grandfather'T honorable
Confederate record. laughed bit sig
niticanty ut won't be your fault if
they don't fight some day. ttie-May
Doggett' she charged. Il hear you've
been settin' your cap at both of em
in a mighty dangerous way.
II amt been doin' nothin Of the
sort" Indignantly denied Lottie-May.
fault if STAN Tucker sets up to ME. IS
it: And I reckon Tom StrickIands
got the same right, amt he? You
better mind your own business and
let my affairs alone"
Land alive! What spit cat about
nothin'!" protested the other. But
Tom Strickland better leave STAN
Tucker alone. My brother says Siam
always carries pistol and is a dan
gerous man when his blood's up
Lottie-May's eyes flashed instant dis
.dain. II reckon Tom Strickland can
take care Of himself" she retorted hot
ly. II wouldn't be afeared for him in
a difficulty with STAN Tucker"
Her companion laughed triumphant
ly. 81 caught you that time, Lottie-
May" she cried. II just wanted to see
which you liked the best, STAN or Tom.
And it's Tom, that's who it is"'
you think you're smart, don't your
countered LottieMay, but blushing an
grily. well, you amt. Neither one
Of 'em is maxim me lay awake Of
nights, I can tell you"
It'll be Tom does it, If anybody
does" calmly returned the other. But
they amt a-goin' to clinch this time.
at any rate. Pete Fanshaw's just call
fooiishness.'
Lottie- May was still Tuning with re-
sentiment Of this open bantering con-
corning Tom Strickland and STAN
Tucker when she started homeward
Not at all unwilling to accept the Sc
cret woOing Of either. she intuitively
shrank from the open coupling Of their
names with hers. The shadow Of her
mothers shame oppressed her. and 1t
was only in moments Of sudden anger
or other excitement that she surren-
dered to a mood Of reckless defiance OF
her dark Inheritance.
Even now. however. it gave Lottie-
May a thrill Of vainful triumph to re-
member that STAN Tucker was await
ing her somewhat farther along her
lonely homeward way through the
night and that he would accompany
her as near to her suspicious old grand
fathers house as she dared permit.
But Tom Strickland himself interviewed
before her meeting with STAN Tucker
this night. He. too. was homeWard
bound. encountering the girl at Sc
cluded crossing of their respective
roads. Lottie-May's heart gave a great
leap as she recognized him in the dark
posS A Srrddan fmn,llSa Of DaSS;Ona to