The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-04-10
8
Colonel
TODHUNTER
of Missouri
By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS
1911, by the Bobbs- Mer-
rill Company.
CHAPTER v.

,ssssssssssssssssesssssssss
CHAPTER v.
In tho Ninsvsh Blade sanotun,.
UT was shortly after this that Colo
nel Todhunter and Judge Strick
land parted Colonel 'Todhunter
went direct to the Office Of the
Nineveh Blade when he had seen Strick.
land OF for st. Louis.
Dick Cantrill. editor Of the Blade,
was red headed young Democrat whs
cherished old fashioned principles.
There was no thought in his clean
mind Of devious ways to make politics
pecuniarily profitable. One could no
more have bought" him than one
could have "bought" Patrick Henry or
"Old Hickory" Jackson. and he was
Just about as fiery and fearless as
those two earlier Americans. Conse-
quently, many politicians spoke Of him
as that stubborn young fool. Dick
Cantrill Of the Nineveh Blade"
As Colonel Todhunter entered the
Blade Office Tuning little man almost
extinguished under big and very
rusty silk hat was terminating what
'nad plaInly been d stormy Interview
with Dick Cantrill.
Hello, Eph" said Colonel Todhunter.
surprised. 1T amt often find you
nobnobbin' with Dick Cantrill. Go
right ahead. Don't let me interrupt
your
There was wicked smile on young
CantrilPs mouth. Were just about
done now, colonel" he interposed.
Squire Tucker was trying to induce
me to support Yancey in this campaign.
but had to decline. The Blades for
Colonel Strickland tooth and nail. now
that he's out for the nomina ton"
And you and the Blade are both
burned fools, sir-that's all I've got to
say" snapped the little old man under
the big hat. "You don't know which
side your breads buttered on. Dick
Cantrill!'
Squire" said Dick, grinning coolly.
that amt the only viewpoint from
which look at the matter. know
Colonel Strickland and know Steve
Yancey, and l know Strickland's the
best man. That makes it my duty to
support him, squire"
Its to your interest to support the
winner. you young idiot, and was
talking to you for your own good!"
cried old Tucker. stephen X. Yancey
has got all the money influence behind
him in this campaign, and he'll be NOM
mated by an overwhelming majority.
You'll put up a mighty poor mouth
then; Dick Cantrill, begging for the
public printing In the Blade. and I'll
see to it that nothing comes your way!"
go right ahead. Crack your whip.
squire" retorted Dick Cantrill calmly.
II reckon you and l have different
ideas about politics, but there needn't
be any hard feelings unless you insist
on it. Anyway. we might as well get
the whole thing thrashed out right
now, as long as we've got started"
"I'li see If can't make you change
your tune before I'm done with you.
sir!w And old fuckers cold little eyes
narrowed venomousIy. you're talk
ing mighty big now, Dick Cantrill. but
the Yancey administration'll have the
last say, my young gamecock!''
'The Yancey administration be hang
ed!" replied Dick Cantrill, and then
he laughed and settled back in his
chair. But, shucks. squire. l can't
talk to you like l could to younger
man. Let's go easy. You're for Yam
cey, and I'm for Strickland, and that's
all there Is to it. Every mans got a
right to his own opinion in a free
country, squire"
Every we'll. sir, very we'll, IL you
will have it that way" retorted old
Eph Tucker. but you're backing a
loser, Dick Cantrill, and you're going
to suffer for it. Stephen X. Yancey
will snow Bill Strickland under so
deep that BiH's friends II never be
able to dig him out, sir!''
Dick Cantrill stretched his arms
above his head. Such being the case,
squire" he replied. lit don'tamake any
difference to you Yancey people what
me and the Blade see fit to do. SO you
can just keep your shirt on"
Old Tucker glared at the amused
speaker.
At this moment fourth figure was
added to the group. 1t was that Of
Lycurgus Quivey. the schoolmaster of
Nineveh, a gaunt and homely repre-
sentative OF rustic learning with a
face pathetic in its meek usefulness.
well, well, Lycurgus!" cried Dick
Cantrill cordially. I'm glad to see
you. Blest if hadn't begun to fear
the Blade wasn't going to have a poem
from you this week. And that would
never do, sir!"
Lycurgus Quivey cleared his throat
.nervously. Il reckon you'll be surpris-
ed, Mr.. Cantrill," he said at last, .'but
the truth Is I've written political
poem this time. know Colonel Strick-
land so well sir and like him sol