Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-05-23


.I.,. -..I.,.. ,...-. o 80 Tom "YoU
ere Dot ui To- tuuch beer For shame.
sir
Tom Striuk.nr1'~ face grew white
. lis cy"~. tlIf had met thr~c of Mary
i'm mufr cnirr.tl. hcld Mrs. Iudhunt-
tr~ ult-uaUIy Tor au instant he
seemed about to speak. Eut the elder
. lady bent above ter daughter. obvious
lv ignoring him The widening sreup
of women looked nj him with accusing
eyes. I.ottic-May D"ggett's dreadful
Charge seemed still ringing in the air.
Apparently NeWidcrc,l, Tom Strick-
and turned away. his helpless glance
resting for breath of time on Mary'S
FACE. The shock and shame of what
the girl had just heard We're shown in
the lool; that met his Then she avert
ed her gaze and Tom Strickland left
her side. the women whispering behind
him. He came direct to Colonel Tod
hunter.
II must see you. colonel" he mutter
ed hrokcnly. You heard everything.
/ didn't YOU"
The colonel nodded, studying the
speaker closely as they moved away.
"What is it. TOM" he asked what
can do for YOU
Tom Strickland laughed bitterly
Nothing" he replied. But must tel!
you the only thing can do for myself
| I've got to see Stamford Tucker and
choke the truth out of him.
| What do you mean?'
| Il mean that he's got to tell the truth
and face this scandal in my place. He
| is the one that's responsible. not l.
God only knows what possessed Lottie-
May Doggett to lay her disgrace at my
door,"
Colonel Todhunter drew a quick sigh
of relief. IF that's the truth. Tom.
you're all right. and ! must say I'm
| glad to hear it. because the case looks
mighty ugly for you otherwise. II!
have to speak plainly. Tom, as Mary's
father. If you've got the proofs that'll
call STAN Tucker to time produce 'em
right now"
| The younger man looked the speaker
in the face. white hot anger in his
eyes. Then suddenly doubt and some
thi ig of tliSniny took the place Of rage
! At last he laughed mockngy, as If at
himself
81 haven't got Il shred Of proof" he
said. unless my own conviction, from
what Lottie May herself has told me.
can give hold on STAN Tucker thatll
make him toe the mark. I've got the
| girls word that STAN Tucker made
love to her and that she met him in
secret"
| And Lottie May has just publicly
accused you commented Colonel Tod
hunter. curious expression in his eyes
as they rested upon Tom Strickland's
| pale face. THAT'S mighty poor evi-
1ence. Tom. The girl has made It
worthless in advance Nobody on earth
would Believe YOU"
| Tom Strickland lifted one clinched
hand and smute it savagely into the
open palm OF the other
Nobody but STAN Tucker!' he cried
Hell know it's the truth and he'll
know that I.ottie May told me because
she was trying to make me his rival
And he's got to confess that it's the
truth-by God. I'll kill him If he don't:
stop right there. Tom." exclaimed
Colonel Todhunter sternly. You're
maxim the biggest fool of yourself
that's possible on all this earth to a
man III your fix. subj
Fool or no fool" cried Tom Strick-
land. I'm not going to let this thing
lay Mt my door when know the guilty
man. and know. besides. he wouldn't
| ask nothing better'n for Miss Mary
/ to throw me over on account of this 80
that he could marry her. That's the
situation, Colonel Todhunter, and no
man tit to be called q man would let
STAN Tucker go frec!"
If you go lookin' for STAN Tucker
now. Tom" said Colonel TOdhunter
quietly. "there'll be shootn' scrape
In less'n two minutes after you two
come together and somebody's mighty
| apt to get killed. If it's you, the diff
Guilty amt helped you any that can
see. Ii it's STAN Tucker. then you're
worse Off'n ever. because he'll be dead
and you'll be held for KILN him and
i
stand against you. Have some sense.
my boy, before it's too late"
Tom Strickland laughed at the words
I'll have sense enough" he retorted
III see that STAN Tucker don't profit
by this thing. And there's only one
way to see to it-and that's by having
1t out with STAN Tucker himself and
making him tell the truth You can't
Interfere In this matter. sir, even
though you are Miss Mary's father
No third party can take a hand In it.
SIR"
Colonel Todhunter contemplated the
speaker earnestly for moment. Then
he nodded.
You're right. Tom" he conceded. ~
reckon you'n STAN Tucker'l have to
sift this out between you. and TIL
amt nobody else can lift finger But
I've just got one favor to ask of you