The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current, July 07, 1913, Image 5
Colonel TO of Missouri By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS Copyright 1911. by the Botbs-Mirri Company CTiArrcr: vi. The Strickland-Tucker Faud. HALF an hour later us Colonel Todhunter emerged from the law office of Judge Boiling he heard a suddan hurrying of footsteps, and Stin Blrdsong joined him, breathless and much perturbed. "What's on your mind now. Sim?" asked the colonel. " 'Taln't often you go gullopin' aroun' with your tongue hangin' out o' your mouth like a young dog's in his first rabbit chase. What'a the trouble?" . , "I was Jes' startin' out to look you up, colonel," replied Sim. "There's trouble enough, suh. Tom Strickland's got to drinkln and picked a quarrel with Stam Tucker in the hotel bar room, and you better come quick, suh, and prevent its beiu' a mighty serious difficulty." " "I ain't got no patience with you young fellows here in Nineveh, Sim Blrdsong," commented' the colonel. "When Tom Strickland gets two or three drinks under his belt and wants to pick a fuss why don't some of you turn in and lick the stuffln' out'n him? That's one of the best cures for the whlnky quarrelin' habit that ever was invented, suh." The colonel chuckled as he spoke. "The most quarrelsome man in his cups I ever knew, Sim, was old Bob Trewitt, in my regiment durin' the late unpleasantness, and he was cured Just that way, suh. Sam Fossbrooke made a point of campln' on Bob's trail ever time Bob got to uaggin' any o' the other fellows, and Sam'd thrash Bob till his own mother wouldn't ha' known him, sub. And, suh, before the war was over I'll be double hamstrung if Bob Frewltt wasn't a teetotaler, suh. and he never got fightln' drunk after the war neither till he'd put two whole counties between him and Sam Foss brooke. Some of you boys ought to try that plan on Tom Strickland, Sim." "Colonel," answered Sim solemnly, "it's a sort o' curse on the Stricklands. that fierce temper o' thelr'n when they get under the influence of llcker, suh. Toa mustn't forget that Tom's own un cle killed his best friend, Lawrence Tolliver, durin' a spree and then drank himself to death afterwards tryin' to forget it, suh. It's a curse, suh, that's what it is!" "It ain't no curse that can't be lifted easy as raisin your little finger, Sim Blrdsong," said the colonel. "All in the world Tom Strickland's got to do is to leave whisky alone he ain't a hard drinker now, and maybe he never will be, but he's got to leave It alone altogether. It don't agree with him. The Todhunters has got that same kind of a curse In their family, only it's cu cumbers 'stead of whisky. Th' ain't none of us Todhunters can eat cucum bers without bem' doubled up with cramp colic. Well, suh, I lifted that curse by cuttin' cucumbers out o' my list of Tittles same as if such a thing never growed, and Tom Strickland or any ether man can do the same thing with whisky, suh." Then the colonel tapped Sim on'the shoulder. "And let me tell you one thing,' my boy," he continued. "All this here talk about the turrlble hard fight necessary to break off from a bad habit makes me tired, suh. A man don't never have to fight but one day's fight at a time, and there's always a night's rest comln' In between if he don't lay awake pltyin' himself, suh. I know what I'm a-talkin' about. Ii ain't but a twelve hours' fight no time, and a man who can't fight that long is a mighty measly specimen of a man. suh!" "That's all very well, colonel," spoke Sim uneasily, "but Tom has egged Stam Tucker on till Stam's hurried out o the barroom, white in the face, hoi lerln' over his shoulder that he'll be back in a minute and you know just what that meuns, suh!' Colonel lodhunter s face grew lu stantly grave. "IIo's gone to get his shootin iron the d d little fool!" he exclaimed. "Tell me. Sim. Is Tom Strickland armed?" "I don't think he is, suh, but he's a-waltln' for Stain Tucker in that there barroom, and he's just feelln' reckless enough to give Stum every chauce in the world for suootln' him after he himself picked the fuss and forced the personal difficulty, colonel." "You come along with me, Sim," said the colonel. "Why the blazes and Sum Hill didn't you tell mo all this at the start, suh?" Swiftly tlioy crossed the town square and entered the barroom,of the Nineveh hotel. Tom Strickland, alone now but for the bartender, stood with one elbow resting on the bar. "Howdy, colonel!" he cried. "You and Sim are just In time to join mo in I drink, sir. Wlmt'll you have?" "Tom." replied the colonel, "ordinari ly I'd be glnd to accept your iuvlta tlnn, but not today, my boy. I w;:it voiLto go home. Torn." DHUNTER If h ' V J t (' , . - I i i . . . Young-StrTckTand8mlled. "I'm sor ry to disoblige you, colonel," he re plied, "but I don't feel like going home right away." "You've got to go, Tom," replied the colonel. "Well, now, sir." suggested the oth er, "that's fairly open to argument in spite of your being so positive about it. I've got a special reason for stay ing, colonel." "Yes. I know, Tom. You're waitiu' to have a personal difficulty with Stam Tucker, suh." Tom Strickland laughed. "You've called the turn, sir, and under the cir cumstances you'll have to agree your self that I can't go now not for a fev minutes anyway." "I dou't agree to no such thing, you blamed young fool!" ejaculated Colo nel Todhunter. "Do you reckon I'm a-goln' to let you and Stam Tucker shoot each other full ' holes or let you wait unarmed, f ;r him to get a cracK atyou just because yon ve seen fit to come into town uiul begin drink in', suh?" "We're both free white and twenty one, colonel." said Tom Strickland. "How are you goiu' to prevent It?" At this Colonel Todhunter lost his temper. "I'll prevent it by thrashin" you within an Inch of your life, mih, if you don't turn right aroW. and get out o' this here barroom, that's how!" he announced resolutely. "I ain't a-goln' to stand no foolishness. Tom!" "That ain't fair, Colonel Todhunter." protested Tom Strickland. "You're Miss Mary's father, and you're my fa ther's oldest and best friend, sir. 1 wouldn't lift my hand against you for the world but I've got to wait here till Stam Tucker gets hack!" "Tom," said Colonel Todhunter, "you've either got to go home right now, suh. or thrash me, or take the best thrashin' from me you ever got in oil vnuv Ufa cnh" j uu. ...... Tom Strickland looked Into Colonel Todhunter'a eyes. They shone with the light of righteous battle. It was a preposterous situation. The humor i of It suddenly struck the youtger man,! and be lauehed outright. Then, sud-1 denlv. looklnir bevond Colonel Todhun-i ter, his own eyes hardened into a dan gerous anger. "It's too late, colonel!" he exclaimed exultantly. "Here comes the very man we're talking about!" As he spoke Stamford Tucker enter ed the barroom, advancing directly to ward him. "I reckon you still insist on a person al difficulty with me, Tom Strickland?" he asked. "You ain't changed your mind none since the last few minutes?" "I dont change my mind that easy." replied Tom Strickland, smiling. "Es pecially when a little upstart like you gets to talking too freely about my father. You've got to stop It or else make up your mind to take the con sequences." "It ain't what I've said about your father that's rubbing you the wrong way," retorted Stam Tucker. "It's be cause you've found out that I'm stand in' too good a chance with Miss Mary Todhunter to suit you" Tom Strickland sprang at the speak er. As he did so Stam whipped out a pistol. It was quickly done, but not quick enough to give an opportunity to fire before the other struck. Tom's fist smashed into his face and felled him to the floor. The pistol flew ten feet away. There was a moment's silence. "Get up," said Tom. "ami come at me like a man. I'll thrash you within an inch of your life!" Stam Tucker staggered to his feet wiping the blood from his face. But he made no move toward the man who bad struck him. Tom Strickland stepped coolly to where the pistol lay, picked It up de liberately and put it into his own pocket "I'll get even with you for this, Strickland!" cried young Tucker. "I'll even up things before I'm done with, you I" "You'll never hare a better time than right now," replied Tom. "But it you ain't in tho humor I'll leave your pistol with the bartender here in a lit tlo while and you can get it later. But I give you fair warning. Stam Tucker Tom's Fist Smashed Into Hie Face and Felled Him to the Floor. The next time you make a move for a weapon you're going to get budly hurt. I'll be ready for you since you Insist oa it" Stam Tucker moved toward the door. His little eyes were venomous with hate. Til get even with you!" he repeated. "You'll suffer for this yet!" And then be disappeared. "You've played the wild on your watch, Tom," said Colonel Todhunter sternly. "This uln't uo time for you to be plckin' fights with old Eph Tuck er's son. It don't look right, and it won't help your father none in his po litical fight, either." "I didn't bring It on. colonel." re plied Tom Strickland. "Stamford Tuck er's seen fit to say things about my father that uo man can sny and not get a licking from me, if I'm uiuu enough to lick him. That's all there is to it, sir." To save his life Colonel Todhunter could not continue his rebuke.' But he managed to part from Tom Strickland with something like an expression of disapproval on his countenance "I reckon I ain't cut out to preach to other people what they should do and what they shouldn't," he confessed to himself later. "I ought to have glv en tUat blamed young fool a lecture as long as my arm. but it just wasn't In me to do it under the circumstances, And that's wrong, because the only good excuse an old man's got for livln Is to sorter act as a guidepost to keep young men from followin' the roads that lead to trouble. Beln' mighty lit tie good In that line myself, I'm a-goln' to unload my responsibility 4m old Bill Strickland and let him straighten Tom out his own way, suh. And then I'll ask the Old Marster up above to make me better titt'n for my duty than 1 seem to be at this precise moment suh. Judgln' from the way I weakened on Tom!" Suddenly one day during the cam paigu the Hon. William J. Strickland returned from St. Louis. An oxpres slon or acute worrlment so contrary to its customary cheerfulness rested on his face that Colonel Todhunter, en teriug the candidate's Nineveh law of tice. could not but remark the change. "What on earth's the matter, Bill? he asked. "You look like the last rose o' summer. Colonel Strickland attempted a smile. "Oh. nothing particular, Thurs!" he re plied. "I reckon I was Just meditat ing on the vanity of human life." "Well, it must have been 'Hark from the tombs a doleful sound.' all right," laughed Colonel Todhunter. Then he took a second look at his friend. "You're lyln' to me, Bill Strickland," he said. "There's somethln' gone wrong, and it's on your mind. What is It?" "Thurs," responded the other, "it ain't anything you can help. There's no good in my unloading my troubles on you Just because you've got broad shoulders." i "Unload 'cm anyhow," returned Colo Del Todhunter. "You ought to know folks can shed other folks' troubles offn their shoulders like water from a duck's back." . , , But Colonel Strickland shook his head. "There's been a backset some where along the line," announced Colo nel Todhunter stubbornly. "And you've got to tell me what It is. Quit settin' there lookln' like a poor man at a cash sale, BUI Strickland, dumb, 'cause money's all that talks." At this Colonel Strickland langbed drearily. 'That's where you hit the nail on the head," he said. "Money, the mean and dirty thing that can whip the best man in tho world that's the trouble. Thurs." ' "It's generally the other man's mon ey that looks dirty, Bill," Colonel Tod hunter commented, chuckling. "I got to acknowledge the corn myself. I never had a dollar of my own that didn't look mighty clean and good to me. But what s this particular money trouble?" "Well, if you will have It, Thurs, It's this," replied Colonel Strickland. "I'm up a trt-e in the matter of campaign arnnntui flirt flnvnrnnr I.oftlln wnci ' . ' Strickland cam paign fund by asking tho right men and telling them what he proposeiWo do with it, they knowing that Steve Yancey ain't fit to bo governor of Mis souri. But ho far he's met with mighty poor success. He told me all about it in St Louis yesterday. I ain't got a dollar in the world, mid we've estab lished lieadq'iirters lu St.T,onlsnn(l Kaus:ss CitTtliat's got to be kept :;. I ITow we'iv coing to di it is what I can't fimv out." The two old friends faced each other Oeutly. "That certainly is a serious situ.tl. i. "It's so almighty serious, l liars re turned the other, "that 1 can't see my way out of it." But ut this Colonel Todhunter snort ed. "That's where you're wrong, Bill Strickland." he exclaimed. "I've been In tighter places 'n anybody on earth, 'ceptln' the fellow who come out of a spree with hot coppers in hades, but I'll be Jim swizzled if 1 ever got into one I couldn't get out of. Aud we aiu'i in that kind of a one now. How much money do you need?" Colonel Strickland shook his head. "There's no c;ood you and me figuring along that line, old fellow. We need at least ?:t.0OO, and while it's pretty certain old Leslie will raise that amount eventually that doesn't cut any Ice now. We need the money right here at the start." "Aud you can't raise it?" asked Colo nel Todhunter No. 1 can't." answered Colonel Strickland. "And I get what a man deserves for thinking he knows how to save the country when he don't even know how to take care of himself . That ain't so. Bill." answered Colo nel Todhunter sturdily. "Aud anybody that thinks they can keep yon from be- In' governor of Mizxoorah simply be -ause you re a poor man "i1 K"i other think coniin. suh. You draw your personal note for $3,(XK) in my favor. I'll Indorse It right here, and If I don't get that money It's because the Nineveh National bank don't know a good thing when It sees it." "What do you mean. Todhunter? asked Colonel Strickland, instaut pro test In his eyes. 1 mean this. Bill Strickland." re plied Colonel Todhunter. "In the first place, old Governor Leslie Is dead sure to raise that there campaign fund, in the second place, all heaven and hell hates a quitter, aud you ain't a-goin" to be one. In the third place, the I oil hunter farm Is ns pretty a piece of collateral for n ?:!.00n loan as old Shy lock himself would have the heart to ask." "That's exactly what 1 thought you were going to say." quietly commented Colonel Strickland. "But It don't go for a minute. I nln't going to tie you up on this proposition." "Th nln't nobody coin' to tie me up.' said Colonel Todhunter. "And I nln't coin' to tie myself up, cither. I'm gotn' heard the gloating speech of President Tuckor of the Nineveh National bank moment or two after his own de parture frm thnt institution. "The two helpless fools:' multereu old Eph Tucker to himself. "I've got em both where 1 want 'cm now. We'll ruin Bill Strickland for good and alt this time. We'll wipe him off the po lltlcal map of Missouri. And as for old Thurston Todhunter, I'll make such a lame duck out of him yet that the only Todhunter who enn ever live on that farm of his again will have to marry a Tucker to do it-like I'll make Mary Todhunter marry my son Stam before I'm through with her." (To be Continued.) F Items of Interest to Old and New Residents of City Which Were New Forty Years Ago. On Saturday last a little ae cident happened to occur on the (). & S. W. R. II. near Uellevuo. An engine and tender were dump ed, and the nose of several freight cars smashed in. No lives lost. Judge Lake decided in district court in Omaha the other day that the probate judge could lax his costs either under his own or the justices' act; and that the act of 1870 giving $i trial fee, has been repealed. Justices of peace and probate judges take notice. Mr. Win. Porter shows s a letter from Nansom Bartholow & G. of St. Louis, in which they say that the "Trunk Line of Packets" will he put on, and the "St. Luke" leave Saturday next, and other boats will soon follow. Corn and oats can be shipped by this line at 27 cents per hun dred pounds to St. Louis, or 50 cents per hundred to New Or leans. This is good news for our fanners and ought to make their hearts rejoice. Hon. Timothy Clark, our worthy county commissioner, met willi a very heavy loss last Wed nesday, in driving a large drove of hogs to Louisville station, lie had carefully looked out water iug places all the way, but couk find none in the last three miles This distance he thought he could drive wil limit water, hut the hogs going over the hill this side of the slalion, slampedeil, and ran into the hollow, when 83 of them MI u H T i e before !i could get water to ! them. Of course those were tin? ; largest and best ones. His loss jwjl m. lie far from one thousand 'dollar.-, and will he universally . rH ,)V ,h, fai.moI.S( as ,, is ; " " .. -. ..tW U.-J paid tliein a fair and honest price for evei' thinir tie has purchased of them. Dr. SchiUIknecht, having pur. chased the residence formerlv oc cupied by I'eter Hates, esq., cor ner Sixth and Vine streets, has newly refitted and fixed it up for his dwelling and office and will he pleased to attend all calls in his profession day or night. Charley Hlack and Alf White are ready to sell you all the tick ets you want for the Firemen's hall. Mr. M. H. Heese, a lawyer of nine years practice, has made ar rangements to make Ashland his luiure nonie, having; formed a partnership with Mr. C. Thomp son, esq., oT that city. We are sorry to say that the farmers report that the excessive and long continued rains havd somewhat damaged the prospects of our crops. It could hardly be otherwise, with so much rain, and yet farmers are very much like barometers their spirits rise and fall very suddenly, according to the weather. We have such a wonderful soil in its adaptation to either extreme of drouth or wet, that if the rain will now eoasc and the sun come out ftl- a few days at :i lime, we have no fear for the fuiuro of our crops. We are informed by Mr. Culler, of the firm of Cutler & White, grain merchants, of this place, that Ihry have shipped four car loads of wheat per day since last Wednesday, a car containing 330 bushels, multiplied by the num ber of days (up to Tuesday of this week) makes a sum total of 7,020 bushels in six days, and wo are informed that Mr. Connor has shipped about two loads less (6f0), both shipping in six days 15,180 bushels. This is what might be termed a wheat market. J. A. Fairbanks of Lincoln, O. W. C. T. of the Good Templar or gani.ation of tins state, was in town last Wednesday and install ed the following ofllcers of Olive Branch Lodge No. 2, L. O. G. T.: II. H. Bedwell W. C. T. John Chapin R. II. S. Mrs. I). Miller L. H. S. Miss Stinchomb W. V. T. T. W. Shyrock W. Treasurer. D. O. Marlindale W. Sec'y Lon. Chalfant W. Ass't. Sec'y O. L. Morrow W. F. Sec'y Rev. Chas. McElvcy W. Chap lain. J. O. Phillippi W. Marshal .Miss C. Mitchell W. I). Mar shall. Philip Young W. O. G. James Grace W. I. G. After the installation and oilier regular business, Mr. F. ad dressed the lodge for about an hour on temperance subjects. He slated that, he had instituted 22 new lodges this year, and that the order had received a thou sand new members. Local News From SuturMovg Uelly. Elmer Hallstrom came up yes terday from Murray and spent the Fourth here with his parents and friends. Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Riley of Omaha spent the Fourth in this city, being guests at the F. S Ramsey home. LOST Between MyMnard and Plattsmouth, one brass hub cap on automobile. Finder please call 'phone No. 2212. William Puis of Murray drove up this morning from his farm home to atlend to some trading vviih the different merchants. J. E. Worley, wife and children of Lincoln camo down Thursday evening and will visit here over Sunday at the V. V. Leonard ho'me. George and Lee Nickels of near Murray were in the city yesterday lor a few hours looking after some mailers of business with the merchants. Miss Hilda Carlson of Stan hope, Iowa, and Miss Ellen Carl son of this city were passengers this afternoon on No. 23 for the metropolis. Frank E. Cook and wife came down from Havelock Thursday evening and visited over the Fourth willi relatives and friends here. L. I). Ilialt of Murray returned I his morning from Gleinvood, where ho was yesterday assisting uVtl the band at that citv in their con cert on the Fourth. I'ele llerold, wife and little son departed last evening on No. 2 for Pekin, Ilinois, where they will visit, willi relatives for a short time. Attorneys J. T. Begley and R. W. Patrick of Panillion were in the city today for a few hours calling on District Judge II. D. Travis Mrs. Charles McOuire and daughter. Miss Mary, departed this morning for Omaha, where they will spend the day with Kdgar at the hospital. County Judge A. J. Beeson this morning issued a marriage license to Allen Lynn Myere, aged L'it, and Miss Nell Edith Stout, aged 27, both of Lincoln. Misses Marie and Opal Fitz gerald were passengers yesterday morning for Weeping Water, where they spent the day as the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Phil. pot. Joseph Warga of Falls City came up yesterday morning to join his wife and child, who will visit at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Warga, sr. over Sunday. Mrs. J. A. Crouse und son, Earl, and daughter, Miss Dollie, of Lin coln came down from their home Thursday evening and will visit here at the H. E. Steinhauer home over Sunday. Mrs. Fred Rezener, who has been here for a few weeks visit ing with her parents, George H. Tains and wife, departed this morning on No. 15 for her home at Edgemont, S. I). Mrs. Kate Mcllugh and daugh ter, Miss Mary, came up Thurs day evening from their home at Falls City and will visit here over Sunday at the Thomas Walling home. Ralph Smith, who is now located at Anaconda, Montana. came in Thursday evening and will visit here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Smith, for a short time Misses Eva and Nell drier and Miss Mane Mack of Omaha spent the court h in this city, being guests of Misses Christine and Malhilde Soennichsen. They re- turned to their home this morn ing. H. S. Shull and wife of Roan- oak, Virginia, who stopped off here en route home from Cali fornia, to visit James Robertson and family, departed on No. 2 Saturday for their home. C. W. Welch of Hamburg, Iowa, is in the city visiting at the home of his brother, C. A. Welch. He was a pleasant caller at the Jour nal n 111 cp this morning and we were very much pleased to meet him. A. R. Burnett and J. W. Jen nings of Des Moines, Iowa, came iti Thursday evening for a short visit here with friends. Mr. Jen nings expects to m'ake this city his headquarters during the heat ed term. Karl Hassler, who is employed nl Osceola, Neb., in one of the large drug stores, arrived Thurs day evening on No. 2 and will make a visit here with his par ents, Mr. and Mrs. William Has sler, for a few days. E. O. Jones, wife and son, of Sioux Falls, S. I)., are in the city for a short time visiting at the home of Mrs. Joiips' sister, Mrs. W. A. Robertson. Mr. Jones is a prominent attorney of Sioux Falls, being the senior member of the firm of Jones it Matthews. Mrs. Frank Steppat was a pas senger this morning on No. 15 for Omaha, where she will visit for the day with her mother, Mrs. Lawrence Trilety, at the hospital, where she is recovering from an operation, and the friends of this worthy lady will bo pleased to learn that she is getting along nicely. Rid Your Children of Worms. You can change fretful, .ill tempered children into healthy, hnnnv voiinirslers. bv riddintr ( n - - - I hem of worms. Tossing, rolling, grinding teeth, crying out while asleep, accompanied with intense thirst, pains in the stomach and bowels, feverish ness and bad breath, are symptoms that in dicate worms. Kickapoo Worm Killer, a pleasant candy lozenge, expels the worms, regulates the bowels, restores your children to health and happiness. Mrs. J. A. Brisbin, of Elgin, III., sals: "I have used Kickapoo Worm Killer for years, and entirely rid my children of worms. I would not be wil bout it ." Guaranteed. All druggists, or by mail. Price 25c. Kickapoo Indian Medicine Co., Philadelphia and St. Louis. Auto for Sale. Chalmers 30 fully equipped 1913. Self starter. Tn perfect condition, 1, 000.00. T. II. Pol lock, Platlsmoulh, Neb. T-3-2Lwkly