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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 10, 1913)
Colonel . TOMER of Missouri :By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS Copyrlflht. 1911. by the Botbs-M.-rrl fTpjny CHAPTER VII. Colonel Todhunter Cuts a Wid Swath In Missouri's Metropolis TO Colonel Todhunter, a country man born and bred and of an Innate rusticity of soul that was an essential part of his being, contact with the throbbing life of a big city was so rare and foreign plcturcsquo unllUenes3 to the urban that It never failed to emphasize his type. He stalked Into the busy St Loul9 headquarter of the Hon. Wil liam J. Strlcklaud on tho parlor floor of the Laclede hdtel, the living embodi ment of that political figure dear to the amused metropolitan Imagination, "the delegate from the rural districts." It was a brave ami honest face that showed Itself In Colonel Bill Strick land's private office, but somewhat dls mayed at thought of an impending -ordeal. "I'll Just be eternally whlpsawed if you ain't a-tryln to make a round peg fit into a square hole, Lflll!" ho protest ed earnestly, something like awe of Ills surroundings stamped upon his sun burned features. "I'm willln to do most anything lu the world for you, and you know It. But when you turn me loose in a big town like this and ex pect me to behave like anything more'n a wall eyed plow horse with his tall full o' cockleburs I'll be everlast in'ly condemned if you ain't maklu' a mighty serious mistake, suh!" "Nonsense, Thurs!" laughed Colonel Strickland. "I'm counting on you for some St Louis speeches that'll be worth their weight in gold, my friend. We need you hero, sir a man that talks old fashioned American Democ racy straight from the shoulder. City politicians have forgotten what the real Democratic doctrine Is, Thurs, and we've got to revive it in the people's hearts if we expect 'em to vote right That's why I want you to help ine open my St Louis campaign. You've got to do it, Thurs!" Colonel Todhunter gazed at his friend pensively. "Bill," he said, "I'm a-goiu' to do it, as you well know. I'd strip the "shrt off'n my back and head a per oesslon wavln' it for a Strickland ban ner "if you asked me to, whether I thought it was the best thing to do un der the circumstances or not. But 1 bid you remember, Bill, that I warned you in time. It'll be your fault if you have occasion to regret havln' brought me in from the pasture and stacked me up against these here bang tailed city thoroughbreds, suh!" "I'll take the chances, old fellow," said the candidate, his eyes twinkling. "You Just oblige me now for old friendship's sake and I'll be responsi ble for everything that happens after ward. I ain't the least bit afraid." . "I'll eat my hat If I don't wish I could say the same, suh!" ejaculated Colonel Todhunter, a vehemeut panic In his tone. "I'm skeered to the mar row, suh, because I'm out o' my baili wick and up against a proposition that ' I don't know any more about 'n a bog knows about a holiday, suh. And you're a-goln' to discover, suh, before we get through with this piece of fool ishness that I had mighty good rea ons for beln' skeered too," "Shucks, you old warhorse!" laughed Colonel BUI Strickland. "Once you get into the tight you'll warm up like a two-year-old and show these St Louis folks what a real Missouri Dem ocrat is. You're going to make the hit of your life, slrl" "Maybe I am and maybe I ain't. Bill Strickland." quoth Colonel Tod hunter moodily. "But all I ask at the finish- Is-that- you'll - remember It wa'n't me that made the prediction, suh.' ' I'm a natural born optimist suh, but that don't necessarily mean that I'm a natural born Jackass at all times and under all circumstances and on all subjects, as some folks aofiii to think, suh!"- And In this frame of mind Colonel Todhunter returned into tho general headquarters offices and was Intro ducod to his Nlueveh friend's St Louis backers and campaign staff. A quiet young newspaper man who happened to be drifting through the looms seemed Instantly Impressed by Colonel Todhunter's picturesque per sonnllty. He studied the colonel In tently, a growing appreciation In hi thoughtful and latently humorous eyes. After exchanging a few words with this new addition to the Strickland forces the Journalist went into one of the private telephone booths at the end of tho reception room and called up his paper. Then ho came back to Colonel Todhunter, engaging him In conversation. A few minutes Inter a second man cnsunlly appeared and un obtrusively stationed himself where he had a Rood front view of the colonel, who was being deftly led Into polltlctil dissertation by his new acquaintance Colonel Bill Strickland, piisdiia through the main room at one moment w Jiia-tiM .yJlli their. JieiHN. Jo-Vtji W i I V I 1 I FA is "1 4 i I 91 "v S er. Something like"iTglerim""of 'laugh ter leaped into his eyes, and he nod ded, almost Imperceptibly, an approv ing signal to Colonel Todhunter's com panion. Then, for an hour or more, the two were left undisturbed. They chatted pleasantly on many top Ics. The colonel himself was led to talk discursive! on the political situ ation in Missouri, tn distinctive types of party leaders In the country dis tricts, his own personal views and am pie reminiscences of past campaigns In the state, his quaint valuation of De mocracy's great historic figures. He I was In reality being trapped into a self revelation. Behind his talk, iiiilinutiiiK it and shining though Its uususpecling frankness and utter naturalness, ap peared the childlike and simple soul of the speaker, presented with abso lute unreserve. The colonel's compan ion was the most appreciative of listen ers, and as he listened a light of whim sical regard deepened in Ms eyes. "But I'm n-takin' up a heap of your time, suh!" exclaimed the colonel final ly. "I reckon you city newspaper men have to trot around after news til! your tongue's a-hmiglu' out of your mouth a yard long. You mustn't let me keep you from other things, suh." "Not at all, Colonel Todhunter," came the quick response. "It's been well worth while, sir. I intend using some of your talk, If you have no oh Jection, so you're really helping me out. you know." The colonel looked at his companion pityingly. "You're wastin' your pow der, young man. I can talk by the hour, but what I say ain't got no more business beln' printed In a great city newspaper 'n a whiff o' wlad a-rustlln' the dry leaves in the woods, suh. You better be mighty careful, tryln' to make somelhin' worth while out o' them there observations of mine j Your folks at the paper 'H think you're worse'n a old huntln' dog that goes skyhootlu' off Ucketyspllt after a rab bit when it's pa'tiidges they was a-countiu' on him to p'lut, suh." The newspaper man leaned back and laughed zestfully. "Colonel, I'm will ing to take the chances on that if you are. And I'll leave It to you tomorrow afternoon if I don't know what's worth while when I see It, sir. You've given me a crackerjack talk on Missouri poli tics, aud I'm very much obliged to you, colonel.'' , "You're mighty welcome," replied Colonel Todhunter, genial but doubt ful. "I'll be shot full o' holes If I see how you're a-goln' to write a piece from what I've been sayin', suh." Theu suddenly he nodded to bis front "What in blue blazes and Sam Ulll is that man a-doln' there?" he asked. "The one with that placard in hid hand, squlntln' at me every two seconds and then Jnbbin' down some thin with his pencil? That's the con foundedest most singular proceedin' I ever laid my two eyes on, suh!" The young newspaper man shook with laughter. "Colonel," he said, hi humorous lips twitching, "don't worry about that man. He's perfectly barm less. I know him. He's got a bug on political celebrities, sir. It's a case of bats In his belfry on that one subject. He goes around recording his Impres sions at close range during every cam paign Just the way you see him now. Most remarkable character, colonel I've known him for a long time." "Well, suh," replied Colonel Todhunt er, "I'll be eternally condemned If he mustn't hu' wrote a whole book about me, then. He's been Jabbln' that there pencil o' hls'u up and down for the last twenty mluutes or so worso'n a llt tlo girl playln' tit-tat-too behind her Jogaphy durlu' school time, suh!" The newspaper man wiped tears of laughter from his eyes. "I'll take him away now, colonel," ho said at last, rising. "I've got to go back to the office, and It always tickles him to talk to somebody about his Impressions. I expect he'll have a lot to say about you, sir." "Well, you keep It dark, suh, If he does," replied Colonel Todhunter. "1 got enough to stand up under here In Ht. Louis without no comments from such an almighty curious specimen o' humanity ns that, suh!" And at this the newspaper man fair ly exploded. Ho was still slinking with laughter when he Joined the inys tPrlouj.st r in yer, TbUiUjeUjr.uiu.tlv pocketed his ix-iicll.-stncTThu TiTX cardboard under his arm. and then to gether the two departed. "It's this here crazy-like city life that makes such wrecks as that poor simple Simon." mused the colonel. "I -ad. it boats me why any human beln' is winiu' to live it. let alone pay such a price as that for It! But It takes all sorts o' people to ninke a world. I'll Just Ih Jim swizzled If It don't, suh!" The next afternoon wheu Colonel Todhunter's eyes fell on the front page of the leading independent Democratic paper of St. Louis he fairly gasped with horror. Then followed an almost tragic pause as he absorbed the full meaning of what bud so suddenly stricken him with dismay. The next moment he handed the newspaper to Colonel Strickland. "What did 1 tell you. Bill?" he groan ed. "I'm a-goin' back to Nineveh Just as fast as the good l.ord'll let me. suh!" Colonel Strickland's gaze rested upon the newspaper page, lie saw Colonel Todhunter's name boldly typed in the flaring headline that extended across three columns. A full length "charac ter cartoon" of the colonel surrounded by "thumb nail" Impressions of his face and bodily pose at various Inter esting moments of his talk of the pre ceding day surrounded the larger por trait Colonel Strickland began a reading of the article. A smile crept upon hU face. Slowly his eyes went down the printed page. The smile broadened. Soon It became a chuckle. Later, ab sorbed In the reading, the candidate's shoulders shook as he read. Finally, with one big fist pinning the newspa per to the table In front of him. Colo nel Bill Strickland leaned back in his cbnir and roared with laug'jter. "Lord have mercy on m Thurs!" hf gaspcd. "Ita the best aud truest thing I ever saw In my life. They've got you finished off to the queen's taste." "I don't know nothin' about tho queen's taste, suh," spoke Colonel Tod hunter grimly, "but 1 know one thing almighty well. I'm ngoin' to dust that newspaper man's Jacket for him the next time he conies In reach o' me. Sreat name above, suh, th' aiu't no man can handle Colonel Thurs T. Tod hunter like that and uot get It well taken out of his hide, suh." Again Colonel Strickland shouted with laughter. "You old fool!" he sput tered. "That newspaper man knows you better thnu you know yourself. It's wonderful, Thurs! lie's made a character study of you that's nothing more or less than a miracle, my friend." It was the truth. Colonel Todhunter had come tinder the vision of a master fully gifted newspaper expert lu "char acter values." The young fellow with whom he had chatted so freely and at such ease on the preceding afternoon bad temperamentally "absorbed" him body and soul. Then he had gone to Lis newspaper desk and written a de scrlptlve interview that was sheerly the colonel himself In the flesh. It was a feat of psychological wizardry. The man achieving it seemed to have put aside his own being for the moment and taken on that of Colonel Todhun ter Instead. As n result of this exercise of tho strangest of literary powers Colonel Todhunter himself, the typical figure of a Missouri Democrat of the old school, talked In his proper person, a living, breathing, almost palpable en tity, from the printed page. And tho keenly humorous, apprecia tive and well nigh loving quality that signalized tho writer's performance of bis task was finely re-enforced by the work of the cartoonist. The sketches themselves were lifelike, bringing out the colonel's every salient characteris tic In facial expression, bodily pose and gesture. But this amazing projection of him self lu printer's ink on the publicity "screen" of a newspaper's front page appalled Colonel Todhunter. ne shrank from it, shocked, with all a country man's dismay at sudden prominence before the world. "It's all right for you, Bill; you can afford to laugh!" be said ludignautly. "But I'm the one that's holdin' the bag, suh! It's me that's put on that therye Infernal circus poster like the wild man 6' Borneo, not you. And I'll be shot full o' holes if it alu't me that's agoln' to hold them there two young rascals to an accountln for It, jou mark my words, suhl" , ' - Colonel Strickland wiped tho tears from his eyes.' -' tloU're all wrong, Thurs-houest, you are!" he protested. "There ain't a line In that story that don't speak good of you, and what you say there Is as sound as a dollar. It's you talking, to the life, old fellow, and you're talking for me, and every word you say helps us more than a column of ordinary newspaper stuff. I wouldn't take $1, 000 for It, right now!" "I'd sell It for a blamed sight less'n that, suhl" hotly replied Colonel Tod hunter. "And didn't I warn you didn't I tell you beforehand that they'd shorely size me up as a country Jake from the very beglnnln' and that I'd bungle you all up here In St. Louis, suh? Didn't I say that as sure as I came to those here city headquarters o' your'n I'd play the very old blue blazes and Sam Hill 'fore I got through, suh? Yes, suh and I'm a-headln' straight back for Nineveh this very day, suh!" "No, you ain't not by a Jugful!" re torted Colonel Strickland, manfully striving to straighten his face Into gravity. "No, sir. You'll speak at the coliseum this very night, Just as we've planned, Thurs, and I'll tell you an other thing. You'll speak to the big gest and most enthusiastic audience the x-ollscum ever held, or else I don't know the signs of a man's popularity when I see 'em, sir!" Colonel Bill Strickland prophesied 'ruly. The coliseum was tmcked to the do.irs. j "Cleat Si-ott and Maria, suh." sail ' I'olonel Todhunter, describing the scene j to Dick t'antrill upon his return home, j ".vnu couldn't ha' wedded a knife Mad ' ie. between any two men In that there -.rowd, suh. And tl.e way they cheered i aud hollered wheu I was iiiierdutcd by the chairman of the meetin", suh! Blamed if you wouldn't ha' thought 1 I was t!e original roartn ring tailed Biiyasticiitus of Calaveras county, suh. and the only one in captivity, suh. 1 never saw grown men behave that way before In all my life, Dick Cantrill, and It made me hotter'n blazes. But 1 kept my shirt on, suh, sayin' to myself that I was there to help old Bill StrVL. laud all 1 knew how. So 1 Just took it out in talkin' to 'em like a Dutch uncle, suh, giviii' 'em the straight Dem ocratic doctrine and telliu" 'em they needed it blamed bad, too. suh And 1 laid the law down to 'em, suh. that it wa'n't me. but old Bill Strickland, they might to l e a bolleiin' for by rights, if they was tlu good Democrats they per tended tt be. suh. Yes. suh. and then they hollered louder'n ' ever. But let me tell you one thing. Dick Cai'rl'1 I'll be shot full o' holes If I didn't havt- em every one up on their hind legs i-whoopln' themselves black In the face for old Bill " Strickland 'fore I got through with "em. suh. I tell you. Dick, that there Satan straddled newspaper done Its durndest to ruin me, but I got pven with tt right then and there. suh!" "Bully for yon. colonel!" vociferated Dick Cnntrill, his humorous lips trem ulous with mirth. "I'd gladly give the last dollar I bad In the world If 1 Could have been there and heard you!" But the colonel's face fell. "Dick." he it.nid. "would you believe It ! Them there Infernal cartoonists came back at me the next day worse'n evr suh. They'd .teen there at that meet In' and got mo In action. I'll be eternally condemned If 1 ever saw such pictures of a llvln' human bein' as they drew of me then. suh. It was a sin and a shame. W lull's a nihil goin' to do these days. Did; Cunt rill? I tell you, suh. the present frivolity of the American press is ut terly deslroyin' the dignity f public life, suh!" "It Is, colonel-it is!" agreed the edi tor of the Nineveh Weekly Blade con tritely. And It Is to Dick Cantrill's everlasting credit that he held himself In until Colonel Todhunter had stalked away. Then he laughed as he had not laughed In many a day. "God bless him!" ho said to himself chokingly. "He and his speeches have gained live thousand votes for Colonel Strickland In St. Louis Just as sure as the sun rises ond sets! And they're worth It. loo!" Jn be Continued.; Items of Interest to Old and New Residents of City Which Were New Forty Years Ago. doveinor R. W. Furnas paid our cit a M'sit on Friday and Sat urday of last week. He rode out to sec Mk'kehvait'.s Paradise on I lie bluff, and expressed himself pleased with our fruit prospects. We are informed by Dr. Kenas ton 1 1 1 it L the wheat crop in his region ( on Stove creek), is dam aged somewhat by the heavy rains, a kind of damp struck it. The corn never looked better in the world. The Orangers have a very prosperous -society, numbering over forty members, and are do ing all they can for the good of the agricultural portion of our community. There is to he a "Fat Man's Convention" at Put-in-Bay, Ohio, and all the "fatties" from all parts of the Union are cordially jnvited to attend. This puts us in mind of two organizations started in this town, viz: The Heavy Weights and the s. Ed and Joe Buttery, Stiles, Mickelwaite, Uncle Streight, Coon Heisel, Gen. Matlchews and Dan Wheeler are at the head of the "heavies;" while Cap. Palmer and the editor of tho Herald are supposed to be the representatives of the latter club. So molo it he. Last Friday the chicken hunters of this city went out and just slaughtered the young game. Flight different parlies started. Messrs. Clark and Parmele went early in the morning and stayed all day and most of tho night. They shot 9 4, big. little and fat. Col. Morse, Boss Holdrege, Dr. Livingston' & Co. took six dogs, ten rifle breech loaders and four double and twisted shotguns, and shot two express wagons and a wheelbarrow full. Cap. Bennett, Wiley Black and don. Matthews went out on 200. John more of the liorehack and shot Shannon and some In a s took up the Platte In it t oin ami came back with one iif the ualiesl catfish we ever saw horns three feet long two ill rnuin FORTY YEARS AGD !tr..I turlb v a "lamper eel" and f.nl; Sail Creek, N. SliaffVr; eighteen pollyuntrs. Tie carried iicefiw.iuil. Tims. Brown; Ehn llieir chickens in a basr. and wo j viu. Jus. McKinnnn; Tipton, couldn't count 'em. Cook & Co. 'John S. Buck; Stove Creek, J. i i.i i . . . l t . . i .. i'iiu;iii iii'iin- out- uimil 11 , I o Ol'.f spei kle.l Durham heifers and a anl hill crane, besides chick ens. So ended the first ilav. The oily council ami J. Walter llaine.s are trying- constitutional problems. Walter seems to have the best of il just now. Married On the. 3d day of July, al I he resilience of the bride's father, by the Hey. Chas. MeKel vey, Mr. Samuel Long to Miss Viola streight. The happy pair (we know they were happy) left for Chicago iustanler by steam. Mr. Benedict, living on Platte bottom, two miles from town, had his house burned on Tuesday night, containing provisions, etc., worth $75, and furniture. It was supposed to be the work of incendiaries. Look after them sharp; Cass county wants no house burners. The Baptist church of Platts inouth has recently purchased one of Estey's $260 organs, with which they are very highly pleased and lake this method of express ing their gratitude to Mr. A. F. Sherman, through whom they purchased tho organ, and many other kind friends who have con tributed liherlly to this object. The directors of the Midland Pacific railroad have filed amend ed articles of incorporation to their charter, by which a branch may be built in Nebraska to a point opposite St. Joseph, Mis souri; also northward to the northern boundaries of the stale. The Lincoln Journal claims thai this makes the M. P. a trunk road entirely across the slate and from the St. Joseph bridge to a connection with Puget Sound. It says the surveyors will be at work in lift ecu days, and that this move cuts the gordian knot of the trunk mad. Yes, it does, for Nebraska City, bul not for Plattsmouth, or Oma ha, or Cass county. Should this project be carried out, it, might cripple me irunk road proper, through this county, and bids good-bye to the Weeping Water road forever, for no railroad com pany will ever build a route mid wiy between the B. & M. and the M. P. road in that direction. It will drain, too small a space of country. Cass county needs to be up and doing if she means to get a road at all through her borders. A farmer in this county by the name of Hunt is reported to have forged a note on N. Jeans on Monday. Tuesday he sold said note to John Shannon and on Wednesday the sheriff nnd fifty dollars reward is hunting for Hunt. Died At Hock Bluffs, June 30, 1 K 7 : . of typhoid fever, Cynthia Clements, wife of Travers Clem ents, aged 37 years. Mr. and Mrs. Clements came to Nebraska from Ohio in June, 1857, and settled at Rock Bluffs, where they have since resided. Mrs. Clements leaves a large family of children, four boys and four girls, and. many friends to mourn her death. She bequeathed to them the good example of an exemplary Christian life. . This galianl and unbrageous young phalanx of keen will'o'he wisps of Plattsmouth met in Stad elniann's new store on Tuesday evening. Three new members were elected, viz: D. W. McKinnon, A. Cunningham and V. Weekbach. The secretary announced the arrival of the new uniforms and that the engine would positively be here by the first of the month. Henry Boeck, our glorious Oer maii friend, offered to let tho com pany have the use of his brick building on Fifth street, north of Main, free of charge, untij further orders; the lower part for an en gine room and the upper for meetings. This is just the thing. Mr. Boeck also generously offered to furnish coffins for all members killed in the line of duty, on the same philanthropic principle. The republican central com mittee for Cass county aro re quested to meet at the rooms of the Herald office on Tuesday, July 15, at 2 o'clock p. m., for the transaction of important business. Jno. A. MacMurphy, Ch'm. The committees are: Plallsnioiith 1st ward. D. H. Wheel; 2d ward. P. L. Wise; 3d ward, M. B. Murphy. Precincts Plattsmouth, N. Jean: Liberty. J. Chileolt; Orea pnlis. Tims. Thomas; Louisville, E. Noyes: South Bend, J. Craw- K'iiali.ii ; WVcping Water, M. E. Woods; Light Mih' drove, Wni. Wetlenc.imp: Ml. I'leasant, E. A. Kirkpalrick; Avoea, (. TeH't; Hock Blull's, Win. dilniuur. CROPS NOT IN VERY GGOO CONDITION IN FRONTIER GO. Thomas Wiles of this city has just received n letter from his friend, J. II. Burnett, of May wood. Frontier county, in which he tells of the condition of the crops in that county. Mr. Bur nett states they have not had over one inch of rain in six months there and that the oats, wheat and rye crops are complete failures, and that while corn is still look ing good it cannot stand the ex treme dry weather much longer, and should this crop fail will make it very hard on the farmers in that locality. Mr. Burnett had some eighty-five acres of small grain on one of his places and states it will not bo worth cutting-, so greatly has it suffered from the drouth. After reading this the farmers in this section of the state can feel more than thankful for the bounteous crops they have had and for the prospects for a big corn crop which is offered them, as well as feel deep sym pathy for the affliction that has visited the farmers in the western pari of the slate. AFFIRM CASE OF JESSE BLUNT Information has been received in this city that the United States circuit court of appeals at St. Louis has alllrmed the case of Jesse Blunt against the C, B & Q. Railroad company for injuries re ceived while in their employment. In the lower court Blunt secured a verdict of $4,500, and the case was taken up by the railroad com pany to tho circuit court, where it has just been affirmed. The railroad will also be forced (o pay the costs, which will he quite large. Matthew Clering of this city appeared as attorney for Blunt in the case. Rld Your Children of Worms. You can change fretful, ill tempered children into healthy, happy youngsters, by ridding them of worms. Tossing, rolling, grinding teeth, crying out while asleep, accompanied with intense thirst, pains in the stomach and bowels, feverishness and bad breath, are symptoms that in dicate worms. Kickapoo Worm Killer, a pleasant candy lozenge, expels (ho worms, remlates 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 without it." Guaranteed. All druggists, or by mail. Price 25c. Kickapoo Indian Medicine Co., Philadelphia and St. Louis. Moves Carpenter Shop. John Weyrich, who has for the past two years had his shop in the rear of the Weyrich & Hadraba drug store, has removed to the Beck building on Sixth street, as the store was so crowd ed as to make it difficult for his work and at his new location he can handel all kinds of carpenter work. Orders may be telephoned or left at the drug store and will receive prompt attention. It you have a house for rent try little ad in the Journal. Between stationery and sta tionary ? A difference of one letter. But ff your stationery is well printed, up to date and businesslike, such as we can supply you, your trade will not be stationary. Good Stationcry.LetterHeads, Billheads, Statements, Circu lars, Etc., Keep Business ON THE MOVE. That's the kind wc print.