Colonel
TODHUNTER
of Missouri
Dy RiPLEY D. SAUNDERS
CtpyrkJtt 1911. by fbt BoUtJkfrl
Company
CHAPTER XH.
A 8trng Cry From Blaok Lips.
OLD Governor Leslie hurried to
Nineveh from St Louis the
day following Colonel Strick
land's ovrn return home. , He
came In response to an argent tele
graphic summons from the candidate,
whom he found In close conference
with Major Gentry Dryden, one of
Missouri's most famous criminal law
yers. Colonel Todhunter was with
them.
"We'll bring Tom through all right,
governor," said Colonel Strickland, al
though his worn and worried face be
lled the brave words, "but in the mean
time I thought it best to get you down
here so that I could straighten myself
out in the matter of my campaign for
the nomination for governor with as
little delay as possible."
"What do you mean to do?" asked
old Leslie.
"I mean to withdraw from the race,"
replied Colonel Strickland. "I csafl
run, carrying this weight of Tom's
trouble. It's got me beat right now.
I won't ask my friends to make a
hopeless fight"
"You'll stay right where you are."
said Governor Leslie. "You're not re
sponsible for Tom's reckless folly, and
the Democratic voters in Missouri
won't hold you responsible."
"The Yancey crowd will make it ap
pear that the killing of Stam Tucker
was a political murder." Colonel
Strickland answered. "They're doing
It already. Their newspapers are han
dling the case along that line. They've
Published the story of the quarrel be
tween Tom and Stam Tucker the night
. we opened my campaign here in Nine
veh and of their fight in the barroom
the next day. They point out that old
Eph Tucker Is my bitterest political
enemy and that be and his son were
working tooth and nail for Stephen K.
Yancey and that tUIa political feud has
resulted in the assassination of Eph
Tucker's son by my son. It's a pretty
black story handled that way, and It'll
Jo me all sorts of barm throughout the
Jtfate."
"They can't Ignore the facts in the
case," retorted Governor Leslie. "In
the first place, as 1 understand it, your
on himself doesn't know that it was
he who shot Stam Tucker. He's bound
to plead not guilty, and the prosecu
tion's got to prove the fact of guilt
In the second place, the real reason for
deadly trouble between Tom and Stam
Tucker was the story told by that Dog
gett girl and its bearing upon their
rivalry for the hand of Miss Mary Tod
hunter. The Doggett story puts an en
tirely new light on the feud between
the two boys."
"Not the way the Yancey organs are
presenting It," said Colonel Strickland.
"It only serves to intensify the original
trouble and to make a thrilling 'mur
der story' with what they call 'roman
tic as Veil as political trimmings.
They're featuring it on that basis, and
they're going to get Steve Yancey nom
inated just that way."
"I thought this was what you want
ed to see me about," commented old
Governor Leslie, "so I had a confer
ence with the St Louis men who
worked with me to put you In the
race. But before I tell you any more
about that I want to ask you just one
question. Bill Strickland."
A moment of silence followed these
words. Colonel Strickland held Gov
ernor Leslie's eyes with his own in
quiringly. "Do you want your son to be con
victed of the murder of Stamford
Tucker?" n sited Governor Leslie.
Til make Miuoorah too hot to held
I" 1
""Good God", man!""" cried Colonel
Strickland. "Bow can you ask such
a thlngr
Governor Leslie turned to Major
Gentry Dryden. "Dryden," he queried,
"what would be the effeet of Colonel
Strickland's withdrawal from the cam
paign at this time?"
"It would be taken as a confession of
bis belief in his son's guilt. It would
be the worst blow possible to the de
fense right now. I should strongly
protest against Colonel Strickland's
withdrawal."
"There you are!" exclaimed old Les
lie, turning to the candidate. "That
was exactly the view I took of it
you've got to consider your son's in
terests above ail else, Strickland.
And now I'll tell you what your St
Louis backers said. They authorized
me to refuse to accept your with
drawal as a candidate for the Demo
cratic noTnnntlnnfor governor of Mis
souri. Aside irom wnatever person.,
regard they may have for you. they
believe that, even as matters now
stand, you're the strongest man in the
state and that you've still got a better
fighting chance to win than any other
man would have. You've got to stay
In, Strickland."
"But good Lord. man. how can 1
fight to any purpose?" asked Colonel
Strickland plteously. "I must deal
fairly with you, so I tell you right
here and now that compared with
Tom's safety I don't care what be
comes of my chances In the campaign.
I'm going to stay right here and move
heaven and earth to clear my son of
the awful charge against him, and by
the time his trial's ended the campaign
will be over too."
"Not quite," answered Governor Les
lie, unmoved. "But If that wan the
case It wouldn't make any difference.
God knows you're Justified In sticking
; to Tom through thick and thin, to the
finish and regardless of all other de
mands upon you. I wouldn't wipe
my feet on you If you were capable ol
doing anything else. So don't you
worry about that. We're going to do
all the fighting for you from now on.
and we've picked on " Colonel Tod
hunter here as the best man to lead
what you seem disposed to call a for
lorn hope."
"Now you're talkln', sub!" broke In
Colonel Todhunter, his grim old face
alight with the lust of battle. "I
won't ask anything better'n to get out
on the stump and skin 'em alive.
ThevVe crowdin' old Hill Strlcklnnd to
iav wuii Decause inej cuius tney v.
got him foul, and Bill's friends have
got to stand by him closer'n ever.
Turn me( loose on 'em, Leslie. I'll
make Mizzoorah too hot to bold 'em!"
Old Governor Leslie smiled ominous
ly. "We've mude arrangements to thai
end. Todhunter." he replied. "I knew
Just how you'd feel about it We want
you to tell the Democrats of Missouri
Just exactly why we wouldn't let
Strickland withdraw, Just exactly why
he himself won't do any more caui
panlng for the nomination and Just
t;.tiy why and where the Yancey
pwspnpers and the Yancey speakers
are distorting the truth of this case
against Tom Strickland to make it look
like a political assassination. And it's
iroing to be pretty hot work, Todhunt
er. You may have more than one per
sonal difficulty on your hands before
you get through with it"
"We needn't talk about that feature
of It, Governor Leslie," said Colonel
Todhunter. "There won't be no trou
ble 'less'n some o' the Yancey crowd
object to a man's talkln straight from
the shoulder. We've Just about got
time now for a llghtnin' finish on the
stump, takln' it for granted that I'm
expected to reach all parts of tho state,
so the sooner I start the better."
"You start tomorrow, Colonel Tod
hunter," responded old Governor Les
lie. "We've already made tho speak
ing appointments for you, and I've got
the list of towns and dates right here
with me. It's a devilish big contract
sir, and you won't get back here until
Just a few days before the primary
elections."
"I don't want to get back here before
then 'less'n I could be of some use to
Tom Strickland." said Colonel Tod
hunter, a sudden husklness In his
throat as hla eyes fell on Colonel Bill
Strickland's haggard face. "The main
thing I want is to gVe the Yancey
crowd a fight. they wasn't expectln',
suh. and HI be eternally condemned
If we ain't a-goln' to do It too!"
Wherefore the following morning
Colonel Todhunter started out in the
lead of the forlorn hope that was to
make the last stand for Colonel BUI
Strickland in Missouri.
It proved to be a soul wearying bat
tle, full of baffling chagrin and disap
pointment On the very eve of the
trial of Tom Strickland for the killing
of Stamford Tucker, Colonel Todhun
ter returned to Nineveh. He was met
by Colonel Strickland, whose face
seemed now not only haggard, but
hopeless.
"They're pushln' us pretty hard. Bill,"
said Colonel Todhunter. "I've fought
'em the best I knew how, but Steve
Yancey's crowd Is workln Tom's case
against us better'n I thought was pos
sible among folks that know you like
our Mizzoorah Democrats know you.
suh. It's enough to make a dog sick to
see how easy people can be turned
against a man when he's in trouble.
I'll Just be double whlpsawed If it
ain't!"
"That's all right, Thurs," replied the
other listlessly. "Don't you go wor
rying yourself any longer about my
campaign. I knew I was beat the min
ute they got Tom's trouble to use as a
weapon against me. But what hurts
me most now, Thurs, Is that Gover
nor Leslie Is finding it Impossible to
raise that campaign fund we counted
on. I'm licked, and I've hurt you
mighty bad at the same time."
But Colonel Todhunter fired up at
this. "111 be shot full o' holes If you're
licked yet!" he exclaimed. "And I
ain't hurt any till you hear me holler,
suh. Don't you misunderstand me. Bill
Strickland. I acknowledge that we've
got a bard row to hoe, but that ain't
no sign we ain't a-goin' to hoe it Any
way, by Godfrey, we'll make an ever
lastln' good stagger at it. The next
best thing to llvln' victorious is dyln'
game, suh!"
Colonel Strickland shook his head.
"There's mighty little fight left In me."
he spoke sadly.
"I'll do the flghtin'," retorted Colonel
Todhunter. Then he looked bis frieud
anxiously in the face. "How's Tom's
case goln?" ho asked.
"It looks mighty black." answered
the other. "It's going to be a political
trial, bitter as sin, because the old
gang counts on Tom's conviction to
drive me out of Missouri polltcs. The
evidence in the case Is all against the
boy. The courtroom will be packed
with Yancey heelers there's no waj
to prevent it aua tneyn mase ever
demonstration possible to influence the
Jury. And every man connected with
the court wears the gang's collar, even
to Judge Pittman himself. If we ask
for a change of venue we'll Jump from
the frying pan into the fire, because
my enemies have got the whlpband
anywhere we turn. Old fellow, 1 be
lieve they'll hare my boy's life before
they get through!" The speaker's
rolce broke In spite of blm.
Colonel Todbunter's face grew hard
and grim. "No, they won't'" he said
stubbornly. "They can't do It They
ain't got nothln' against Tom but cir
cumstantial evidence, and it surely
ought to be mighty hard here in Nlne
ver to convict a boy like Tom, well
known and comln' of a family that's
lived here so long, on circumstantial
evidence alone. They'll try to do It.
Bill, but they can't Tom'll get the
benefit of the doubt"
There was something deeply pathetic
In this eager clutching at the one re
maining strand of hope. The two old
friends were now making their way
toward the Jail to see Tom. Suddenly
they came face to face with Mrs. Tod
hunter and Mary.
The girl advanced directly toward
them with outstretched band, her moth
er following.
"Howdy. Colonel Strickland !"' she
said, her voice trembling a little. "You
are on your way to visit Tim. aren't
you?"
"Yes. Miss Mary." replied Tom's fa
ther quietly. "The trial begins tomor
row, and I only left him to meet Colo
nel Todhunter, and he's returning with
me."
"Colonel Strickland," said Mary reso
lutely, though her voice shook more
than ever, "I want you to carry a mes
sage to Tom from me."
There was a curious little pause.
Mrs. Todhunter laid her hand gently
on her daughter's arm, but the girl
moved away from tho touch, not harsh
ly, yet as if she felt It to be a protest
"I want you to give Tom my love.
Colonel Strickland." she said. "And 1
want you to tell him, from me, that I
don't believe one word of these awful
charges against him not one word
either .about Stam Tucker or about
4hat-that girl!"
And as she spoke Mary Todhunter
burst out crying. She dabbed plteous
ly at her face with her handkerchief,
unable to control her emotions. Then,
Bobbing, she turned away with her
mother, no other word being spoken.
"God bless" that g'trVofyoursT Thurs!"
spoke Colonel Strickland, his own voice
unsteady. "She's good grit clear
through and, somehow, sho gives me
more courage than I've had for many
a day. They haven't got Tom yet
and they'll have the fight of their lives
before they do get hi in!"
"That's the talk!" cried Colonel Tod
hunter. "Face 'em that way, Bill, and
we'll make 'em strain their souls for
every Inch they try to gain! They got
to do it by the good God up yonder In
them skies, Bill, they got to do It!"
But the little flicker of encourage
ment caused by a girl's brave words
soon died away In the somber shadow
of Tom Strickland's prison. It was two
very weary and gray faced old men
who came away from the prisoner an
hour later and parted at the Jail's front
each to go to his own homer
That evening Colonel Todhunter went
by appointment to the Strickland home
for a conference, with Tom's father and
Major Gentry Dryden. leading-counsel
for the defense. It was nearly mid
night when he returned to his owi
home.
He found Aunt Mlrandy Ransom
there. The old negress rose, trembling,
at sight of him. her black hands flut
tering toward him in instinctive glad
ness of welcome.
"Dress Gawd, yo' done come!" she
cried. "I been eatln' my ole heart out
waltln' fo yo suh! Kunnl Todhunter,
yo' got some mighty quick an' ticklish
wu'k cut out fo' yo ef yo' gwlne save
Mars' Tom Strickland's life das hue
come I hyar now to tell yo' erbout it
BUhl"
Through the after midnight blackness
that was soon to change Into the gray
of a cloud swept dawn a fugitive man
and woman fled.
Side by side they sat in a light road
wagon drawn by a rawboned hor?-
whose long and swift stride told of its
selection for this special service.
The man, gaunt swarthy, with keen
black eyes that gleamed alertly from
under the wide brim of a weather beat
en sombrero, seemed III content how
ever, with the progress being made.
Almost Incessantly he urged the
horse to Increased effort now and then
cursing outright in the grip of a fever
ish Impatience.
Save when he leaned forward for this
urging the man sat slouching and limp.
the mark of the vagrant Ishmael on
every Hp of body and limbs.
The woman was tense, rigid, ber face
set always to the front It was framed
in by a Bhawl thrown over her head
and drawn about her shoulders. Once
or twice her glance went furtively to
the man beside her. Fear and distrust
were In her eyes. Her hands were
tightly vlasped together as they lay in
her lap.
Deep woods stretched on either side
of the road. Their stillness was pro
found. The enveloping gloom seemed
as of the grave Itself. The woman
shuddered and drew her shawl closer.
"Lord ha' mercy!" sho spoke. "I
can't do it. Jesse I can't! It's worse'n
murder worse'n what's been done
a'readyl"
The man laid a cruel lash across his
horse's flanks. "You fool!" be mut
tered. "It's high time I brung you
awayl You lovesick fool!"
The girl's eyes flashed sullenly.
"That word's a lie!" she retorted.
"Ain't I goln' with you? And would
I be a-doln that If I was lovesick for
somebody else? It's a lie, and you
know it!"
The man laughed. "If you had stay
ed where you was you'd h' blabbed
the whole thing out and you'd be In
Jail now 'steod o' him."
Suddenly the woman threw her arms
upward. "It'll ha'nt me te my dyln'
day!" she cried. "I ought to ha told
the truth! 1 wish I had! I wish I
had! It couldn't be no worse'n It is
now!"
"I say that it could!" savagely re
turned ., the man. "You . keep your
mouth shut 1 got all I can de to save
us as It Is, 'thouf n you waggln' your
tongue. You keep your mouth shut!"
The woman passed her hands over
her face miserably.
The man again slouched down In his
seat Now and then his moody glance
turned apprehensively to his compan
ion. "I've done a whole lot for your sake,
Lottie-May," he spoke at last "J
could hn' got away long ago. I'm tak
ln' big chances on your account And
you don't seem to care."
Lottie-May Doggett's face grew
shamed. "Yes, I do. Jesse!" sho ex
claimed. "I know Just what you're
doln' for me. Tho ouly show I got is
to go with you. And you mustn't
think I don't appreciate It." Her
hands fluttered plteously at her throat
"My God!" she cried, her voice break
ing in anfenlsh. "Tom Strickland's
goln' to be hung! He's goln to be
hung! They ain't nothln' on earth can
save him!"
Far in the east the gray dawn was
breaking.
"D n Tom Strickland!" cursed tho
man. "I'll be glud when he Is hung!
You've always been In love with him!"
"He's goln' to be hung!" repented
the girl. "And they ain't no way to
save hfra now!"
An evil mockery leaped Into tho
man's fac ). ' Oh, yes. there's a way,"
be retorted. "You go back there to
that trial and confess the truth.
You're the only one on God's earth
that can save him. Ain't that so?"
The girl's faco whitened. As the
man spoke they bad turned from tho
pike road and were going deeper into
the woods. A scant light of day bad
come. The faces of tho two were
haggard and worn.
"Yes, I'm the only one!" cried Lottie-May
Doggett suddenly. "And that's
what I'd do now if I had the chance
toll the whole truth. I ain't tblnkln'
no more about me. I ain't thlnkln no
more about you. I'm thlnklu' about
Tom Strlcklond!"
A forlorn and dilapidated cabin was
revealed in a barren little opening
ahead. Tho man laughed aloud as he
saw It
"You'll have to take It out In think
In', Lottie-May!" ho exclaimed trium
phantly. "I've got you now where you
are safe. When you and mo leave that
shack tonight there'll be no more talk
o' you savin Tom Strickland. We'll
be headed straight for Oklahoma then,
and nothln' can stop us!"
The girl's eyes rested on the miser
ablo little cabin. An ominous light
was In them. The man drew up at the
hut and assisted his companion from
the wagon. Ho pushed open a creak
ing door. Tho cabin's Interior showed
black and forbUdlng.
"That's where we stay till night
time." he said. "I'll take the horse and
wagon round where they won't be seen
If anybody happens to come along.
And I don't want no more of your
foolishness, Lottle-Mul"
The glrf started a if struck. "Don't
talk to me like that!" she cried. "I
ain't your nlirger yet I ain't got to do
anything I don't teel like doln. You're
takln' too much for granted, Jesse!"
The man seemed to lose all patience
at this. Grasping the girl by the shoul
ders he forced ber Into the hut Then
he disappeared. A niuuient later he
returned.
The girl was standing against the
wall Her face was buried In her
arms. Sobs shook her body. The man
closed the door behind him.
(To be Continued.)
Ill
Items or Interest to Old and New
Residents of City Which Were
New Forty Years Ago.
Five hundred Russians passed
through our city on Friday and
Saturday last, seeking homes in
the western part of our state. May
good luck go with them.
Hates is llxing himself up a
new house on the corner of Sixth
and Vine. He first raised her and
then boarded her( and now he's
new topping her, and when it's all
done he'll have as nice a home as
anybody's folks.
We paid a visit to J. A. Con
nor's wheal warehouse, or Side
Hill elevator, last week. All the
bins were full and sacks lie piled
up for rods around the shanty.
The old fanning mill was rattling
away and ear after car hacked up
empty and was hauled off full.
Such lively times makes a body
think all the wheat in creation is
coming into IMaltsmoulh, but it
is only a very small portion of
what the great slate of Nebraska
will produce this year.
Fifty-five times, and a good
lime; one of (he most enjoyable
of innocent sprees, turned up in
Plattsmouth on Monday evening
last, the occasion being the ar
rival of the flfty-llflh birthdav of
Mrs. Chaplain Wright, and (he
thirty-eighth of (heir married life.
It was called a surprise party, and
was truly a very surprising party
to the kindly and genial chaplain
and his lady. On some pretense
they were sent off visiting that
afternoon, and the (wo daughters
of (he house, Mrs. Wise and Mrs.
French, at once prepared lo cele
brato their mother's birthday in
the happiest manner possible. A
number of pleasant guests were
inviled in (he evening, and (ho
house and grounds were bril
liantly illuminated. After all was
ready, the marriage feast duly
prepared, and the guests as
sembled, Mrs. Wise went over to
the neighbor's where Ihe unsus
pecting couple were visiting and
told a little exaggeration not
amounting lo a white lie even
about some people from a dis
tance coming over (o see (he
chaplain, and they "had belter
come home." They came; but ns
they turned t lit corner and the
bright lights from Ihe grounds
and house struck them full in the
face, Mrs. Wright exclaimed:
"Why, father, Ihe house is on lire,
hurry home;" the old gentleman,
wiser in his day, but, no nearer Ihe
truth, said: "These young folks
are up to some mischief, and we
must hurry home and see what it
is." When they arrived at Ihe
house and llfly outstretched
hands grasped theirs in welcome,
and llfly hearty, loving neighbors'
voices bid them god speed, thus
far, and many happy days yet in
I heir long career, the scene was
almost too much for both. For
once the parson lost his wits and
could only say: "You rogues, you
rouges, I give it up, you've beat
me," while Mrs. Wright declared
that happy as they had been in
the main, she had no desire lo
see 55 more years in this hard
world of ours. A bountiful sup
per and many a good-humored
jest and reminiscence finished an
evening of pleasure, without a
shade of alloy.
uiD.q ijo oq uoq) pun.w. souibji
oi op pjnoD Xoqi njq.w moqi
pouijojuj isnf oSpnf oqx qflui
upan)Bg o'ssn tj puq tounoo
jto oqi puu souibii oSpnf
Nat Brown and John Shannon
both came out in a spic-span new
suit of clothes last week drab
brown with purple spots on 'cm.
The clothes were made in New
York by S. Bloom & Co., from im
ported short horn, Melton, Eng
lish Petersham' Merino wool
goods and it took three whole
ruins outh
FORTY YEARS AGO
pieces to get 'em all out of. As
the suits came home from the
shops they were a little too large,
but by repeated wettings during
the shower of last week, they;
shrunk so much that Nat had to
trade his off to John for a short
horn pony, and John gave his to
a 16-year-old haymaker from the
Weeping Water blue grass region
for an unweaned half-breed Texas
calf. Brown starts east in a few
days to buy out the factory, and
as chartered the B. & M. R. R.
to
transport the matchinery.
hands and all, out to Coon Hisel's
hollow, where we shall soon have
a woolen mill and clothing manu
factory at wholesale, running in
first rate order. It is an unique
and entirely new mill. You just
chuck the sheep, goats or flax irl
one end ,and a suit of clothes, &
hat, or overalls comes out of the
other. Go west, young man, and
see this wonderful piece of ma
chinery. '
A child of Mr. II. A. Austin was
buried on Wednesday afternoon,
and the child of Mr. Hoffman, the
blacksmith, died ou the same day.
Jerry Sexton wants to chal
lenge anyone to row a skiff race,
one mile or two miles, for $25 or
$50 a side. Now, boys, here's
your chance only one week's
training, dive Jerry a chance.
I. N. Corey of Weeping Water
mouth, down in the gable end of
Cass county, has been up to see
us. Corey is a pretty good fellow
been a printer, teaches school
and hoes his own row or row
just as you like with anv man.
Sheriff Culler informs us that
a lad named Lorin Smith, living
in: Stove Creek precinct, was shot
and instantly killed on Friday
last. Augustus Davis, another
boy of 15 years did the shooting
by accident. They were playing
"lag." Jimmy Smith, a (5-year-old
brother of the deceased boy,
was the only witness.
The brick work on Ihe second
story of the new school building
was completed on Saturday last,
and Mr. Dexter, the contractor,
informs us he will have finished
all Ihe brick work on the whole
building in three weeks more.
When (his building is completed
Plattsmouth can boast of one of
the finest buildings in Ihe state.
The following named persons
and people were duly installed in
their respective offices at the
Pleasant Ridge ('range week be
fore last: D. D. Andrus, master;
John M. Craig, overseer; N.
Holmes, lecturer; Jas. Bennett,
steward; Jas. M. Craig, assistant
steward; A. Hull, chaplain; P. T.
Beaver, treasurer; J. C. fSilmour,
secretary; M. Meisinger, gate
keeper; Mrs. D. D. Andrus, cores;
Mrs. (!. Swift, pomona; Miss Allie
Hull, flora; Miss E. J. Craig, lady
assistant steward. Regular meet
ings on second and fourth Satur
days in Ihe month.
We have struck coal, it's her
in Cass county. A big chunk lies
on our table now, and it's hard,
and black, and coaly, and smuts
our papers, and blacks people's
fingers that come in and feel of
it, and then if they rub their noses
it blacks them, too, and we know
it is coal. Mr. J. Mc F. Hagood
brought to this office a piece of
coal of four or five pounds weight,
good fair coal, mined in Cass
counly, on the Missouri river, ten
miles below here, and there are
oceans of if, viz: An eight-inch
vein, twenty-three feet from the
ground surface, and growing
thicker every minute. No man
knows how wide it is nor how far
it goes, and this story is all true;
and if you don't believe it coma
up to our ofllce and smell of the
coal.
We publish this week the set
tlement of the vexatious litigation
between our county and the B. &
M. It. II. Co. in Nebraska. The
railroad surrenders up to the
county $100,000 in bonds and
.$50,000 in coupons now due. Cass
county allows the other $100,000
lo stand, anil pays the interest to
be levied for 1871 of $10,000, thus
starling Cass county on her way
with only a bonded debt of $100.
000 with interest to run from tjie
year 1871. At the time of the
maturity of these bonds, in 1885),
there would be fo pay, the prin
ciple, $200,000, with interest to
pay (or paid as the case might
be) of $350,000. If fhe county
should now be compelled to pay
all interest due, up to and includ
ing the year 187 i, it would be the
neat sum of $00,000. Our
county commissioners, setting as
the fiscal agents of the county,
have acted on this matter o..ly as
prudent men could act.
Ths Journal for Calling Cards.
