The Republican., 1900-09-13

do 1t for you, too, II you want, Man.
Hey? What do you say, old feller%''
Lemuel slapped the mourning
Emanuel on the back and chuckled.
Something suspiciously like chuckle
came from Emanuel in return.
81 s'pose somethin' got to be did
for the kids he said, land woman's
the only thing that can do it proper"
You're right said Lemuel. "Now,
look here, Man" He spread the paper
upon the ground and indicated dirty
spot in one column with a dirty fore
finger. Here's the one I've chose. a
young lady called pretty by her
friends, and possessed of $3.50, would
like to correspond with some honest
man-no dude. Object, matrimony.
Address B1772, Cupid't Dart You
see, that hits me to a dot, Man. !
amt no dude"
mo, you amt, that's fact" said
Emanuel, promptly.
1T costs only ten cents to get
started. The letter goes to the pa
per and they send it on to the young
lady, and she answers back, and there
you be, slicker'n grease"
Looks all right" said Emanuel
"'Tis all right" said Lemuel Now,
Man, you take thish ere paper home
with you and pick out one for your
self. | amt no hog. l feel real sorry
for you, Man. She-she was fine
| woman
Emanuel gulped He felt that it
was incumbent upon him to say some
thing-something to show his friend
that his kindness was not unappre-
ciated.
$50 was yours, Lem" he said,
softly.
Don't you b'live it, said Lemuel
with sudden gruffness. Mines vile
snake, Man. But never mind; know
how you meant it. Good night"
Good night" said Emanuel, and
went teetering home.
He sat late that night spelling out
laboriously the advertisements in Gu
pid's Dart, but found none that salts
fled him-none excepting the one
chosen by Lemuel. None of the 9TH
| OAS uDDSdlCI " uIlIl. MOSU Ol IneIU
were impossible. They laid down con-
ditions to which he was quite unable
to conform. They insisted unrea-
sonably that the gentleman have
wealth or good looks or brilliancy of
mind. The few exceptions insisted
that the gentleman be willing to work
hard in return for the affection of an
honest, earnest heart. This was not
impossible, but it was unpleasant.
Emanuel shuddered at the suggestion.
Time after time his finger returned
to the advertisement of the LADY who
was called pretty by her friends and
who was possessed of $780, She
yearned for an honest man-no dude,
and Emanuel's heart was drawn to
her 1t panied him to think that
Lemuel had chosen her first. Lemuel
had treated him with great consider
alton. 1t was not entirely right for
him to covet Lemuel's choice, but he
could not help it. Finally he went to
sleep.
In the morning he returned the pa
per to Lemuel, but his eyes fell be-
fore those of his friend and he talked
mostly in monosyllables.
Find one?" inquired Lemuel, with
wink.
NO"
"Ain't you goin' to get one?"
| Cant"
"Why?"
"Ain't none to suit"
'Sho, now! Well, I'll tell you; /
couldn't find none either, but the one
picked out. Still, done the best L
could for you, Man"
"Uh-huh."
And I've been fggerin' some. |
reckon I'll tell her she's got to take
me quick if she wants me, cause
there's great demand for me. l
amt goin' to sign my name to the
letter. l don't want to get into no
breach O. promise suit. Course, the
lady's probably all right, but there's
nothing like bein' on the safe side.''
'Uh-huh."
$50 I'm just goin' to have young
Spriggs write me down as a gentle
man who's honest as daylight and
who amt no dude. I'm goin' to have
him tell her bout my bein' prop'ty
owner and all that and explain that
| don't give no name cause | want
to be dead sure she's square. 1 reckon
she'll be reasonable if she means
business"
Yeah" Emanuel shifted uneasily
from one foot to the other. Guess
your heads level. Hope you have
| luck. Lem"
Thanks" said Lemuel. I'm goin'
down to see young Spriggs now"
He turned into the shanty to get
his hat, and Emanuel spring-halted
away down the road to attend to a
little business matter of his own.
The friends, for some reason, did
not see each other again for a week.
At the end of that time Lemuel ap-
pe-led at the shanty of Emanuel His
face was flushed by excitement. He
held letter in his hand.
1--WE got her, Man." he called. "Ive
got her!"
Emanuel quickly slowed a letter
into his trousers pocket.