The Republican., 1900-09-13

tie else but study it since its re-
celpt. 1t was from young LADY at
Iunkerton. 1t told him that she be-
heved he was precisely the sort of
man she wanted. 1t told him to come
to Tunkerton on the first day of the
next ponth over the st. Paul road,
so that ahe would know he was COM
ing when she heard the train whistle,
and gave him careful directions for
finding the house where she was stay
ing.
Il s'pose," thought Emanuel, that
she wants to compare us and take
her pick. 1t pears we've both struck
her pretty favor'ble. Well, L reckon
arising to look at himself in cracked
mirror-"that l can hold my own,
and more, too, with Lem"
On the last day of the month Lem
uel came over to say good-by. He
found Emanuel washing his neck.
Coin, are you?" said Emanuel.
"Well, good luck to you"
Thanks said Emanuel. 81 wish
you was goin' to get wife-some
sweet creature to love, cherish and
protect. / wish"
80, don't mind me-" said Emanuel,
scrubbing hard, his face well down
toward the basin. "I'll make out to
get along. Good-by to you"
"Good-by," said Lemuel.
In the village of Tunkerton there
is long street running from one end
of the village to the other. At one
extreme of this street is the station
of the Milwaukee railway; at the 9TH
er extreme is the station of the St.
Paul. At point nearly midway be-
tween the stations is a small brown
house.
Lemuel knew the place well. AS
boy and as a young man he had Wis
tied it often, and he was much i'm
pressed by the coincidence that was
| bringing him to visit it again. He
stopped behind a tree at the corner
to wipe his face upon a bandanna
handkerchief and to draw long
breath before taking the final plunge.
He wondered if she was peeping coy
ly from the window, and peered fur
lively around the tree. There was
no sign of life about the small brown
house. But beyond the house, down
the street where the heat was rising
and falling in waves, he saw that
which caused him to catch his breath
sharply. He dashed his hands across
his eyes, and looked again. 1t was
no delusion. Emanuel Croster, gently
springing up and down, was coming
from the opposite direction. There
was smile upon his face, and white
stand-up collar upon his neck. His
eyes were upon the small brown
house. There was no doubt as to his
| purpose.
1t came to Lemuel like a flash that
Emanuel had been false to him.
Emanuel had repaid his kindness by
vile treachery. Lemuel's blood boiled
within him. He went forward quick
ly, his face darkened by a frown. his
huge fist doubled At the gate they
met. Lemuel spoke not a word.
Emanuel opened his lips as if to
speak, but Lemuel's fist chugged the
words down his throat. The blow
was sufficient. had the distance been
better judged, to have sent Emanuel
into a long sleep. AS it was, it mere
ly Jared him. He grunted, and raised
one of his feet, implanting a kick
upon LemuePs Sunday trousers. Then
they cIinched, rolling in cloud of
dust.
The door of the small brown house
opened suddenly, and a woman ran
to the gate.
"Gentlemen!" she called to the
twisting widowers. "Gentlemen!"
The dust settled gradually There
was a sound of putting and blowing.
Then two perspiring, dust-smeared,
bloody faces became visible, each smil-
ing grotesquely. Lemuel retained his
hold upon the collar of Emanuel.
Emanuers hand was clutching Lem
uels hair.
Gentlemen, /"
The woman was unable to control
herself longer. She broke into a
laugh that sounded in the Justified
ears of the two widowers like the crack
ing of a number of dooms They
sat as if paralyzed, their mouths open.
At length the woman spoke.
"Gentlemen-O, you fools! Didn't
you think | knew twas you, Lem
Bicketts, and you, Man Croster? Bill
Spriggs told me all about it. Him
and mes goin' to be married next
week. -you-fools!"
She laughed again, and Lemuel
arose dazedly to his feet. Emanuel
arose also. They gazed speechlessly
at Lemuel's divorced wife for one long
minute. Then they gazed at each
other. Involuntarily their hands met.
"Come on, Man." said Lemuel.
"You bet!" said Emanuel.
And they trudged briskly away
through the dust, the sound of laugh
ter following them. In a secluded
place near the railroad they stopped.
and threw themselves upon the
ground. Lemuel broke the silence.
Her" he groaned. 80, Lord!
She's got $3.50, made while she was
subsistin' on my bounty. She's a
thief, Man. She stole the money she
| Oot for washin' and ironin'-Stole II