The Afro-American advance., 1900-09-08

I'm so cautious. She says she dotcs-
whatever that is-on good business
men. Congrat1ate me. old felleri''
wait till You get her." said Eman-
uel. dryiy.
When Lenuel had gone he drew
the letter from his pocket and spelled
il over carefully. A friend had read
IL TO him that afternoon, and he was
able 10 follow IL with something APP
proaching accuracy. He had done lit
tie else but study 1t since Its re
ceipt. II was from a young lGdT at
Tunkerton. 1t told him that she be-
lieved he was precisely the sort of a
man she wanted. II told him TO come
to Tunkerton on the first day of the
next month over the st. Paul road,
80 that she 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.
= s'pose." thought Emanuel, that
she wants to compare us and take
her pick. II pears we've both struck
her pretty fayor'ble. Well, reckon"
arising to look at himself In cracked
mirror-"that 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. II wish
you was goln' TO get n wife--some
sweet creature to love, cherish and
protect. wish"
20. don't mind me-" said Emanuel,
scrubbing hard. his face well down
toward the basin. '1'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 Ia 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 a
boy and aE young man he had Wis
tied IL often. and he was much Inn
pressed by the coincidence that was
bringing him TO visit II again. He
stopped behind tree at the corner
to wipe his face upon bandanna
handkerchief and TO draw long
breath before taking the final plunge.
lie wondered II 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 eAused him to catch his breath
sharply, He dashed his hands across
his eyes, and looked again. IL was
no deluslon. Emanuel Croster, gently
springing up and down, was coming
from the opposite direction. There
was n smile upon his face, and a white
stnnd-up collar upon his neck. His
eyes were upon the small brown
house. There was no doubt rs to his
purpose.
II came TO Lemuel like fash 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 word.
E,uuuu.I ruau..,I HI. H.a o.. 10 -
speak. but Lemuers fist chuggel the
words down his throat The blow
was sufficient. had the distance been
better judged, To have sent Emanuel
into n long sleep. Az Ii was II mere
ly Jared him. He grunted, and raised
one OF his feet. implantlng a kick
upon Lemuefs Sunday trousers. Then
they clinched, rolling in q cloud of
dust.
The door OF the small brown house
opened suddenly. and woman ran
To the gate.
"Gentlemen!" she called to the
twisting widowers. "Gentlemeni"
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.
''Gentlemcn. l."
The woman was unable 10 control
herself longer. She broke into
laugh that sounded In the dust-fllled
ears OF the two widowers like the crack
Ing OF number of doomS. They
sat as II paralyxed. their mouths open.
At length the woman spoke.
'Gentlemen-o. You fools, Didn't
you think I knew twas you, Lem
Ricketts,. and you, Man Croster? Bill
Spriggs told me all about IL. Him
and mes Hoin' to be married next
week. O-you-- foolsl"
She laughed again. and Lemuel
arose dazedly to his feet. Emanuel
arose also. They gazed speschlesSly
at I.emucru divorced wife for one long
minute. Then they gaaed at each
other. Invoiuntarily their hands met
.'Come on, Man." said Lcmael.
"You hetl" said Emanuel.
Aud they trudged hriskly away
through the dust. the sound OF laugh.
ter following them. In secluded
place near the railroad they stopped.
and threw themselves upon the
ground Lemuel broke the silence.
HITar ka wrnatsaa en T.gk