Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-05-15

NIL, InirIy-CeW, er Sne'S day.
lIiuest gal twelve years old. But
tnen It's the way she carries herself,
listen to them feet, eh! She's as
sood us half dozen or'nary wimen."
captain Jim grinned at the remark
ana sedately exclaimed, 81 shud think
SO, What did her husband die of"
hes not dead, more's the pity.
lies down in California"
,HoW be she widder, then?"
on, Nan calls her, The Wildly,
cause her husbands been gone nigh
[our yars went minin' down thet way
3omewhar."
The idea of man leaving such a
splendid looking young woman as the
5o-called "widder" for four years
seemed to Captain Jim Smeets incred-
ible.
The thought of four years from her
repeated itself with such unconscious
y1gor that his lips involuntarily be-
trayed his thoughts in tones loud
enough for his companion to hear and
cXclaim.
yes, four yars, an ne never writ
onc't nuther."
Reckon divorce wud improve her
futurc prospects" remarked Captain
jim.
81 opine it wud, but Jim, she's out'n
duccats.' -
"Thet be common complaint Tom.
but I'll allow she interests me power
fully. You think she'd like tew git
er divorce?"
| yep, don't ] know it, eff course do.
| knows what's what, but then, it'll
take the poor thing many var fo~
SHE'S got tew support them air three
little gals"
The silence that followed was
| broken first by Captain Tom striking
the tenth match on his pant 'e~
since they entered the room to light his
pine. secondly nv Captain Tim e'ovr'''
~emarking: "Tell you confidentially,
Tom. I've half mind tew offer TIL"
Widder money tew git thet air d.
vorce."
IF yer do thet Jim. yer kin reckon
the widdy'll show her gratitude"
CaDtain Tom then proceeded to r."
cupboard, opened the door and took
| from the lowest shelf dark decantcr.
saying as he did so:
can yer kin toot yer horn on tew
it tew."
Captain jim broke the ensuing ST.
lence with the thoughtful remark.
Pears like safe craft. Tom?"
"Safe!" calculated Tom. as he look
ed at Jim in a surprised way: "safe
why. Jim, her timbers air sound ez a
mighty dollar"
Captain Jim did not like that remark
concerning lady, who was then insid.
nously gripping at his heart strinoe
He eyed Captain Tom, suspiciously.
and they as''ed chow he you know
in of thet Tom?"
Tom deliberately removed the stop
per from the decanter. poured some
| liquor into tumbler then placed the
decanter on top of the cupboard and
turning to Captain Jim winked, then
replied:
"Why. do yer s'rose a lame doe
could hoe it down like thet?" nodding
toward the dining room, then drained
the glass.
The frown on Captain Jim's face re-
laxed partly, because he deemed the
answer satisfactory and partly be-
cause be scented something pleasant
in the air AS the two men looked at
each other, steadily in the face, Cap
tain Jim inquired, "Dew?"
"Yep. know you don't fetch nuthin
strong, so l didn't tempt yer. Have
some, motioning with his hand in g
careless way. for Jim to help himself
Captain jim. thereupon. went To the
cupboard, remarking, "the air be so
in-ter-mit'n-t damp about these parts.
thet a leetle warmn' in'ards does one
smart sight of good sometimes"
"Yep!" responded Tom, as he look
ed straight at Jim's brow, "the air
hereabouts does sorter wrinkle one
up some. Dry an wet, dry an wet an
more wet'll do it."
Jim filled his glass, and with. "well,
the widder be the word fer me" drank.
Tom relieved him of the glass, for
Tim acted as il he were choking. but
he soon regained his breath and ex-
claimed. goodness. it stirs feller's
in'ards I'D right powerful. The clear
stuff ] reckon?" Then he took smon
red onion from his vest pocket and ate
it.
Tom replaced the decanter in its
place and replied proudly, "you bet
cher life. no gov'ment tax on thet.
Jim. what's thet you air eatin?'
"Oniou."
What fer?" inquired Tom.
"Disinfector," replied Jim. "Onior
be powerful anti-liquor disinfector.
allus carry one."
"You do"
81 do" replied jim.
Further conversation was interrnpt-
cd by the appearance of Nan and The
Wildly. Nan was Captain Toms tall
and angular wife.
Captain" said Nan addressing jim,
"you missed treat in not seeing An
ME dance the fling"
1--WE heard 1t, didn't we Jim?" re.
piled Tom. "an' now you an me VIII
have a fling together, selling Mans