Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-06-26
CAPTAIN JIM'S C0URTSHIP
s*.%* By A. E. RICE, Portland. ss*x


lnnie anticipated lho HHe
a anc Smith meeting in the woodsned
ono made w no effort to prevent 1t. IN
and liae aSs preferred it there to any
lacs ss.o 30 else and the manner 1t came
vlel0 n. wall suited her fun-loving dis
aDOu; u;on The incident caused her TO
p0slliUat. 0"torilv forget the rapping on the
nOlheiaa.n, aonr ~ vet while immoderately
ilouss is,uS u che turned. The front door
lausn,ne, and villainous looking man
entered. IT., m ber Inns She
,.came nu speechless with fright. Inc
.ilI'inous rsI looking stranger quletiy
'llla,a'h ,l.oa the door behind him; Captain
eiO''u M quickly disentangled himself
Jlm !an, smith and scrambling to his
HUH Nv. rnshed back into the kitchen. fol
iewod 1eua bv Smith, who was fightlng
mad. =, ..u,,;rors stranger near
s1 ,bs front door and for momene
thougbt a,o he was being assaiied IN front
sud mGIT rear. His limbs trembled some,
sor suu while no coward blood ran through
. ~, ~, veins age admonished him not
,aobIv u 70 provoke physical encounters.
Smith angrily said to Jim, "phwat
~ ~ vses doin' yees miserable thaif?"
~ ~ that moment he too discovered the
stranger M and became appalled,. "Oh
mother of Moses" he exclaimed in a
whisper.
The dsfigured and unrecognizable
villain, appearing more terrible In the
dim light, stood near the front door,
a huge pistol in his right hand and a
carving knife In his left.
"Whoop! S'blood!" said he, as he
fourished the weapons. He wore a
soft hat pulled down over blackened
eve. A strip of sticking plaster was
fastened on his cheek, and his coat
appeared very much crumpled.
The identity of the stranger was,
however, cleared UP the opportune ar
rvrl of Nan and Kitty.
Kitty at once recognized him, ooh,
Frank" she exclaimed, "who did it,"
Macdonald. the red villain" he an
swered hoarsely. That expression ex-
planned Franks appearance, for An
ME then remembered Kitty having
told her, while in the wood shed. that
Frank was coming with a black eye
and Scared face.
What did he do it for?" asked Kitty
Of Frank.
For calling him a muff," answered
Frank, "and he said he was going to
do Captain Jim Smeets worse than
me-"
Annie appeared Mortified and said.
81 am the cause of it ALL" She sank
on the lounge and covered her face
with her hands to conceal her laughter
which she was unable to restrain
longer.
Hes on the war path tonight. and
will call here sure" Frank continued.
But you will not meet Macdonald
again. You will hide from him, won't
you, Frank?" said Kitty, appearing
concerned.
Hide from him. Never" roared
Frank In reply, and flourishing his
knife and pistol in a most determined
manner, added, "as am a savage, I'll
suck blood" He then deliberately,
and In the most suggestive way, drew
tne back of the carving knife across
his throat.
Captain Jim was so amazed at this
ana so anxious to clear himself, that
ne at once lofty replied, "me! I
reckon you be a-mistaken." He indis-
Greetly and unguardedly added, "why
So"
The words were scarcely uttered,
when Annie gave a little scream and
exclaimed. "oh, good lands!"
mere followed full ten seconds Of
uead silence, In which the tick of the
small clock on the shelf seemed to
sound SCUM like the clang of a cathedral
@ Ueli, AT length the silence was broken
w nifty, who, looking straight at Cap
"a @in Jim exclaimed in a surprised tone.
,o1,o Uea room?" Nan looked puzzled and
room?"
Captain Jim realized his awkward
,p,'s pusitlon, became confused and blurted
'ul, l wus druv thar"
hltty smiled and softly asked. "who
"gSe you In the bed room, Cap?"
ane question was answered by
nlanK; IN deep, tragic voice, "Mac-
oohaid, the villain"
.o.s annie and Kitty looked at each
t vLner and smiled, Nan looked severe.
NM nhe smith looked meaningly from
Al Ainother silence ensued, the answer
''ihu.ehtly, not being satisfactory.
H., m' length Annie said, "I told Captain
Sa Sm 70 go In there and keep quiet, as
nc nv was afraid Of Macdonald"
erirm me explanation dissolved the gath
eaaieu e c,oud. Captain Jim breathed
ee, ana e. feeling that he was exonerated,
rnu.,'' ru smith settled the matter by alb.
bspoy bp.,y exclaiming, "begorra, It must
stho, ,e oeen thot same rogue thot
lncI lIoa q up feminist me in the shid, bad
tain snud a-think so," remarked Cap.
mannsr man s,m' In lofty, self satisfying
sm,th W'r o Is the blackguard?" cried
taIa' t'a. "Shure, I'm the wan as will
PlaeusoG'me e some O. the divil out of yees.
God GoS9re,ng rena the darlint of me best frint,