Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-06-12


Joe were very good friends, and had
been for some years past. Their ma
lures were similar and each entertain
ed the most kindly sentiment for the
other, but in this instance Captain
Tom had no chance to recognize Joe,
and Joe did not recognize Captain
Tom.
Slamming the door shut, Joe return
ed to his sister. who was convulsed
with laughter. "Annie, you're quit of
him now, that's certain" said he.
81 don't think So" replied she.
you don't, eh?" said Joe. very
well, We'll see. Let me lay my hands
on him once more, and I'll fix him"
Joe rushed out and pulled the front
door shut after him.
Aware of Joe's mistake, Annie
would have set matters right were it
not that Captain Jim was then in her
house. She knew right well the cause
of Joe's antipathy to him and there
fore discreetly let events shape their
own course. 1t was the way Joe
handled and mistook Captain Tom
that amused her.
Captain Jim again cautiously opened
the bedroom door and seeing Annie
alone went over to her. He did not for
get to take his hat, which he gripped
in his left hand.
81 was not afeered Annie" said he,
"only of bein ketched in thet bed
ROOM"
81 know Jim, but don't want to see
you in. trouble" which was literally
true, for her opinion of Captain Jim
had undergone quite a change since
she believed that he had made the
purchase Of Christmas presents which
Smith was then guarding in the wood
shed. a.
Captain Jim took chair and sat be-
side her.
Smith felt the cold in the woodshed
and having become impatient, peeped
through the keyhole and partially saw
q tall man holding Annie's head in a
suspicious position. He saw Captain
Tom.
"Oh, the william" exclaimed Smith
under his breath. The circumstances
was so interesting that Smith kept his
eve at the keyhole, oblivious of COM
fort or temperature.
Captain Tom being of a combative
disposition, on ejectment from the
house. at once sought club. "No man
can fire me outn't a friends house."
he inwardly exclaimed, without set
Element" He proceeded around to the
woodshed and found a billet of wood
near the door. With q chuckle of sat-
isfactiou he grasped it. and the door
being ajar he would "jest quietly slip
in an git glimpse of his enemy
through the keyhole." So he entered
the woodshed and noiselessly closed
the door. He groped his way SLOWLY
along step by step. Holding his club
in front of him. as sort of feeler, he
struck it against the woodpile.
The noise attracted Smiths atten
tion. Removing his eye from the key
hole, he looked straight back, into the
darkness of the shed and exclaimed
under his breath. "phwat the divil i:
thet?" Captain Tom, seeing the light
suddenly flash through the keyhole
halted in a listening attitude.
Smith, however, became nervous
and muttered. "thaves," and graspet
the kitchen door knob.
Captain Tom. in his turn, becam,
alarmed. He had seen the sudder
gleam of light on some moving obiec
and then heard clicking sound. (Tht
click Of the door lock.) He step
ned back to the shed door and tool
hold of it's edge with his left hand ant
stood in a defensive attitude. "Blov
, my whistle" said he in a whisper, "i
thet air ruffian aint a-layin' fer me il
this shed"
Leaving Smith and Captain Ton
, straining their eyes at each othe
through the darkness of the wood
shed and both on the alert, fear
| ing some unforeseen attack, especially
Captain Tom who beats the air witt
his club, We must return to Captain
Jim and Annie.
; When he sat beside her, it was wit
, . daterminatiou to know his fate forth
with. He did not like these interruI
ilons and he was beginning to thin
they were little too many for a lon
f widder. However, it being Christina
: Eve, may have accounted for so man
/ callers, though he remembered Bal
;. bara's words at Mans surprise part.
D annie, darlin'," he began, 'it's jes
S as you be a-sayin' now, you promis
}. tew be my wife as soon az you kin g.
f divorce from Walker an you XII
have all the money you want. You ki
2 go tew Selum, or anywhar you haf
/ mind tew an stay thar, an I'll jine yo
as soon as my contract with thet na'
o. igation company expires. Now, it
!. all a-restin' with you. Be you answe
S in yes or no?"
8 what shall say to put him off
e she thought, when, as If by some spi
t itual aid, she was relieved from imm
e diately answering by several smal
|. raps on the front door.
d She sprang to her feet and e.
a claimed, "who can 1t be, now!"
r Captain Jim also arose. evidently
q hit frightened for he again began