Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-05-15
CAPTAIN JIM'S C0URTSHIP
.ss*ss BY A. E. RICE, Portland. s*.s.s


icon in the city of Portland
drizzle. or mist, was falling, but
the temperature being mild and as
thew were, practically, natives hay
inc lived near to sixteen years in the
.Web-foot-State," the men teit no In
convenience and therefore, paid no at
tention to the moisture.
AS these men play an important part
IN the story, we shall introduce them.
CAPTAIN Jim Snleets, originally from
Missouri was about sixty years OF
age, and unmarried.
Through steadiness and attention to
duty he had risen from deck-hand Of
n river steamer to be captain and had
accumulated considerable of a for
tune
He was a tall man with STOPPING
shoulders and apparently little lame
in both knees. for his walk had shut
fling. rickety motion. Thin face, very
red cheeks, thin, grey, pointed chin
wbiskers, small brown eyes, o'ershad-
owed by bushy eyebrows. Captain
lin was dressed" for he had ac-
cepted an invitation to pass the even
ing Mt his companions home. He
wore a black soft hat, black frock coat
and dark trousers, tucked inside a
pair Of long legged. leather boots.
The coat had seen a few years service.
nevertheless it had Prince Albert
cut and though a trife shady, he be-
Jieved it added dignity to his appear
ance.
Captain Jim was silent man. not
easily duped; but like many other 81
lent men, particularly the elderly un-
married ones. silently yearned for an
object on whom to confidentially un-
bosom his pent-up feelings. Such
an one, meeting with a charming
temptress, unconsciously forgets his
dignity, and blinded by infatuation to
the most glaring inconsistencies, be-
comes entangled in her net and SO
well, the story relates what happened
to Captain Jim Smeets.
His companion was also William
cite river steamboat captain. Tom
Webb, Familiarity known as Captain
Tom. He was Buckeye State man.
about forty-eighU years old. Not bit
dignifed, yet little serious at times
He wore soft hat. short pilot coat,
grey trousers. tucked inside long leg
ged leather boots, which were then
quite the thing.
His hands were thrust deep in the
pockets of his coat. His teeth grip
ped a short stemmed black pipe. at
which he was pulling away with such
vigor that his hollow cheeks seemed
drawn together.
contrary, he appeared to be most
oh nIl hnr l1I~A -
those who were impressed with his
bustling activity, and also to those
who from fear of injury to their busi-
ness, loaned him money. Captain Tom
never let slight pass without punish
ment and the refusal of small loan
he considered the keenest insult 1t
was reflection on his honor.
He was naturally an impulsive man.
very restless, with keen blue eyes,
low broad forehead, bushy black hair
and full beard, pronounced Roman
nose, and ready at any time for any
daring.
Captain Tom had been for one full
minute medltating,-an astonishingly
inlrequent mood for him,-whether
10 'Done" his companion for the loan
Oh ten then, or wait for chance to
present more favorable opportunity
curing the night when the current of
his thoughts was interrupted by Cap
tain Jim observing:
Peers as your house be expecting
company, Toni"
"Shore!" replied CAPTAIN Tom. look
Ing ahead and seeing the windows
nsnted up in a story and a half cot
t' sage' some three blocks distant
me party is thar. Mans friends
spiisin her. Look sharp, narrer chan
mel mere, single board wide. Keep yer
course straight fer thet one light
arriving near the house, the two
men stood quietly listening to the
van!o and fiddle music that was dis
tSnttiy heard above the clatter of feet
III the dining room.
At length Captain Jim was moved to
s, sse,mark, They be tearin' Of them fid-
cies all tew pieces"
It's the barber and his pal a run
Mug EN- Off fer the wildly. Can't pay
~ out any tew quick fer her nuther,"
'esponded Captain Tom.
=, i shud think SOL" dryly exclaimed
tH,aptaln Jim. Then slyly snuinting ~
tri,, tS companion, he continued: "A
T,m Tir, Srait be thet air widder. Why,
cou. oo.. hers ez stanch ez ever carried
swou V,aUh badly treated though by run
Poor thing"
yep, too bad Come in"
tbeY poh entering the kitchen, which
Car, toumd deserted for the time.
| his hi",n banm Jlm, from mere habit, warmed
tair THUS THUS over the stove, while Cap
Inc roo aom made straight for the din
ed iUo.n iuo! door, which he quietly open
NJ ,bo 5oSs the least bit, and peered III
tho In,ng nang satisfied himself, he closed
the .to uoor and Joined Captain Jim at