The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1904-07-15
The ThWarting
of Tucker
By THOMAS . McNTFoR1
tcopyrtght. 1904, y DAILY story Pub. Z

Copy right, 1904. by Daily Story Pub CO.
THERE was great excitement in the
Judkins household. Everybody
vas disturbed, restless and uneasy.
The cause OF all this excitement was
the failure of Minerva Judkins to APP
pear at the breakfast table. and the
further fact that a search Of the house
had not discovered her whereabouts.
These things within themselves were
not SC strange and startling as to set
the whole household wild, but, when
taken in connection with some other
things, they had a most ~portentious
meaning.
ooh, Minerva! Mineral" Mrs. judi
kins walled. 81 wonder where she can
be-"
Old Sam stopped and glared at his
wife. Whats the use in saying that?"j,
he cried. 81 know, and you know, ex-
.:actly where she is. There's no sense
in beating about the bush, trying to de-
ceive ourselves. She's eloped, that's all
there is to it. Eloped with that Jack
Burns"
No, mol" Mrs. Judkins moaned,
don't say that. It can't, it must not
be true!
Well, just the same, 1t is true.
They've eloped. But I promise you
right now that it's mighty little good
it will do them. I'm going to follow
and bring her back, and if I lay eyes
on Jack Burns he's a dead man. I'll
shoot him on sight"
"Oh, Sam! You mustn't do anything
rashi"
Don't you bother about that!' he
cried. "Tll not do anything more rash
than putting a bullet through Jack
Burns heart"
Minerva Judkins was a.. woman
grown and had a perfect right to mar
~ whom she pleased, and no one was
privileged to say her nay. But her
father did not see it in that light, and,
having selected a husband for her, was
determined she should marry the man
Of his choice, regardless Of her W
preferences in the matter.
This arrangement would have been
distasteful enough to Minerva, even if
the man of her fathers choosing had
been a decent, respectable sort Of per-
son., but when he offered her an old
widower with six children, an un-
shaven face and a woefully unkempt
appearance, it was simply. revolving.
The thought of marrying such a. man
was the more revolving to her from the
fact that she vas in love with Jack
Burns, a man nearer her own age, and
one Of whose personal appearance and
character she could justly feel proud.
In reality Sam Judkins had nothing
against Jack Burns, and IL he had
been left uninf1uenced he would have
been perfectly willing for Jack and
Minerva to marry. But, unfortunately,
he was not left uninfuenced. Old Ben
Tucker, the widoWer above mentioned,
attended to that. He had an influence
over Sam that the latter found ire
sistable. He had a mortgage on Sans
farm, which he threatened to foreclose
unless he was given Minerva for q
wife.
Tucker was at the Judkins home
when 1t was found that Minerva had
disappeared. In fact. it had been
arranged that he and Minerva should
marry that morning, and it was fol
that reason that he was there. 1t was
also for that reason that Minerva had
had disappeared.
When Sam took down his gun and
announced his intention Of following
the clippers old Ben offered to accom-
pany him. and his offer was accepted.
Near the Judkins farm was a river,
and across the river wal a town. It
was to this town that old Sam very
naturally concluded the lovers had
gone. 1t was the only town anywhere
near, and then in other Opponents the
elopers had always gone there to get
married.
A boat was secured and the two mer
got in and set out across the river
Tucker Q the oars, while old Sam
sat in the stern nursing the rifle. In
perfect silence the former pulled away
manfuliy, and the latter stared straigh,
before him., watching the opposite
shore.
In this way theyTzSprocesded until
Ire had reached the middle Of the
river where the water was deep anl
the current swift. Then all at once Ole
Sam sprang to his feet In d state 81
Wild excitement and raised his gun ID
his shoulder. Just before him he i
Jack Burns standing on the river bank
"Hol the boat still. can't you?. IL
calledsto Tucker. Let up on then
oars
What is Y? Tucker asked, for seat.
ed facing Sam he could no see Burfis
What are you going to shoot her.
for!'
He's there on the bank sam e.
piled. Jack Burns. Tn going Us Mi
him. Hold still until ! get ! bead 81
him q
Instead of doing ~ Sam admonish.
ed, cd hen, at the mention Of Burns
name. sprang excitedly to his feet 81
get . look at his rival. IA % doing i'll
inadyertehtN threw his entire weight
On q side of TIE boat and tipped Il
over.