The Forrest City times., 1904-01-22

ers beyond the reach OF any one save an
expert thief
Miss Miffin was most favorably i'm
! pressed with Capt. Travers. and invited
him TO call again. As the captain was
determined To get back his money, he
gladly accepted, and the next evening
/ repeated his visit. But luck was against
him. Although he prolonged his call
far beyond the usual limits of such a
visit, no opportunity came 10 get his
hands on the Bible without Miss Milf
/ fms knowledge. The money, however,
must be gotten. II would not do to al
low Miss Miffin 10 have Ii, and if she
talked about her find, as was most likely,
il would certainly be attributed to him
sooner or later, and then his deception
would be exposed To his old friend. and
besides. he would look ridiculous. He
called again the next night and the next.
all without result.
Things were getting warm. Miss
Miffin would certainly use the Bible on
Sunday. for she taught at Sunday
school. and Sunday was only two days
OF. The deed must be done quickly.
In the meantime the captains regular
visits TO Miss Mifin had caused talk.
lie was regarded as most ardent sutton
for Miss Mffin's hand, and that spinster
when probed with questions. blusheG
and said, with shipper, that possibly
something might happen. Capt. Trav-
ers. even amid his troubles, could not
but notice the arch glances of Miss
Nicely, and her sly hints at wedding
bells and orange blossoms.
Capt. Stubs amused his guest at
breakfast by recounting the fate of sun
dry ship masters who had made fools OF
themselves by marrying late in life. but
as Capt. Trayers did not understand the
point, 1t did no good.
1T must be done tonight" muttered
the captain, as he trudged towards Miss
Miffin's home Friday evening. Il am
going away Monday morning, and it
must be done tonight"
But this evening, like its predecessors,
brought the captain no nearer his goal.
He tried to turn the talk toward Bibles.
hoping for an opportunity to get his
hands on the longed-for volume. but
Miss Miffin insisted on talking about
other things. Finally he announced, in
the bitterness of his defeat, that he was
going to leave on Sunday, to rejoin his
vessel.
Instantly Miss Miffin burst into tears.
''Good-by," said Capt Travers gloom
lily
Miss Miffin wept more sorely.
What's the matter?" asked he.
"Whawhat will the neighbors say"
sobbed Miss Mifiin. What will they
think. Oh, captain. I'll die with shame"
What should they think?" inquired
the amazed captain.
They think you were coming to see
me; that you intended to marry me.
sobbed Miss Miffin. "Oh, what shall |
do. I'll die"
A great light burst upon the captain
In his search for an opportunity to re
cover his unlucky money he had seri-
ously compromised an innocent fe-
male She would be the butt of I'M
friendly ridieule. She would be laughed
at, and all his fault.
Il did come to see you" he STAN
mered.
Miss Miffin threw her arms around his
neck, and lay her head Oh his breast.
Il am yours, job" she said, yours till
death"
Capt. Travers walked home in a trance
He had not recovered his money. but he
| found himself an engaged man. An I'M
expected development. The next morn
ing Capt. Travers ate breakfast uncom-
! fortably under a fire of suspicious
glances from Capt. Stubbs, and he was
/ relieYcdly preparing to rise from table
when shrek sounded from upstairs.
and Miss Nicely rushed into the room,
Historically waving a hundred-6oHar
note.
Il found it in my Bible" she cried.
Now I'll get a new dress Then she
ran across the room and kissed Capt.
Travers.
Il am glad, whoever put it there did
not put it in Miss Mifin's Bible" said
| she. They were both on nay bureau, and
/ he might have made a mistake"
Capt. Stubs glowered at his guest.
Have You made q fortiu?" he ask ed
NO. Sam" replied Capt Travers, me.
/ chanieally. Poor as a rat, Sam"
But Mr.. and Mrs Travers lived hap
/ PLY and Nicely wore a new dress at the