Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-09-01
The Thwarting.
Of Tucker

By THOMAS p. MoNTFoRT

Judkihs household. Everybody
was 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 so 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! Minerva!" Mrs. Jud-
kins walled Il wonder where she can
be?"
OLD Sam stopped and glared at his
wife. whats the use in saying that?'
he cried. 81 know. and you know, sx-
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
Barns"
7 No, no." Mrs. JudIins moaned,
don't say that. 1t can't, it must not
be truei"
"Well, just the same, it is true.
They've eloped. But l 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 1 lay eyes
on Jack Burns he's dead man. I'll
shoot him on sight"
ooh, Saml You mustn't do anything
rash!"
Don't you bother about that" he
cried 9TH not do anything more rash
than putting a bullet through Jack
Burns heart"
Minerva Judkins was woman
grown and had perfect right to mar
ry 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 husband for her, was
determined she should marry the man
OF his choice, regardless Of her own
preferences in the matter.
This arrangement would have been
distasteful enough to Minerva, even II
the man of her fathers choosing had
been decent, respectable sort of per-
son, but when he offered her an old
widower with six children, an un-
shaver face and q woefully unkempt
appearance, it was simply revolving.
The thought Of marrying such man
was the more revolving to her from the
20 hof h0 In
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 If he had
been left uninfluenced 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 mortgage on Sans
farm, which he threatened to foreclose
unless he was given Minerva for
wife.
Tucker was at the Judkins home
when It was found that Minerva had
disappeared. In fact it had been
arranged that he and Minerva should
marry that morning, and 1t was for
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 river,
and across the river was a town. 1t
was to this town that old Sam very
naturally concluded the lovers had
gone. It was the only town anywhere
near, and then IN ether elopements the
slopers had always gone there to get
married.
A boat was secured and the two men
got in and set out across the river.
Tucker took the oars, while old Sam
sat in the stern nursing the rife. In
perfect silence the former pulled away
manfully, and the latter stared straight
before him, watching the opposite
shore.
In this way they proceeded until
they had reached the middle Of the
river, where the water was deep and
the current swift. Then all at once old
Sam sprarg to his feet in state Of
wild excitement and raised his gun to
his shoulder Just before him he saw
Jack Burns standing on the river bank.
Hold the boat still, can't your" he
called to Tucker. "Let up on them
oars"
What is it?" Tucker asked, for seat
ed facing Sam he could not see Burfs.
what are you going to shoot here
for?"
"He's there on the bank" Sam re-
piled. Jack Burns. I'm going to kill
him. Hold still until get bead on
| him"
Instead of doing as Sam admonlsh-
ed. old Ben, at the mention Of Burns
name, sprang excitedly to his feet in
get a look at his rival. In SO doing lie
inadvertently threw his entire weight
on one side OF the boat and tipped 1t
over.
Tucker was a good swimmer, but old
Sam could not swim a lick. The for
mer, as soon as he had got the water
out OF his mouth and nose, and reeov-
cd his breath. struck out for the shore.