The Colfax chronicle., 1904-04-23


was to sail, cts been here three days,
but that lump of en- Office boy dropped it
among some papers"
Capt. Stillcombe put the letter in his
pocket and went aboard his schooner
anchored in the stream.
Giving orders to get under way he
opened the letter and read:
Dear Capt. Josh: If you'd asked me
that question I'd have boxed your jaws.
AS can't reach to New York and do 1t
/ have to say, yes, I'll harry you and
box them when / see you again.
MARCIA PIKE"
"P. S. Don't drown yourself | like
fish and you wouldn't flavor them nicely,
LYDIA"
The captain fell heavily against the
taffrail and gazed blankly over the bay.
anchors short" yelled the mate
from the forecastle.
But Capt. Stillcombe said nothing ana
the pilot after glancing at him ana
shifting the air as if for the odor OF al
cohol ordered the anchor heaved up anu
the vessel filled away.
When the pilot left the mate came AT
for instructions.
"Pile her up on Fire island or bust hef
into a steamer. l don't care" SAID the
captain, darkly.
The mate strobe forward revolving
schemes for the proper management VI
a maniac on the high seas.
The captain shook off the load Vi
stupefaction to an extent about night
fall and resumed command, but Win
stony look in his eyes which made the
sailors shake their heads donbuully.
The David Dill had crossed the bar
and was beating up to Charleston when
boat put out from an anchored schoon-
er and Capt Bovine boarded the Dill.
"DanI," murmured Capt. Stillcombe
with the deepest gloom. -.
did you give the letter to Marshy!
asked his friend 81 didn't get any an
swer."
With a groan of remorse Capt. Still
combe drew the fateful letter from MS
pocket and handed it to Capt. Bovine.
"Geemee-ny!" calculated Capt. Bovine
as he read, "she thowt it was from you.
T ought to hev signed IT," continued
Capt Bovine, Il ought to hev. Capt
Stillcombe, with bowed head and round
ed shoulders, resembled some old marine
monster that had boarded the schooner
"Josh," said Capt. Bovine, firmly, y
hev, on thinkin', got you into tangle
You'll hev to marry her"
WHAT" gasped his friend.
"Shorely." repeated Capt. Bovine
you must marry her. We've been Wis
| itin' them ladies for years, and 1t won'
do to mortify Marshy. 1t won't do."
"I'd made up my mind" said Capt
Stillcombe, feebly. ito die single"
Sometimes valIyble cargo must b.
dumped over to save ship" said Capt
| Bovine, "you must dump your resolu
tions over now.
Cant we untangle it?"
"We can't" said Capt. BOVINE. stern
". I'm sorry for you. JOSH"
I'm sorry it happened, Dan1."
The two captains shook hands sadly.
Arm In arm, eyes fixed and brow
wrinkled, the two captains walked vi
! the street to the Pike residence.
'DanI," asked Capt Stillcombe, per
spring profusely, must kiss her?"
"Sartin," replied Capt. Bovine, de
cisively, land not word about the mis-
take in the letter"
When they were admitted Capt. Still
combe kissed Miss Marcia ineffectuall,
on the nose, and then they sat in con
| strained silence until Capt. Stillcomb
arose slowly.
81 am hyar," he said. ITO confirm wha
was in the letter."
Capt. Bovine applauded audibly wit
his hands.
"-and to say that though it was DanP
| letter."
| Capt. Bowne's foot pressed heavily Of
hespeaker's and he stopped. "Eedyut!
Kissed Capt Bovine.
| Miss Marcia arose, her face scarlet.
"Then it was Capt Bowne's letter. an
you only delivered it," she said, ''wel
/! it's not too late tochange," and she tosse
her head. II won't change" believe
Capt. Stillcombe, Il won't let any ma
hev you but me-"
"Hurrah!" shouted Capt. Bowne.
Miss Marcia produced Capt. Bovine
letter.
Its tangle," she said, "but it's cas-
fly untangled," and she marked with
pencil and handed the letter to its au
thor
"'Beeloved Lydia" he read. by gun
that suits me egzactly."
at don't suit me" giggIed Miss Lydis
flying into the kitchen, closely pursue
by Capt. BOVINE.
! Il really wanted LYDIA" confesse
Capt. Bovine, as the two captains wer
back to their vessels, 'but was afrai
to ask her, and felt we ought to MARI
one of 'em. / suppose old Capt. Pike
lookin' down from Heaven and smilir
at both his daughters gettin' hus
bands"
81 don't know whether he's lookiI
down or lookin' up" said Capt Still
cOmbe meditatiyely. "yOu see | sale