The Forrest City times., 1904-07-22
The ThWarting
 of Tucker
tcopyrisht. Ipo,. by Daily story Pub. Col
By THOMAS p. MoNrFoRr

Judkins household Everybody was disturbed, restless and uneasy.
 The cause of all this excitement was the failure of Minerva Judkins to ap- 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.
 "Oh, Minerva. Minerva!" Mrs. Jud- kins walled. "I wonder where she can be?''
 Old Sam stopped and glared at his wife Whats the use in saying that 2" he cried. .I know. and you know, ex- acty where she is. There's no sense in beating about the bush. trying to de- eeive ourselves. She's eloped, that's all there is to 1t. Eloped with that Jack Burns"
 No, no!" 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 rash!"
 Don't you bother about that." he cried I'll not do anything more rash than putting bullet through Jack Burns heart"
 Minerva Judkins was woman grown and had perfect right 10 mar ry whom she pleased, and no one was privileged to say her nay But her rather did not see 1t in that light, and, having selected husband for her, was determined she should marry the man or his choice, regardless of her own preferences in the matter
 This arrangement would have been oistasteful 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 wldower with six children, an un- shaven face and a woefully unkenpt appearance. it was simply revolting The thought of marrying such a man was the more revolting to her from the Tact that she was 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 if he had been left uninhueneed he would have been perfectly willing for Jack and Minerva to marry. But. unfortunately, he was not left uninfiuenced. 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 wife.
 Tucker was at the Judkins home when it was found that Minerva had disappeared. In fact. il had been arranged that he and Minerva should marry that morning, and il was for that reason that he was there. It was also for that reason that Minerva had had disappeared.
 : When Sam took down his gun and announced his intention of following the elopers old Ben offered to accom- pany him. and his offer was accepted
 Near the Judkins farm was a river. and across the river was 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 elopements the elopers had always gone there to get married
 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 sprang to his feet in a 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 you?" he called to Tucker. Let up on them oars"
 What is it?" Tucker asked, for seat ed facing Sam he could not see Burns. What are you going 10 shoot here for?"
 Hes there on the bank" Sam re- piled. Jack Burns. I'm going to kill him. Hold still until get a bead on him.
 Instead of doing as Sam admonish- ed, old Ben, at the mention of Burns name, sprang excitedly to his feet in get look at his rival In so doing he inadvertently threw his entire weight on one side of the boat and tipped it over.
 Tucker was a good swimmer but old Sam cOuld not cwfrn a 1faL The for