Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-10-17


over with her, and she's willin' to look
out for John till he gifts better"
The physician adjusted his eyeglasses
and looked the volunteer nurse over
keenly. The lady paid no attention to
the scrutiny, but calmly removed her
bonnet and placed it on the bureau.
"Cap'n Bakers in here, l s'pose.
Shall l walk right in?" she said to the
doctor.
The man of medicine seemed little
surprised at the lady's command Of
the situation, but he said:
"Why, yes, ma'am; guess you may.
You have nurscd before, l think the
captain said"
Five years with my husband. He
had slow consumption. Before that
with my mother and most of my broth
ers and sisters at enc time or another.
I've seen considerable sickness all my
life. More Of that than anything else.
l guess. Now, if you'll come in with
me, SOS to tell me about the mcdi-
cine and SO on
With short "Humph" the physician
followed her into the sic,lroom, while
the three mariners gaZed wide eyed in
at the door. They watched as DR..
Palmer explained medicines and gave
directions. 1t did not need an expert
to see that the new nurse understood
her business.
When the doctor came out his face
shonc with qualification.
She'll do" he said emphatically. eff
all your relatives are like that, Cap'n
Burgess, I'd like to know 'em. 'Twould
added in response to Il question: 'He
seems to be a little better just now.
think there will be no change for
awhile. If. there should be, send for
me- I'll call i'll the morning. Gracious,
it's almost daylight noww
They saw him to the door and then
came back upstairs. Mrs. Snow was
busy arranging the pillows. setting the
room in something like order and car
ing for her patients garments that had
been tossed heller skclter on the floor
in the hurry Of undressing. She came
to the door as they entered Captain
Eri's chamber
Mrs. Snow" said the captain. you'd
better sleep in my room here longs
you stay. I'll bunk in with Perez down
stairs. I'll git my dunnage out Of here
right off. think likely you'll want to
clean up some"
The lady from Nantucket glanced at
the bureau top and seemed about to
say something, but checked herself.
What she did say was:
"Prars you'd better introduce me to
Capn Burgess. l don't think we've
ever met, if we are relations"
Captain Err actually blushed a little.
"Why, Of course he said. Excuse
me. na'am. Jerry, this is Mrs. Snow.
l don't know what's got into me, bein'
so careless"
The sacrifice shook the nurses hand
and said something, nobody knew ex-
actly what. Mrs Snow went on to
say: "Now. l want you men to go
eight on to bed, for l know you're all
tuckered out. We can talk tomorrow
l mean today, of course. forgot
twas next door TO daylight now.
shall set up With Cap'n Baxter, and if
need you III call you. I'll call you
anyway when think it's time. Good
night"
They protested, of course, but the
lady would not listen. She calmly
seated herself in the rocker by the bed
and waved them to go, which two of
them reluctantly did after awhile. The
other one had gone already. 1t would
be superfluous to mention his name.
Downstairs again and in Perez's
tioning that babe fair to keep up for
ever. He shut of all inquiries, how
ever, with the announcement that he
wouldn't tell them word about it till
he'd had some sleep.
Captain Perez fell asleep almost i'm
mcdiately. Captain Jerry, tired out,
did the same, but Captain Eri's eyes
did not close The surf pounded and
grumbled. A rooster, early astir, crow
ed somewhere in the distance. Daniel
thumped the side of his stall and then
subsidized for another hap. The gray
morning light frightened the window
of the little house.
Then Captain Fri slid silently out Of
bed, dressed with elaborate prccau-
lions against noise, put on his cap and
tiptoed out Of the house. He walked
through the dripping grass, climbed
the back fence and hurried to the hill
where John Baxter had fallen. Once
! there, he looked carefully around to be
sure that no one was watching. Or,
ham, as rule, is an early riser, but
| this morning most of the inhabitants
having been up for the greater part OF
the night, were making up lost sleep
and the captain was absolutely alone.
| Assured of this, he turned to the bust
underneath which he had hidden the
burned coat, pushed aside the drenched
boughs with their fading leaves and
reached down for the telltale garment.
! And then he made an unpleasant dis
| covery. The coat was gone.
| To cpo,f IN tot u,1a ,.tor Of ar