Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-10-05

1ue captain was seated Gv lle open
door Of the dining room In the rocker
with the patched cane seat. He was
apparently very busy doing something
with piece Of fish line and q pair of
long legged rubber boots. Captain
Perez, swinging back and forth in the
parlor rocker with the patchwork cush-
ion, was putting deliberately at
wooden pipe, the bowl of which was
carved into the likeness of very
rakish damsel with sailors cap set
upon the side Of her once 1axen head.
In response to his companions remark
he lazily turned his sunburned face to-
ward the cane seated rocker and in
CURED:
What on airth are you dom with
them boots?"
Captain Fri tied knot with his fin
gers and teeth and then held the boots
out at arms length.
"Why, Perez" he said, "I'm aver
agin' up, same as told you. Provi-
dence made me two legged critter, and
u two legged critter needs two boots
I've always been able to find one of
these boots right off whenever want
ed it, but it's took me SO plaguy long
to find the other one that whatever
wet there was dried up afore got out
Of the house. That's why I'm splicin'
'em together this way. I don't want
to promise nothin' rash, but I'm in
hopes that even Jerry can't lose 'em
now"
"Humphw grunted Captain Perez.
"I don't think much of that plan
STEAD of losin' one you'll lose both Of
'em."
Eyes, but then I shan't care If
there amt no boots in sight I'll 60
barefoot or stay at home. It's the
kind Of responsiveness that goes with
havin' one boot that's wearin' me out.
Where is Jerry?"
"He went out to feed Lorenzo. I
heard him calm minute ago. That
cat amt been home sence noon, and
Jerry's worried"
A stentorian shout Of "Puss! Puss!
Come. kitty, kitty, kitty came
from somewhere outside Captain Fri
smiled.
"I,p 'fraid Lorenzo's gittin' dissipat-
ed III his old age" he observed. Then
as fat gray cat shot past the door:
'There he is! Regular prodigal son.
Comes home when the fatted CATS
ready"
A moment later Captain Jerry ap-
peared, milk pitcher in hand. He en-
tered the dining room and, putting the
pitcher down On the table, pulled for
ward the armchair with the painted
sunset on the back, produced his own
pipe and proceeded to hunt through
one pocket after the other with troll
bled expression of countenance
''Where in tunket is my terbacker?"
he asked after finishing the round of
pockets and preparing to begin all over
again.
Il see it on the top Of the clock
spell ago." said Captain Perez.
.'Was that yours, Jerry?' exclaimed
Captain Fri "Well, that's too bad! l
see it there and thought twas mine.
Here It's, or what's left Of it."
Captain Jerry took the remnant of q
plug from his friend and said in an
aggrieved tone:
That's jest like you, Fri! Never
have place for nothin' and help your
self to anything you happen to want
don't make no odds whose it's. Why
don't you take care Of your terbackcr,
same's do of miner"
'Now, see here, Jerry, I amt so sure
that Is yours. Let me see it. Humph.
1 thought SO! This is Navy Plug and
you always smoke Sailors Sweet
heart Talk about havin a place for
thing5w
That's my terbacker, if you want to
know" observed Captain Perez i've
got yours Fri Here it's"
well, then, where is mine?" said
Captain Jerry somewhat snappishly.
"Bet a dollar you've got it in your
pocket" said Captain Fri.
Bot $40 I amt! 1 amt quite q
fool yit, Err Hedge. guess l know.
We'll, snum! forgot that upper vest
pocket" And from the pocket men
toned Captain Jerry produced the
missing tobacco.
There was q general laugh, in which
Captain Jerry was obliged to join, and
the trio smoked in silence for time
while the eZpanse Of water to the east
ward darkened and the outer beach be-
came but Gusky streak separating the
ocean from the inner bay. AT length
Captain Perez rose and knocking The
ashes from his pipe, announced that he
was going to "show q glim."
Eyes, go ahead, Jerry said Captain
Fri. Its gittin' dark"
cts darker in the grave" observed
Captain Perez, with lugubrious phiios-
ophy.
Then, for the lands sake, let's have
1t light While we can! Here, Jerry,
them matches is burnt ones Try this
'Twon't be so damagin' to the MORALS"
CaptainJerry took the proffered match
and lit the two bracket lamps fastened
to the walls Of the dining room. The
room, seen by the lamplight, was ship