Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-10-14
By JOSEPH c. LINCOLN
CHAPTER v, Continued.

l9S~ek>S~s
or I'll founder! l wouldn't run an
other step for all the darkies in the
West Indies"
Captain Err paused, but it was only
after struggle that Captain Jerry
was persuaded to halt.
II shan't do it, Er1!' he vowed wild
~. II shan't do it! There amt no use
askin' mel won't marry that black
womanl l won't, by thunderr'
"There, there, Jerry!" said Captain
Err soothingly. Nobody wants you to.
There ain't no danger now. She didn't
zee us"
"Ain't no dangerI There you go
again. En Hedge! She'll ask where
live and come right down in the depot
wagon. Oh, Lordy. Lordyp'
The frantic sacrifice was about to
bound away again when Captain Fri
caught him BY the arm.
"I'u tell you what" he said, well
scoot for Eldredge's shanty and hide
there Till she gifts tired and goes away.
Praps she won't come, anyhow"
The deserted fish shanty, property of
the heirs OF the late Nathaniel FL
dredge, was situated In hollow close
to the house. In few moments the
three were inside with a sawhorse
against the door.
They heard the rattle of a heavy car
riage, and. crowding together at the
cobwebbed window, saw the black
shape Of the depot wagon rock past.
They waited, brsathless, until they saw
1t go back again up the road.
did you lock the dintn' room door,
Pere1" asked Captain Ell
Course didn't. Why should Ir'
It was a rather eenseless question.
Nobody locks doors in orham except
at bedtime.
'Humphl" gruntsd Captain Fri.
sShe'u see TIE light IN the dinin' room
and 60 inside and wait, more'n likely.
Well, there's nothin' for us to do but
to stay here for awhile, and then II
she amt gone one Of Us II have to 60
up and tell her she won't suit and pay
her fare home, that's all. think Jerry
ought to be the one" he added mis-
chievously, '.he bein' the bridegroom,
as you might say"
'Mew almost shouted the frantic
Captain Jerry. you go to grassI You
fellers got me into this scrape, and now
let's see you git me out of 1t. don't
stir one STEP"
They sat there in darkness, the 81
lence unbroken, save for an occasional
chuckle from the provoking Fri. After
. long while they heard some one whis-
fling. Perez went to the window to
take an observation.
Its man." he said disappointedly.
He's been to our house too. Ny land,
hope he didn't go in! It's that Teller
Hazeltine; that's who 'tis.''
us it 2" exclaimed Fri eagerly. That's
30; so 'tisl Let's give him hail.
Before he could be stopped he had
pulled the sawhorse from the door, had
opened the latter little way and,
with his face at the open, was whis-
thing shrilly.
The electrician looked up and down
the dark road In puzzled sort of way,
but evidently could not make up his
mind from what quarter the whistles
came.
''Mr. Hazeltine!" hailed the captain
in what might be called q whispered
yell or shouted whisper. "Mr. Hazel
tine! Here, on your lee bow, in the
shanty."
The word "shanty" was the only part
of the speech that brought light to
Ralph's mind, but that was sufficient
He came down the hill, left the road
and plunged through the blackberry
vines to the door.
who Is it?' he asked. ''Why, hello,
captainl What on earth
Captain Fri signaled him to silence,
and then, catching his arm, pulled him
into the shanty and shut the door.
Captain Jerry FASTENED to set the
sawhorse In place again.
"Mr. Hazeltine," said Captain Fri
'let me make you acquainted with
Cap'n Perez and Cap'n Jerry, ship
mates Of mine. You've heard me speak
Of 'em."
Ralph, in the darkness, shook two
big hands and heard whispered voices
express themselves as glad to know
him.
you see," continued Fri in a some
what embarrassed fashion, we're sort
Of layin' to, as you might say, waitin
to git our bearin's. We amt out OF
our heads. I tell you that cause
know that's what it looks like
The bewildered Hazeltine laughed
and said he was glad to hear it.
I'LL don't know how to explain
1t to you," the captain stumbled on
Fact is, guess won't jest yit /,
you don't mind. 1t does sound 81
pesky ridiculous, although it amt whe1
you understand it. What we want tt
know is, have you been to our house
and is there anybody thereY"
"Why, yes I've been there. 1 rowet
over and dropped in for minute, a.
you suggested the other day. TIL
housekeeper-I suppose it was tn
housekeeper-that opened the door
said you were out, and r.