Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-10-19
By JOSEPH c. LINCOLN

to any such arrangement, but the calm
insistence Of the Nantucket visitor pre-.
vailed, as usual. The captain realized
that the capacity for "bossin' things"
that he had discerned in the letter, was
even more apparent in the lady herself.
One thing he did insist upon, how
ever, and this was that Mrs. Snow
should turn in" as soon as breakfast
was over. One of the three would take
the watch in the sickroom while the
other two washed the dishes.
Captain Err found his friends seated
at the table and feasting on hot bis.
cults. eggs and clear, appetizing cof-
fee. They greeted him joyously.
"Hey, Eri!" hailed Captain Perez.
"Ain't this gay? Look at them eggs!
Billed jest to T. Amt much like Jer-
rvs hat raw kind"
"Humph! You needn't say nothin',
Perez" observed Captain Jerry, his
mouth full of biscuit. when you was
cook you alters billed 'em so hard
they'd dent the barn If you'd fired 'em
at 1t. How's John, Eri?"
Captain Fri gave his and the doctors
opinion Of his friends condition and
then said; Nov, we've got to have
some kind Of settlement on this mar
ry1n' question. Last night when I was
up In the room there it come acrost
me all of sudden that from what I'd
seen Of this Nantucket woman she'd
be Jest the sort Of nurse that John
needed. So 1 skipped out while you
fellers was busy with the doctor, found
her at the hotel, explained things to
her and got her to come down. That's
all there is to that. l amt made no
arrangement with her, and sometimes
got to be done. What do you think Of
her, jedgin' by what you've seen?'
Captain Perez gave 1t as his opinion
that she was "an right and added,
If Jerry here want SO. pigheaded
all at once he'd marry her without
waitin' another minute"
Err nodded. "That's my idee," he
said emphatically.
But Captain Jerry was as obstinate
as ever. He simply would not consider
immediate marriage. In vain his com.
rades reminded him of the original
compact and the fact that the vote was
two to one against him. He announced
that he had changed his mind, and that
that was all there was about it.
"Tell you what we might do" said
Perez slowly. 1--WE might explain to
her that Jerry don't feel that 'twould
be right to think of mnrryin' with
Cap'n Baxter so sick in the house, and
that If she's willin' we'll put it off till
he dies or gifts better. Meantime we'll
pay her SO much to stay here and
nuss. Seems to me that's about the
only way out of it,
So they agreed to lay this proposal
before the Nantucket lady, Captain
Jerry reluctantly consenting Then
Captain Fri took up another subject.
John Baxter, as has been said, had
one relative, granddaughter, living
somewhere near Boston. Captain Fri
felt that this granddaughter should be
notified of the old mans illness at
once. The difficulty was that none of
them knew the young lady's address.
"Her fust names Elizabeth, same
as her mothers was" said Fri, "and
her dads name was Preston. They
called her Elsie. John used to write
to her every once in awhile. P'raps
Sam would know where she lived"
Jest cause Sans postmaster" OBJ
served Perez "it don't fOlIer that he
reads the name on every letter that
goes out and remembers 'em besides"
"Well. If he DON'T" said Captain
Jerry decidedly, MARY Emma does.
She reads everything, postals and ALL"
Miss Mary Emma Cahoon was the
assistant at the postoffice and was pos
sessed Of well developed curiosity
concerning other peoples correspond
ence
"Humph," exclaimed Captain Fri,
that's SO! Well write the letter, and
I'll ask Mary Emma for the address
when I go up to mail it."
So Captain Perez went upstairs to
take Mrs. Shows place as nurse while
that lady turned in." Captain Jerry
went into the kitchen to wash the
dishes, and Captain Fri sat down to
write the note that should inform
Elizabeth Preston Of her grandfather's
illness. 1t was very short note and
merely stated the fact without further
information. Having had some ex-
perience in that line, the captain placed
very little reliance upon the help to
be expected from relatives.
DR.. Palmer had spread the news as
he went upon his round of visits that
morning, and callers began to drop In
to inquire after the sick man.
Ralph Hazeltine came in little lat.
er and was introduced to Mrs. Snow,
that lady's nap having been but q
short one. Ralph was favorably i'm
pressed with the capable appearance
OF the new nurse and so expressed
himself to Captain Fri as they walked
together toward the postoffice
Il like her." he said emphatically