Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-11

terrupted him. The housekeeper clasped
her hands together tightly and sank
into a chair. She was very white.
Elsie ran to her.
"What is 1t, Mrs. SNOWY she asked.
"Nothin', nothin'! Go on, Mr.. Mayo
Go on!''
The bearer of Ill tidings, gratifed at
the result of his first attempt, pro-
ceeded deliberately:
"And Cap'n Hedge and Luther Davis
are over at the station pretty nigh dead.
If it want for the cap'n, Luther ID have
gone too. Fri took dory and went
off and picked him up. Perez come
over to my house and told us about it,
and Pashy's gone back with him to
see her brother. l didn't go down to
the store this mornin', twas stormin'
SO, but as soon as heard harnessed
up to come and tell you"
Then, in answer to the hurried ques-
lions of Captain Jerry and Elsie, Mr.
Mayo told the whole story as far as
he knew it. Mrs. Snow said nothing
but sat with her hands still clasped in
her lap.
Luther is ha'f drownded and froze,"
concluded Abner, land the cap'n got a
bang with an oar when they jumped
out Of the dory that, Perez is afraid,
broke his arm. I'm goin' right back to
git DR.. Palmer. They tried to tele-
phone him, but the wires down"
Dear, dear, dear!" exclaimed Cap
tain Jerry, completely demoralized by
the news. That's dreadful must
go right down there, mustn't 1? The
poor fellersw
Mrs, Snow rose to her feet quietly.
but with determined air.
Are you goin' right. back soon's
you've got the doctor, Mr. Mayo7" she
asked
why, no, I want. 1 amt been to
my store this >mornin', and I'm 'fraid
ought to be there"
Then, Josiah, you'll have to harness
Dan'l and take me down. mustn't
wait another minute"
"Why, Mrs. Snow" expostulated
Captain Jerry, you mustn't go down
there. The doctors goin, and I'll 60,
and Pashy's there already"
But the housekeeper merely waved
him aside.
81 want you to stay here with Elsie"
she said. There's no tellin' how long
[ may be gone. Josiah III drive me
down, won't you, Josiah?"
There was no lack of enthusiasm In
the liable seaman's" answer. The boy
was only too glad of the chance.
"But it amt At weather for you to
be out in. You'll git soakin' wet"
81 guess if, Pashy Davis can stand
it can. Elsie, will you come and
help me git ready, while Josiahs har-
nessin'?"
AS they entered the chamber above
Elsie was thunderstruck to see her
companion, seat herself in the rocker
and cover her face with her hands.
"Why, Mrs. Snow" she exclaimed,
"what is itT'
The lady from Nantucket hastily rose
and wiped her eyes with her apron.
"Oh, nothin'," she answered, with an
attempt at smile. "I'm kind of
fidgety this mornin', and the way that
man started of to tell his yarn upset
me- that's all. I mustn't be such
fool"
She set about getting ready with
vim and attention to detail that proved
that her "fdgets" had not affected her
common sense. She was pale and her
hands trembled little, but she took a
""varad basket and packed in it cloth
for bandages, a hot water bottle, mus
tard, a bottle Of liniment and numerous
other things likely to be of use.
Ralph and Captain Perez were sur
prised men when the housekeeper,
dripping, but cheerful. appeared on the
scene.
Mrs. Snow took charge at once of the
tired men, and the overtaxed Miss Pa
thence was glad enough to have her
do it. Luther Davis was in bed, and
Captain Fri, after an hours sojourn
in the same snug harbor, had utterly
refused to stay there longer, and now,
dressed in suit belonging to the
commandant, was stretched upon a
sofa in the front room.
r Liz SdpIdlu was Luc ulOSI
of all when Mrs. Snow appeared He
fairly gasped when she first entered
the room, and seemed to, be struck
speeches., for he said scarcely a word
while she dosed him with hot drinks,
rubbed his shoulder-the bone was not
broken, but there was a bruise there as
big as a saucer-with the liniment and
made him generally comfortable He
watched her every movement with a
sort Of worshipful wonder and seemed
to be thinking hard.
Captain Davis, although feeling a lit
tie better, was still very weak, and his
sister and Captain Perez were with
him, Josiah soon returned to the Mayo
homestead to act as ferryman for DR..
Palmer when the latter should arrive,
and Ralph, finding that there was
nothing more that he could do, went
back to the cable station. The storm
had abated somewhat, and the wind
had gone down. Captain Fri and Mrs.
Snow were alone in the front room,
and for tho fret fjno cinco che