Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-10-14

-0s7SaIsgs
.Runl Run for your hues!"
was the nousekeeper7 DID she look
as II she was gittin' ready to 60 out?
Did she have her bunnit on7"
mo. She seemed to be very much
at home. That's why I thought
But again Captain Jerry broke in.
well, by mighty" he calculated.
That's nice, now, amt it7 She goin'
away7 You bet she amt! She's goin'
to stay there and walt, If It's forever.
She's got too good thing. Jest as
likes not MISSY Busted or some
other CAB machine like her IL be the
next one to call, and If they see that
great black critter! oh, my soulr'
Black said Ralph amazedly.
Why. the woman at your house isn't
black. She's as white as am, and
not bad hooking either"
'What7' This was the tho in
chorus. Then Captain Fri said:
'Mr. Hazsltns, now, honest and
true, Is that factT
"Of course it's a fact
The captain wiped his forehead.
''Mr. Hazeltine," he said, IL anybody
had told me fortn't ago that I was
one Of the three biggest fools in Or
ham I'd have prob'ly rared up some.
AS tits now, I carlate I'd thank him
for lettin' me of SO easy. You'll have
to excuse us tonight, I'm afraid. We're
in a ridiculous scrape that we've got to
git out Of all alone. Til tell you bout
it some day. Jest now I wish you'd
keep this kind of quiet to obhge me-"
Hazeltine saw that this was meant
as gentle hint for his immediate de-
parture, and, although he had fair
share Of curiosity, felt there was moth
ing else to do. AS soon as he had
gone Captain Err began to lay down
the law.
"Now, them" he said, there's been
some sort Of mistake; that's plain
enough. More'n likely the darby took
the wrong satchel when she got up to
come out of the car. That woman at
the house is the real Marthy Snow all
right, and we've got to go right up
there and see her. Come on!'
But Captain Jerry mutnied outright.
He declared that the sight of that dar-
ky had sickened him of marrying for
ever and that he would not see the
candidate from Nantucket nor any
other candidate.
Go and see her yourself If you're
80 set on it." he declared. 81 shan't!'
"All right" said Captain Fri calmly.
IT will. I'll tell her you're bashful, but
jest dyin' to be married and that she
can have you If she only waits long
enough"
With this he turned on his heel and
walked out.
Hold on, Erip' shouted the frantic
Jerry. Don't you do 1t! Don't you
tell her that! Land of love, Perez, dc
you s'pose he will?"
II don't know" was the answer in 6
Disguised tone. you hadn't ought tt
have been SO pigheaded, Jerry"
Captain Fri, with set teeth and de
termination written on his face, walk
| I'd straight to the dining room door
Drawing a long breath, he opened II
and stepped inside. A woman who had
| been sitting in Captain Perez's rocker
| rose as he entered.
The woman looked at the captain
and the captain looked at her. She was
Of middle age, inclined to stoutness
with pair of keen eyes behind brass
trimmed spcctacles, and was dressed IL
a black alpaca gown that was faded
| little in places and had been neatly
mended in others. She spoke first
you're not Cap'n Burgess?' she
said
mo, ma'am," said the captain un
easily. "My name is Hedge. I'm 6
sort Of messmate Of his. You're Mis-.
Snow?"
Mrs. Snow. I'm widow"
They shook hands, Mrs. Snow calm
- &pectant, the captain very neryou
and not knowing how to begin.
II feel as if 1 knew you, Cap'l
Hedge" said the widow as the captain
slid into his own rocker. '"The boy OF
the depot wagon told me about you ant
4 Cap'n Ryder and Cap'n Burgess"
Odd, hey?" The captain inward.
vowed vengeance on his chum's grand
nephew. Hope he gave us cleal
bill"
well, he didn't say nothin' agains
you, If that's what you mean. If b
had l don't think it would have mad
much difference. I've lived long enoug
to want to find out things for mysel
and not take folks say So"