Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-10-17


hundred miles,"
"Why don't we take him to our
house?" Suggested Captain Jerry
"'Twouldn't seem so plaguy lone
,, some anyhow"
"By mighty!' calculated Captain Fri
in astonishment. "Well, Jerry. I'll be
switched if you amt right down bril-
liant once in awhile. OF course we
will. He can have the spare room.
Why didn't think Of that I wonder?"
And so John Baxter, who had not
paid visit in his native village since
his wife died, rlme at last to his
friends homo to pay what seemed like
ly to be final one. They carried him
up the stairs to the spare room, as dis
NAL and cherries as spare rooms in
the country generally are, undressed
him as tenderly as their rough hands
would allow, robed him in one of Cap
tain Jerry's nightshirts-the buttons
that fastened it had been sewed on by
the captain himself and were all sizes
and colors-and laid him in the big
corded bedstead The doctor FASTENED
away to procure his medicine case.
Ralph Hazcltine, having been profuse-
ly thanked for his services and prom
Using to call the next day, went back
to the station. and the three captains
sat down by the bedside to watch and
wait
Captain Fri was too much pcrturbed
to talk, but the other two, although
sympatLetically sorry for the sufferer.
were bursting with excitement and GU.
riosity.
well, if this amt been night"
exclaimed Captain Jerry. Seems if
everything happened at once. Fust
that darby and then the fire and then
this. Don't it beat all?"
Fri" said Captain Perez anxiously,
"was John layi:' Jest the same way
when you found him as he was when
we Gomez"
Right in, the same place" was the
answer.
81 didn't say in the same place.
asked if he was layu' the same way"
"He hadn't moved muscle. Laid
jest as If he was dead"
1t will be noticed that Captain Fri
was adhering strictly to the truth.
Luckily, Perez seemed to be satisfied,
for he asked no further questions, but
observed: Its q good thing we've got
crowd to swear how we found him.
There's heap Of folks In this town
would be sayin' he set that fire if
'twa'n't for that
"Some OF 'em will be sayin' it any
how" remarked Jerry.
"Somc folks II say anything but their
prayers" snapped Fri savagcly. "rhey
won't say It while I'm around. And
look here, if you hear anybody sayin'
it you tell 'em It's a lie. If that don't
keep 'em quiet let me know"
ooh, all right! We know he didn't
set it. was Jest sayin' .
"Well, don't saytit."
"My, you're techy! Guess fires and
colored folks don't agree with you.
What are we goin' to do now? If John
don't die, and the Lord knows l hope
lie won't he's likely to be sick here
long spell. Who are we goin' to git to
take care Of him? That's what want
to know. Somebody's got to do it. and
we amt fit. II Jerry d only give in
and git married now
But Captain Jerry's protest against
matrin0ny was as obstinate as ever
Even Perez gave up urging after
awhile, and conversation Jagged again
In a few minutes the doctor came
back, and his examination of the pa.
ter, teaspoons and the like kept Perez
and Jerry busy. 1t was some time
before they noticed that Captain Fri
had disappeared. Even then they did
not pay much attention to the ci-cum-
stance, but watched the physician at
work and questioned him concerning
the nature of their guests illness.
ID you think he'll die, doctor?" in
CURED Jerry in q hushed voice as they
came out Of the sickroom into the CON
Meeting chamber.
Cant say. He has had stroke of
paralysis. and there seem to be other
complications. If he regains conscious
ness l shall think he has chance,
but not very good one. Els pulse is
little stronger. I don't think he'll
die tonight, but if he lives he will need
good nurse, and don't know Of one
in town."
"Nor me neither said Captain Pc
rez.
Just then the dining room door open
ed and closed again.
There's Fri" said Captain Jerry.
Then he added in an alarmed whisper,
"Who on airth has he got with him:>
They heard their friends voice warn
ing some one to be careful Of the top
step, and then the chamber door open
ed and Captain Fri appeared. There
We're beads of perspiration on his fore
head, and he was carrying shabby
canvas extension case. Captain Jerry
Gazed at the extension case with bulg.
ing eyes.
CaDt1in Fri mt down tho aytapSion