Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-10-28
CAP'N Z, ri
By JOSEPH c. LINCOLN
Copyright 1901 by A. Barnes Publishers
New York. All
CHAPTER xI1-(continued.)

won't mention 1T, Will you! Just prom
Use, to please me-"
10 the captain promised, although he
did not understand why it was asked
Of him.
When Captain Err came home that
afternoon and was cleaning his catch
at the shanty he was surprised to re-
ceive call from Miss Preston.
Hello" he exclaimed. Come to
Farm the trader"
Elsie smiled and disclaimed any in
tention Of apprenticeship.
Captain Fri" she said, IT want to
have talk with you, business talk"
The captain looked at her keenly. All
he said, however was, "You don't tell
mey'
Eyes, want to talk with you about
getting me position"
"a position?'
Yes, I've been thinking great deal
lately, and, now that grandfather
seems to be little better and I'm not
needed to help take care of him, I
want to do something to earn my liv-
ing
Earn your livin'? Why, child alive,
you don't need to do that. You amt
mite Of trouble at the house; fact is,
I don't know how we'd get along with
out you, and, as for money, why,
carIate your g-Gndpa amt SO poor but
what, If let you have little change
once III awhile, he'd be able to pay me
back when he got better"
But don't want to use your money
or his either. Captain Fri, you don't
know what he has done FOR me ever
since was little girl He has
clothed me and given me an education
and Been SO kind and good that, now
that he Is i'll and helpless, I simply
can't 60 on using his money. l can't,
and I WON'T
"All right" said Captain Fri. "In-
dependence shows proper spirit and
saves grocery Bills as old man scud-
der said when his wife run off with
the tin peddler. What kind Of place
was you thinkin' of takin'?"
Il want to iget the appointment to
teach in the grammar school here. Miss
Nixon is going to be married, and when
she leaves want her place, and want
you to help me get IT,
Captain Fri whistled. II want to
knowp' he exclaimed. Then be said:
.I,ook here, Elsie: / don't want you
to think am tryin' to be curious bout
your affairs, or anything like that, but
are you sure there amt some reason
nr0re'n you've told me Of for your
wanttr' this place? I amt no real re.
latton OF yours, you understand, but /
would like to have you feel that you
could come to me with your troubles
Jest the same as you would to your
grandpa. Now, honest and true, ain't
there somethfn' back Of tflis?''
It was only. for a moment that FL
sic hesitated, but that moments hest
tation and the manner in which she an
swered went far toward confirming the
captains suspicion.
"No, Captain Err" she said. 'It ia
just as I've told you / don't want to
be dependent on grandfather any
longer
"And there amt single other rea-
son for OF course 1 ought to mind
my business, but Well, there! What
was 1t you wanted me to do--help you
git the places"
"Yes, II you will. I know Captain
Perez has said that you were Interested
In the town meetings and helped to
nominate some Of the selectmen and
the school committee, SO thought per-
haps, II you used your influence, you
might get the position for me-"
"Well, don't know. did do little
electioneerin' for one or two fellcrs,
and maybe they'd ought to be willin'
to do somethin' for me- Still, you can't
never tell. A cat II jump over your
hands If she knows there's piece
OF fish comm afterwards, but when
she's swallowed that fish It's a diff
ent job altogether. Same way with
politician. But, then, you let me think
over 1t for spell, and p'raps tomorrow
we'll see. You think it over too.
Maybe you'll change your mind"
mo, I shan't change my mind. I'm
ever and ever so much obliged to you,
though"
All that evening Captain Fri worked
at the model Of the clipper, and the
expression on bis face as he whitfield
showed that he was puzzled and not
little troubled
He came back from his fishing next
day little earlier than usual, changed
his working clothes for his second
best suit, harvested Daniel into the
buggy and then came into the house
and announced that he was going over
to the Neck on an errand, and if Elsie
wanted to go with him he should be
Glad Of her company. AS this was
but part Of a prearranged scheme, the
young lady declared that ride was
just what she needed.
Captain Fri said but little as they
drove up to the main road" He
seemed to be thinking. Elsie, too, was
very quiet. When they reached the
fruit and candy shop just around the
corner the captain stopped the horse,
got down and went in. When he
came out he had handful OF cigars.
"Why, Captain Err" said Elsie, II
dfdn,t xrfayr that ct,t. sfn6lSed ci1ara I