The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1906-12-11

did L? | only said | want pertic'ler
bout il if had to do any more swim
min Mebbe | won't hev' ter"
And Capt Amos-with deep-water
sailors unerring spring, landed square
ly on the boats half-deck.
The red of the sunset faded into
pearl--and darkening gray. From the
lighthouse on Fort Point GOLDEN fin
ger Shot seward and the frosted edge
of the full moon crept gradually into
the clcudless sky, An inexplicable
spell, conjured perhaps by the half
mysterious peace brooding under tho
wings of the coming night, flooded
Capt. Amos soul, awakening old ana
potent memories.
"Lem?" he said NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
sciously using the familiar diminutive
that had not passed his lips for years
-"j'you notice how terribly pretty the
Sky looks over there to the west'ard$
| amt seen it look like that for years
an it sorter reminds me of the time
we was young fellers-with old man
Bragg in the Dreadnaught-in 49,"
YES" assented Capt Lemuel,
i
Dreadnaught, do you remember how
we ulster hook a share of the grog
bein too young to hev' any, regular
Blamed if don't wish l had that OF
tin pannikin o. mine here now, with
some i'll it."
Capt. Amos heart gave a sudden
throb of anticipation.
"Say?" he remarked deprecatingly,
course l amt a-sayin' there is any
thing O. that sort aboard this dory; but
s'posin there wuz? Would you prom
ise-on the Bible if we had one-not
to say anything to-to-Fairport, bout
my belD' capsized-if 1 gin you
some?"
Capt. Higgins stopped his oar and
reaching forth, grasped his dory.
mates shoulder, whirling him around
unceremoniously.
do you mean to say you've got
some Ticker, Amos Stubbs?" he de-
manded sternly.
Capt. Stubs explained and produced
the flask.
Capt. Higgins elevated IL for a long
minute and returned it with a deep
sigh of satisfaction
TITS curious how set some women
is agiu' little licker," he commented,
with glistening eyes; "all foolishness,
too"
$50 tis-so 'tis," concurred Capt.
Amos, raising the flask in turn. 81 al
lus said SO; specially if their fust hus-
bands couldn't stand much; women is
ALFRED queer, anyhow"
They certainly be-" acknowledged
the tall captain, cycling the flask hope
fully, IAN that's one reason I've been
so everlastin' s'prised at seem you "a
chasin one of 'em at your time of life,
THROWN over oil friends an actin
stubborn an cont'ray-'s if you was a
young Teller o. 2O.'
me a-chasin' of emil" retorted Capt
Amos Indignantly What hev you
been dcin' yourself, I'd like to know?
Amt you been a-goin' up to the wild
der's every Thursday night for the
last three years? An tryin' to pizen
her mind agin' me? 'Tain't your fault
she amt Mis- Lemuel Higgins this
mint, nuther-why don't you say
suthin?"
Capt. Higgins moistened his lips.
If twan't for things bein' as they
be-" he ventured hesitatingly, 81 dunno
but I'd be tempted to make a sorteI
proposition TO you, Am Stubs; but
s'pose il wouldn't be no use-you bein'
so set on marryin' Mis- Tompkins."
81 cont sees I'm any more set on
marvin of her than you be-" Capt.
Amos retorted, with asperity. What
kind Of proposition was you thinkin'
o. makin'?"
"Well," returned Lemuel, moving his
oar aimlessly, 81 was goin to say that
If things was the same between us as
they was once-I mean If there want
no widder-Id ask you if you didn't
want TO come in with me on my new
lobster contract? Thered be good
money for both of us in it, an I've
got TO hev' somebody"
Capt. Amos rubbed his chin, staring
ahead at the wide and scintillating
fairway the moon had flung down
clear to the dory's bow
Look here, Leml" he blurted husk-
lily over his shoulder r'mebbe I'm a
fool; but somehow, talkin' over old
times same's we've been dom, has
kinder made me feel diff'rent from the
way I've been a-feelin'. 1t seems to me
l amt so ALFRED set on the wilder as
thought l was. I'm gettin along in
years an I'm good deal more set in
my ways than you be-you hev'ing
been married once-so-so-so--" des-
perately-"Ill come to the weddin'. /
amt sayin this on account o. the offer
you made me, nuther-though I'd be
moren glad to take up with it an do
the cookin','' he concluded resolutely.
DO you mean TO say that you'll give
up the wilder to me?' faltered Capt.
Lem ia a curiously shaky voice.
That's jest what / meant" replied
Capt. Amos, steadily. I've made up
my mind that there's some things that
is more precious to an oil Teller like
me than the love o. any woman; oil