Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-01-16
CAP'N ERI
By JOSEPH c. LINCOLN
Copyright A. Publishers l56 Fifth Avenus
New York..


CTt, pJSC NOu SuhN0 yoo w Wv
mans law and keep his, what would
you do?"
Tie captain glanced anxiously ut the
housekeeper. Then he said soothingly:
"Oh, that's all right, John. Don't
worry bout that. You and me settled
that long ago. How are you feelin'
now?"
IT know, I know" with the monot-
onous persistence Of those whose minds
are wandering-and then clearly once
more, "Eri. I've been called"
"Ssh-h! That's all right, John; that's
all right. Don't you want Mrs. Snow
to fix your piller? P'raps you'd lay q
little easier, then. Now, Mrs. Snow,
If you'll jest turn 1t while I lift him.
So; tnat's better now, amt 1t, ship
mate, hey"
But the sick man muttered an unin.
telligible something, and relapsed once
more into the half doze, half stupor
that was his usual state.
captain Fri sighed in relief.
"That was queer, want it?" he OBJ
served.
"He's had two or three of those
spells in the last day or two," was the
answer.
The captain wondered what his
friend might have said during those
"spells," but he was afraid to inquire.
Instead he asked, "What did the doc
tor say when he was here this morn
In'?"
"Nothin' very hopeful. I asked him
plain what he thought Of the case, and
he answered Jest as plain. He said
Cap'n Baxter had failed dreadful in
the last week, and that he wouldn't be
s'prised If he dropped of most any
time. Then again he said he might
live for months"
II never saw him 80 restless afore,"
commented Captain Eri anxiously.
"He was so last night"
did Elsie see him?"
mo, 1 was alone here, and she was
asleep in the next room. got up and
smut the uOOr.
The captain glanced keenly at the
housekeeper, but her face was placid
and inscrutable. He shifted uneasily,'
and then said: "Elsie's late tonight,
amt she? l wonder what's keepin'
her."
School work, l s'pose. She's workin'
hardern she ought to, think"
"Firep
The word was shouted, and the room
rang with it. John Baxter, whose
weakness had hitherto been so great
that he could not turn himself In bed,
was leaning on his elbow and pointing
with outstretched finger to the open
stove door.
"Fire! he shouted again. ITS
blazin'! It's burnln'! It's wipin' the
plague spot from the earth. l hear
you, Lord! I'm old, but hear you,
and your servants ready. Where will
1t be tomorrer? Gone! Burnt up! And
the ways Of the wicked shan't prevail"
They forced him back on the pillow,
but he fought them fiercely for a mo-
ment or two. After they thought they
had quieted him he broke out again,
talking rapidly and clearly.
II hear the call, Lord" he said. Il
thank thee for shown 1t to me In your
book. And they burnt all their cities
wherein they dwelt. and all their good
ly castles, with fire. With fire! With
firev
"Ssh-h! There; there, John! Don't
talk so," entreated the captain.
"Where's the kerosene?" continued
the old man. "And the matches? Now
softly, softly. The shavin's. It's dark.
Here, In the corner. All, ha! All, ha!
And all their goodly castles with fire!
Now, Web Saunders, you wicked man!
Now! Burn! I've done 1t, Lord! I've
done it!'
"Hush! almost shouted the agonized
Captain Fri. Hush, John! Be still"
"There, there, Cap'n Baxter" said
Mrs. Snow soothingly. laying her hand
on the sick mans forehead. Somehow
the touch seemed to quiet him. His
eyes lost their fire and he muttered
absently that he was tired. Then the
eyes closed and he lay still, breathing
heavily.
"Land Of lovev exclaimed the cap
tain. THAT was awful. Hadn't ! bet
ter 60 for the doctor?"
81 don't think so, unless he gifts
worse. He had jest such a turn, as
told you, last night"
"Did he talk like he did jest now"
"Jest the same"
"'Bout the same things"
EYES,"
The captain gasped. "Then you
kneww he said.
"That he set the billiard room afire?
Yes. I've always rather suspicioned
that he did, and last night. Of course,
made me sure Of it."
"Well, well! You haven't said moth
In bout 1t to anybody"
"Of course not"
mo; course you haven't. You must
excuse me-Im kind Of upset, guess.
Dear. dear! Did you think I knew it%
81 sort of guessed that you did"
"Well, l did. I've known 1t ever
sence that night he was found. he
had his coat ON when found him,
and twas all burnt, and there was an
empty kerosene bottle In his pocket.
I hid the coat and threw the bottle
away and turned him 80 he was facin'
toward the saloon stead Of from 1t.
And lied when told the doctor that
he was Jest as he fell. There, the mur-
der's out! Now, what do you think OF
me-?
"Think? think you did exactly
right"
You dor
II sartinly do"
"Well, I snum! I've been over that
thing time and time again, and I've
felt like was sort of a firebug myself
sometimes. I've heard folks layin' 1t
to fust one and then the other and cal
latin that Web did it himself to git
the Insurance. and all the time I've
known who really did do 1t and haven't
said anything. jest couldn't. You
see, John and mes been brothers al
most. But didn't s'pose anybody else
would see 1t the same way"