Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-01-02
CONTINUED

When Captain Eri came nome tnat
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 Eri," she said. II want to
have talk with you, business talk"
The captain looked at her keenly. All
he said, however. was, you don't tell
mew
"Yes, 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,
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,
| don't know how we'd get along with
out you, and, as for money, why, l
carlate your grandpa amt so poor but
what, II l let you have little change
once in 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 Ill and helpless, | simply
can't go on using his money. l can't,
and l won't"
"All right" said Captain Fri. "'In-
dependence shows a proper spirit and
saves grocery bills as old man Scud-
der said when his wife run off With
the tin peddler. What kind Of a place
was you thinkin' Of takin'?"
II want to get the appointment to
teach In the grammar school here. Miss
Nixon is going to be married, and when
she leaves l want her place. and want
you to help me get It,"
Captain Fri whistled. II want to
knoww he exclaimed. Then he said:
Look here. Elsie; don't want you
to think l am tryin' to be curious bout
your affairs, or anything like that, but
are you sure there amt some reason
more'n you've told me Of for your
wantin' this placer l amt no real re-
lation 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. amt
there somethin' back Of this?"
1t was only for a moment that Ell
sic hesitated, but that moments hesi-
tation and the manner in which she an
swered went far toward confirming the
captains suspicion.
mo, Captain Err" she said. ut is
Just as I've told you. don't want to
be dependent on grandfather any
longer"
And there amt a single other rea-
son for OF course l ought to mind
my business, but Well, there! What
was it you wanted me to dO-help you
git the place."
Eyes, If you will. 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. if you used your influence. you
might get the position for me-"
We'll, l 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 din'r-
ent job altogether. Same way with a
politician. But, then, you let me think
over it for spell. and p'raps tomorrow
we'll see. You think it over too.
Maybe you'll change your mind"
mo. l 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 OH his face rs he Whitfield
showed that he was puzzled and not a
little troubled.
He came back from his fishing next
,.1; than rsnn1 shrnDn1
his working clothes for his second
best suit. harnessed 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 Il ride was
Just what she needed.
Captain Fri said but little as they
drove up to the "main road lie
seemed to be thinking. Elsie. too, was
very quiet When they reached the
fruit ana candy shop just around the
corner the captain stopped the horse,
got down and went in. When he
came out he mad handful Of cigars.
"Why. Captain Fri" said Elsie, II
didn't know that you smoked cigars.
thought a pipe was your favorite."
"Well, gin'rally speakin', 'tis," was
the answer. 'but I'm electioneerin'
now. and politics without cigars would
be like q chowder without any clans.
Rum goes with some kind of politics,
but terbacker kind Of chums in with
all kinds. 'Tain't always safe to jedge
candidate by the kind Of cigars he
gives out neither. I've found that out"
They reached that part of Orham
| which is called the Neck and pulled up
before q small building bearing the
sign, Solomon Bangs, Attorney al
Law, Real Estate and Insurance
Here the captain turned to his com
panion and asked: Sure you haven't
changed your mind, Elsie? You want
that school teachin' jOb?"
81 haven't changed my mind, Cap
tlin Eri.'
well, wanted to be sure. l should
hate to ask Sol Bangs for anything
and then have to back out afterwards
Come on, now"
Solomon Bangs was the chairman
of the Orham school committee. He
was a short, stout man with sandy
side whiskers and bald head. He
received them with becoming conde
scension and asked If they wouldn't
sit down.
"Why, I've got little business
want to talk with you bout, Sol" said
i A., a4ain ..IIcio roIi cot down herr