Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-10-11

Capt. Amos soul, awakening old and
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?
l amt seen it look like that for years,
an it sorter reminds me of the time
we was young fellers-with old mai
Bragg in the Dreadnaught-in 49,"
YES" assented Capt. Lemuel,
thoughtfully, IAN speakin' bout the
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 ol'
tin pannikin O. mine here now, with
some in it."
Capt. Amos heart gave a sudden
throb of anticipation.
"Say?" he remarked d~eprecatingly,
"'course / 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 beln' capsized-if l gin you
some?"
Capt. Higgins stopped his a 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.
Its curious how set some women
is agin' a little licker," he commented,
with glistening eyes; "all %foolishness,
too"
$50 'tis-so it's" concurred Capt.
Amos, raising the flask in turn. II 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 e%verlastin' s'prised at SEEM you a.
chasin' n of 'em at your time of life.
THROWN over Oh friends an actin
stubborn an cont'ray--'s if you was a
young Teller O. TO-"
"Me a-chasin' of 'em!" 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, IT dunno
but I'd be tempted to make a sorter
proposition TO you, Am Stubs; but
s'pose ii wouldn't be no use-you bein'
so set on marryin' Mis- Tompkins." VI
81 DON'T sees I'm any more set on
marryin' of her than you be-" Capt.
Amos retorted, with asperity. what
kind of a proposition was you thinkin'
O. makin'?"
"Well," returned Lemuel, moving his
oar aimlessly, Il was goin' to say that
if things was the same between us as
they was once-I mean if there want
no widder-I'd ask you If you didn't
want 10 come in with me on my new
lobster contract? There'd be good
money for both of us in it, an I've
got 70 hev' somebody"
Capt. Amos rubbed his chin, staring
ahead at the wide and scintillating
fairway the noon had flung down
clear 10 the dory'S bow.
Look here, Lem!" he blurted husk-
lily over his shoulder "mebbe I'm a
fool; but somehow, talkin' over old
times same's we've been dom, has
kinder made me feel different from the
way I've been a-feelin'. 1t seems to me
l amt SO alfred set on the wilder as
| thought | was I'm gettin' along in
years an I'm a good deal more set in
my ways than you be-you hev'ine
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
more'n glad to take up with it an dc
the cookin'," he concluded r%esolutely.
do you mean to say that you'll give
up the wilder to me?" faltered Capt
Lem in a curiously shaky voice.
That's. jest what | meant" replied
Capt. Amos, steadily. Tive made uI
my mind that there's some things thai
is more precious to an OF Teller like
me than the love O. any woman; oil
times an OF friends-an'-an'-"
"Then we won't neither on us hev
her." cried Capt. Lemuel triumphantly
"S'pose we jes' give her the mitten, SC
to speak, an sheer off? We can begin
lobsterin' the fust of the week."
Suits me to a T." broke in Capt
Amos, delightedly.
He held out the flask ioyfuily.
Lets finish the Ticker an run 'er in
a-kitin'," he suggested.
Copyright, 1905, by Joseph B.. Bowles.)
STRONG IN BRoTHERLY LOVE
Little Father's' Affection Was Proof