Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-10-31
A MIX-UP
By J. c. PLUNiMER
Copyright. by Daily story Pub Cos


Capt Len. Hof Of the schooner
Ulysses, having attired himself in
MS go-ashore clothes, babe the mate
keep an eye to the well being of the
schooner and went In the direction Of
the Widow Putnam's cottage.
EMPOWERED in q mass Of crimson
climbing roses this cottage, while by
no means the most pretentious or the
largest in Beaufort, possessed a unique
superiority to all other houses of the
world, for II contained Miss Susie
Putnam, than whom, as Captain Hofr
yehemently insisted, no woman exist
ed more beautiful or more loveable
Mr.. Potter, the mate, although opinion
ated on most subjects, had never had
the hardihood to lock horns with the
skipper on this declaration.
There were times when the skipper
yentured to hope that some day he
might possess this pearl beyond price
as wife. and there were times when
he waliowed In a trough Of despond.
Captain Hon had never asked Miss
Susie II she loved him. He argued to
himself that. as there is a psychology
cal moment for altering helm and
braces In lacking a ship, so there is
Just the right time to propose to a
woman. II you don't catch the right
moment with a ship she's in irons and
the devils to pay, and II you don't hit
the proper moment with a woman you
Rre refused. That was the shippers
idea. Therefore, with suspense gnaw-
ing at his vitals, he waited for the
fortuitous time with the gloomy fear
that before it did arrive Miss Susie
might marry another lover, and there
were many Of them.
He found the bosom Of the Putnam
family agitated. Major Putnam, Miss
Susie's uncle, was in town. So was
Colopel Ashby. Both were farmers in
the vicinity of Beaufort, and between
them for years had existed a feud.
They breathed out threats against
each other as does the funnel of a full
powered steamship. and yet they
never met. Friends Of the two men
explained this singular circumstance
as evidence Of the adherence OF ma
ture to a vacuum, arguing that II
either or both of these valuable lives
were lost the world would be irretriev-
ably bereaved, and hence nature en-
ployed some subtle mechanism to
keep them apart. Skeptics, but these
were few. averred that the major and
the colonel purposely avoided meet
Ing. For once, on this fateful evening.
the twe men were at the same time
IN Beaufort,
There will be murder done"
sobbed Mrs. Putnam.
Uncle never misses a shot" put in
Mas Susie. gloomily.
Colonel Ashby splits bullets on the
blade Of knife" added her mother.
Len" murmured Miss Susie softly,
"can't yon hunt up uncle and get him
out OF town so that horrid colonel and
be may not meet3"
Never before had she called him
Len" His blood tingled In his veins.
"Yon will earn my undying graft
tude If you can" exclaimed Mrs. Put
nam.
And mine," cooed Miss Susie.
The undying gratitude of a pros
pective mother-in-law is a valuable as
set to any man. The Indies held not
the treasure comparable with the
gratitude of ones sweetheart. Cap
tain Hon made up his mind.
I'll get him." he said, firmly.
Don't be rash, Len" urged Miss
Susie. with . bewitching glance.
Keep out of the way of my bro
theirs pistol" added Mrs. Putnam.
Captain Hoff went out of the house
determined to succeed In coralling at
least one OF the fre-eaters, and while
pc walked rather aimlessly 1t came
to his mind that now might arrive
that psychological moment for pro-
posing. II he earned Miss Susies I'M
dying gratitude. why not earn the lady
herself? Certainly success would give
an immense advantage over other
competitors. Enthusiasm now cleaned
from the shippers eyes and he bent
his way rapidly to the schooner.
The mate sat on the rail smoking n
pipe.
Mike" said the skipper, with a
careless information, 81 think you said
you'd like me to sell you my silver
watch?"
I've done offered you FIVE dollars
for 1t, and I'll give no MORE" declared
the mate, between puffs.
IN put you In way to get it for
nothing" replied the Skipper; listen"
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