The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1907-10-12

ULYSSES, having dlllleQ IlmSeI IN
his go-ashore clothes, bade the mate
keep an eye to the well being Of the
schooner and went in the direction of
the Widow Putnams cottage
Embowered in a 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 it contained Miss Susie
Putnam. than whom, as Captain Hoff
vehemently 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
ventured to hope that some day he
might possess this pearl beyond price
as a wife, and there were times when
he wallowed in a trough of despond
Captain Hoff had never asked Miss
Susie if she loved him He argued to
himself that. as there is psychologi-
cal moment for altering helm and
braces in tacking a ship, so there is
just the right time to propose to
woman. If you don't catch the right
moment with a ship she's in irons and
the devils to pay, and if you don't hit
the proper moment with woman you
are refused, That was the skipper's
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
Colonel 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 if
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 two men were at the same time
in Beaufort
There will be mur-r-der done"
sobbed Mrs. Putnam
Uncle never misses a shot" put in
Miss Susie. gloomily.
Colonel Ashby splits bullets on the |
blade of knife" added her mother.
Len" murmured Miss Susie softly,
can't you hunt up uncle and get him
out Of town so that horrid colonel and |
he may not meet?"
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
man,
And mine" cooed Miss Susie.
The undying gratitude of a pros
pective mother-iL Low is valuable as
set to any man The Indies held not
the treasure comparable with the
gratitude of ones sweetheart. Cap
tain Hoff made up his mind.
I'll get him" he said, firmly.
Don't be rash, Len" urged Miss
Susie with a bewitching glance.
Keep out Of the way Of my bro
Tiers 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
he walked rather aimlessly it came
to his mind that now might arrive
that psychological moment for pro
posing If he earned Miss Susie's un-
dying gratitude. why not earn the lady
herself? Certainly success would give
an immense advantage over other
Enthusiasm now cleaned
from the skppers eyes and he bent
his way rapidly to the schooner.
The mate sat on the rail smoking a
pipe
Mike, said the skipper, with
careless intonation, Il think you said
you'd like me to sell you my silver
watch?"
I've done offered you five dollars
or it. and III give no more, declared
he mate. between puffs.
I'll put YOU in a way to get it for
lothing, replied the skipper; 'listen.'
md be lay before the mate the ab
Iolute necessity of preventing meet
ng between the men, You see" he
dded, If they meet thereIl be blood
he'd sure"
The mate gave a snort which mysti-
led the skipper; but he had not time
o ask what it meant
Now, he continued, "this is my
Ian: Wen both set out and find these d
len. If you find the major. put him 4
so the colonel can't meet
i'm. II you come across the colonel. 3
rhy put him somewhere. Tn hunt =
I'm, too, and between us we're bound Il
, oat IAN,