Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-02-08
F j | L
John w. Harding
Copyright. 1908. by G. W. DilIins-
ham Co.

would be fixed just as was at that
time"
I'm glad to hear you say that, cap
tain" she declared, Selling the oppor-
tunity. at opens the way for the
business came on"
Business"
"Yes, business"
"But it's after business hours, Mrs.
Brooks, and amt half spun my yarn.
Now, over here want to show you a
couple Of spears got from lot Of
head hunters down in the Malay archi-
pelago. You may not know where that
is, but I've always had an idea it's
where God battened down the devil
after that first big row they had you
read about in the Bible. was going
ashore. seeing what was doing, when
this crew of niggers come down on us
like squall. We had an awful time
getting back to the boats. tell you.
We were some cut up, and all got
out of the expedition was one of the
big chiefs wives"
He looked into Mrs. Brooks eyes.
'"Took her back to Frisco with me"
he added. women were scarce In
them times-good looking ones"
You took her away from where she
belonged?" questioned Emma slowly
and incredulously.
"She was willing to go. No one ever
beat her about the ship, and she lived
pretty much as she wanted-three
meals day and no hard work"
"What became Of herY
"Died-I guess from overeating. You
see them two little anchors that chairs
made off,
But she had recoiled from him, shud-
dering with horror and aversion.
"She died from overeating?" she in
terrogated. .'Have there been many
of those?"
mo; learned lesson. put the
rest on diet"
He seemed to think that this was
particularly clever and humorous. for
he burst into loud guffaw.
Emma did not laugh. She was more
disguised and apprehensive than ever.
The clock struck II.
Did you hear that?" she said. 81
must insist that you let me talk ovel
what came here for"
Eleven! 1t amt late" he replied
coaxingly. Would you like little
something to drink? It's hot tonight
| .No thank vOun
"You can have 1t just as well as not.
81 don't care for it."
"All right, only thought l might
get it for you. You see. when heard
you were coming here l sent my JaI
away"
"Why?"
What he don't know won't hurt
him."
| lis there anything, captain, you're
afraid he'll find out?" she demanded
frigidly.
"Sit down-there, opposite me. wal
only thinking Of YOU
"Joe has stolen some money from
you"
TOO bad! Too bad!'
How much is it?"
What do you want to know for?"
II am his wife. 1t is my business t.
know"
There you go, talking bushes
again!" he protested, trying to be gal
liant and throwing an ogling glance a
her. Il so seldom have the pleasur
Of your company, Mrs. Brooks, tia
this business thing knocks all the re
nance out of your visit
II didn't intend there should be an,
romance in it. Captain Williams" sh
retorted stifly.
Mrs. Brooks" he went on, ignoring
the snub, "a sailorman always find
romance in an evening spent with
pretty woman. l can remember wei
when the Sally Moran put into Ma
gasaki for water and fresh provision
a little japanese girl called on me
and had terrible time. wante
to make things right nice and pleasar
for her. but. Lord. she couldn't talk
word of English. There she sat a
the evening. grinning and maxim
signs. while was talking my head o
trying to tell her how much love
her. All my pretty speeches wsr
lost"
/ He laughed aloud as the scene ros'
before his minds eye.
Now" he continued meaningly
with an intonation intended to be ten
der, when have girl like you, VIII
i. oor UNDERESTIMATE
81 beg your pardon, captain sh
said, very coldly and sternly. II mus
tell you that did not come here t
make social call. never came to
place like this. at time like this, t
talk to a man like you before in m
life"
Ito be continued
! You Blame
So So =