The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-08-05

crunched heavily on the gravel path
what might happen to Eben's bold
rival If be did not cease his thunder
ing at the door of the one woman in
the world.
Miss Nettie Blake's got tired of en-
pertaining two callers every Wednes-
day. only she's too polite to say so:
If you'll go away you'll find that she'll
open the door quick enough for me.
Eben'S voice raSped on the still night
air as Caleb Brown ceased from his
knocking.
"She doesn't answer because she
thinks it's you" snapped Caleb. re-
Stunning his bombardment.
~ always knock special" retorted
Eben. Miss Nettie always recognizes
my knock. If you'll just move along
and let Il gentleman that has some
rights here He paused SuggeStively.
There was an explosive snort from
Caleb Brown. and the knocker fell for
the last time with a little angry thud.
The first assistant keeper of the light
ran down the steps and faced his
rival in the moonlit space before the
house. His nose advanced within an
inch OF Eben's implacable countenance.
and his head wagged violently.
Say it again" he challenged squeak
lily.
Eben repeated his remark. with Il
Fnyyy nohnIliSh NM .sr r1 liz Nh
Browns personal appearance.
After this interchange of pleasant.
ries 1t is not surprising that another
instant found the assistant Keepers
rolling wildly on the gravel. now in
the neat borders. where their heels
played havoc with Miss Nettie's
choicest plants. again coming In con
tact with d spiny cactus that pricked
them to greater ferocity.
At last they fell heavily against a
rotten tree stump that supported a red
painted flower tub. The stump quiv-
cred and then yielded to the onslaught.
The flower tub descended. just escup
ing serious injury to the combatants
The shower of loose dirt that filled
their eyes. ears. noses and mouths
brought the warfare to a swift close.
Stif1y they arose and faced each
other in the pale light. dirty. DISNEY
eled. with blackened eyes and bleed.
ing noses. their best blue clothes caked
with yellow loan. while every crevice
Of skin and clothing vas filed with
fine earth from the flower tub.
AS by n accord they turned and
marched out of the gate, leaving the
scene of havoc to greet Miss Nettie's
Mortified eyes when the sun arose.
Caleb Brown strobe on ahead. aud at
al unfriendly distance in the rear
Eben Gail limped after him.
They crawled into the bobbing dory
and rowed silently down the red path
that the lighthouse flung across the
glimmering wave
A smart little launch was moored at
the lighthouse landing, and with the
idea Of avoiding the parson or other
possible callers who had taken pity ON
Captain Peters loneliness the two as.
sistants crept quietly down into the
engine room. where they noiselessly
scrubbed the marks Of combat from
additions there was Il marked exchange
of courtesies between the rivals. They
passed the single cake of soap back
and forth II shared the healing con
tents of a huge bottle OF vuseline with
amazing affability.
Tho fnp.,.o tyinf n otfIo IN P,,,~< ~
Miss Nettie's cottage had seemed to
relieve them OF twelve months accu-
mulated venom. AS they quietly trod
the winding iron stairway to their
DON in the tower above the sitting
o they paused to ill their pipes
from Eben's tobacco pouch. Each was
mindful OF his own bruised eye and
aware of the tutiIity OF attempting to
conceal it from an inquiring world
l. e.. Captain Peter and his visitors
should they he discovered.
A light CLEANED under the sitting
room door. and as they passed it the
portal swung wide. and Captain Peter
himself. smiling and happy. %resplen-
dent in his best suit Of blue cloth, con.
fronted them and laid a friendly hand
on each shoulder.
Come in. boys. You're lust in time.
Here's parson and his wife and Benja-
min Green and Uncle Nehemiah Blake
n her that WAS Nettie Blake, now
Mrs. Captain Fame"
The two assistants stared omen
mouthed at the merry company that
filed the little sitting ROOM, and the
lighthouse keeper continues:
Yes. stree. Miss Nettie and me
counted on getting married at the mar.
sonage tonight. and everything was
ready and waiting; but, seeing that
you w boys was set on going court
ing on his particular night. just sent
word to the parson for the hull lot of
EN- to come over here and get married
at the light Benjamin. he brought
EN- over In the la'nch. wedding cake.
lemonade and all. Now. everybody SET
up and have something to eat. You're
too late for the wedding, for the knots
all tied. but you can have some of
Mrs. Captain Fane's cake. and she's a
royal good cook. Now. Nettie!"