The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-11-01
AnAfterCIap
OR
A Victory Won
by Stratagem
By UARISSA MACKE

| Harbor at the hospitable home
Of Captain Barnabas Fish and
his wife. who was Maria Weeks.
a few months ago. We were nearly
through one of Maria's excellent din
ners when Captain Barnabas leaned
back in his chair and addressed his
wife.
ANY afterclap, Marian" he asked
genially, for that was his term for des
sert in any form.
apple pie," returned Maria as she
hustled out with the dishes.
'"That's good. but thought smelled
mince pie this morning." limited the
captain.
"'Twasn't any of my making. Lucys
been making pie all the morning.
smelled 'em. too. She had too much
Glove in 'em." Maria had served her
own flaky pastry and now sat down.
"Good Lord. how do you know there
was too much Glove in her pies?' The
captain stared at his wife.
II smelled that too! But I would
have known anyway, for Lucy Drake
always was partial to cloves. That's
why she's so dried up. Cloves are dry
ing to the blood"
'It's too bad she can't get Orville
Beers to eat more Of them. He's grow
ing fatter every day." The captain
passed his plate for second helping
Of pie. wouldn't hurt him If he dried
up some-and blowed away after
wardr'
why. Captain Barnabasr' l gasped.
astonished at the bitterness Of his
tone.
"Why, captain. say. too" chimed
In Maria coldly. Il don't wonder Miss
Telham Is surprised to hear such send-
ments from man of your years. who
was supposed to have left all wild talk
and ways in the deep seasl And you
deacon in the church toov'
"Humw beloved the captain omi-
nously. Jest because a man leaves
the deep seas and gets married and
settles down. so to speak. is it any rea-
son he can't call his soul his own?
Can't he criticise fellow being If he's
so mlnded!
HE can" shifted Maria. but it
amt Christian-ike so to do"
"Then." declared the captain. filing
his beloved pipe and leading the way
to the front piazza-'then. If | don't
act Christian-like. I'm heather be-
cause l can't bear the sight of Lucy
brakes husband!'
Maria's lips snapped together omi-
nously. Her dark eyes flashed dan
gerously. From previous symptoms |
had observed in this newly married
couple l knew that Maria was jealous.
Her next door neighbor was Lucy
Drake. who had married Orville Beers
on the same day that Captain Fish had
led Maria to the altar. Indeed. there
was still some feeling in the matter of
the weddings. for it seemed that Lucy
was to be Maria's bridesmaid and Or.
Vile was to be the best man. but they
had slipped away to the church half
hour before the time set for the cap
tain's wedding. and taking advantage
Of the assembled guests and the deco.
rated church. they had been married
by the bewildered minister and were
out in the vestry ready to greet Maria
and her prospective husband when they
arrived.
The Beerses had come to live in Lucy's
cottage. next door to Maria's. and Or
vile was gaining a livelihood in the
same manner as Captain Fish-he "fol-
lowed the bay" as they called it-that
is, he fshed and CLAIMED and dredged
for oysters. set eel pots and lobster
pots and by peddling his finny spoils
here and there was enabled to set a
bountiful table as well as to cut into
Captain Fish's particular line of trade.
''It's too bad you didn't show pref
erence for Lucy before you was mar
ried," murmured Maria in a tone in
tended for the captains ear alone. but
| heard It.
ut amt Lucy that bothers me; it's
Orville." explained the captain hastily
whats he cuttin' into my business
for, eh?"
''Why indeedY' I echoed. and Maria
sat down on the top step and took
some knitting from her apron pocket.
'Why don't he stick to his farm over
to the Wells? don't raise potaters
and run competition to himv' argued
the captain angrily.
"Of course notv' | soothed
''He can't raise potatoes in April"
put in Maria.
He can plant 'em. Maria. and you
know it." retorted the captain. why
amt he dom it instead of goin' fish
in and eatin' mince pies?"
"Orville don't eat them pies. Barna.
has," said Maria mildly.
"Who does. then? Seems as IL
smell mince pies there every day. an
know I've seen him a-eatin' 'em down
the bay"
Lucy told me about it. She's put
ting 'em away In cold storage against
next winter. She read something about
IL and she says it's a great success"
Gold storage?" booted the captain.
where's the cold storage plant. ehY
you know there was an old ice