Putnam patriot., 1912-12-27


so we've come to you Keziab :.
went on the doctor DO you see apv
salvation?"
yes, / do"
you do? Wherep"
In Nat Hammond. If he knovs
Grace doesn't want to marry bir, A.,
you suppose he'll hold her to her
promise? But"-she observation-disclosures.
TOR, you leave this to me. So far "a
John and Grace ave concerned Won
needn't worry. I'll take it on mvseI,
TO see that they have each other "a
the Almighty meant EN- to. Leave
It to me. Just leave it to me, I
know can do It."
Captain Elkanah Daniels and bis
friend were feeling better and thew
were busy. Trumet had a new hero
now. On Wednesday the Boston papers
printed excerpts from Captain Ham.
mond's story. and these brief pre-
hmlnary accounts aroused the admira.
tlon or every citizen. 1t was proposed
to give him a reception. Elkanah was
the moving spirit in the preparations.
Captain Nat, so they learned by tele-
graphing, would arrive on the noon
train Thursday. His was not to be a
prosaic progress by stage all the way
from Sandwich. A special carriage.
drawn by the Daniels span and es-
corted by other vehicles, was to meet
the coach at Bayport and bring him
n In, fri,
All this was to be a surprise, of
course.
Wednesday afternoon the Daniels
following was cheered by the tidings
that Grace Van Horne had left the
beach and was at her old home. the
Hammond tavern. And Mrs. Pound
berry reported her busy as a bee
'gettin' things ready"
Thursday was a perfect day. and
the reception committee was on hand
and waiting in front of the Bayport
post Office. The special carriage, the
span brushed and curried until their
coats glistened in the sunshine, was
drawn up beside the platform. The
horses had little flags fastened to
their brides. and there were other ,
and larger flags on each side of the
dashboard. Captain Daniels. imposing
In his Sunday raiment, high-collared
coat, stock, silk hat and gold-headed
cane, sat stiffly erect on the seat in
the rear The other carriages were
alongside, among them Captain Zebe-
dee Mayo's ancient chaise, the white
horse sound asleep between the shafts.
Captain Zeb had not been invited to
Join the escort, but had joined It
without an invitation. Ryan Pepper
was there also, not yet fully recov.
cred from the surprise which Layinia's
gracious permission had given him.
Here she comes!" shouted Ezra
the postmaster. Right on
time, too"
Sure enough! A cloud of dust in
the distance, rising on the spring
wind, and the rattle of rapidly turn
ing wheels. The reception committee
prepared for action. Captain Elkanah
descended from the carriage and moved
in stately dignity to the front of the
post Office platform.
The stage, it's four horses at a trot, ]
swung up to the platform.
"Hurrah!" shouted the committee. |
its unlimited guests and the accom- |
panying crowd of Bayport men and |
boys which had gathered to assist in
the welcome. "Hurrah!"
A passenger or two peered from the
coach window. The stage driver
ironically touched his cap.
Thank ye," he said. THANK ye
very much"
Captain Elkanah frowned his disap-
prevail.
1--WE are cheering Cap'n Nathaniel
Hammond of Trumet," he explained
haughtily. I'VE are here to meet him
and escort him home. Where Is he!
Where's Cap'n Hammond"
We'll now, I'll tell ye; don't know
where he is"
you don't? Isn't he with your"
mo, he amt. And he didn't come