Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-08-12
TheEvening Story
The Steamship
Widow
By NJ QUAD
By N QUAD
Copyright. IslA by Associated LIT
erary Press.

WHICH, was ARAAAy WGA pOolCu VI GuO
passenger list. There wero twenty
ladies in the cabin, and half the num-
Der had their husbands along. There
were thirty-nvs men, and all but ten
were free Of bondage. or the twenty
ladies' three or four were single. three
or four were widows and others had
left husbands In England or were GO
ing to join husbands In Australia.
When this list had been boiled down
there was Just one to fall In love with,
who was down as Mrs. Ethel Warner.
That means she was a widow, twenty
ave years old. and rich and good look
ing. Before we were OF soundinga 1
had made up my mind to fall in love
with Mrs. Warner
On me third day ont which IL the
proper time to begin a Irritation. pro-
vided the weather is all right. found
that the other twenty-fOur men were
OF my way Of thinking.
II is easy enough to bring about
an Introduction on shipboard. II you
can't and a mutual acquaintance. then
introduce yourself. When / got ready
TO fall IN love with Mrs. Warner
walked up to her, handed her my card
and a few compliments. and the thing
was done. She was pleased to say
that she was glad to make my Ac-
quafntancs, and an hour later was in
love.
Mrs. Warner was as we'll bred as she
WINS handsome. She asked no Ques-
tons about Eve or six children. She
didn't express surprise that had lived
to the age of forty without having
fallen in love before. She might have
shown some little doubt In her look or
speech when ! said that l was going
out 10 Australia to sell out my sheep
ranches and return to England with
100000 and marry and settle down,
but nothing occurred to alarm me. At
the end of a couple Of hours felt that
l had won her. and there could be no
sort Of doubt In her mind that she had
me hooked fast walled about know
ing that twenty-four men envied me
and hated me and called me names be-
hind my back. but not for long, That
same evening a young doctor who was
going out 10 the colony got some one
to introduce him, and saw Mrs. War
ner hanging to his arm as lovingly as
she had hung to mine. Later on I
found the doctor in his cabin. The I'M
pecunious shrimp had retired TO grin
and chuckle and feel puffed up. am
an aggressive man. allow nobody to
interfere with my vested rights. / de-
ternined to squelch that doctor right
on the start, and when had been ad-
mitted to his cabin I didn't lose a min
ute in saying:
"sir, desire you to understand right
here and now that am as good rs
engaged to Mrs. Warner, and l want
no more OF this lollipop businessr'
III you are engaged to her she does
not know It," he replied after recov-
ering from his surprise.
Then we had scrap, in which blood
was drawn and clothing torn, and It
was understood that as soon as we
landed in Australia there should be a
shooting match. On the next day the
widow was mine for a couple OF hours.
While talked love more or less, felt
1t my duty to warn her against the
other twenty-four men in the most SOL
emn manner. The lady thanked me
over and over again for my more than
brOtherly interest, and when at last
handed her to a seat and went on for
smoke ] was ready TO ask her to
name the day.
After tifin that evening, when / had
gone to my cabin 70 change coats, the
door was suddenly banged open. and a
fellow named Richards entered. / had
learned that he was a needy lawyer.
going out to the colony In hopes TO
better his purse.
'Slr, l want a few plain words with |
you'll" began the miserable wretch as
confronted him. II am as good as en-
gagged to Mrs. Warner, and II you will
only bear that in mind hereafter It
may save you trouble"
We came together. We clawed, kick
ed, bit and pulled hair. and we were |
both badly damaged when we got
through.
As soon as I could properly appear
on deck decided TO settle matters one
way or the other. was waiting for
the widow to appear when was In
vited to the smoking room to debate a
matter of business. found the other
twenty-fonr men there. When the |
meeting had been called to order a cal |
low youth arose and inquired If II was
understood that the whole twenty-five
of us were in love with some woman.
1t was so understood. He then stated |
that he felt himself engaged to thai
woman and wanted to know If the rest |
of us did. We felt 50. Then the cal
low youth asked II any one had a sus
gestion to offer. Twenty-four sugGes
tons were offered IN chorus. but the
callow youth turned them all down
for one OF his own.
Then everybody drew In his breath
and turned on his neighbor. but before
a blow had been struck the purser and