The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1915-07-08
Covell's
Little Joke
1t Didn't Turn Out the Way
He Expected.
BY WILLIAM NORRIS, JR.


Baimoral was mining town, and all
baimoral, with the exception of Dan
Betterley and his sister, thought Colo
mel Covell's joke good one. The Bet
terleys were excepted because the Joke
was on Dan.
The joke had sprung from q careless
remark made by Rob Henders when
Julie Betterley had refused to marry
Howard Wetton on the ground that she
did not want to leave Ben alone to keep
house In bachelor discomfort.
some one would do Wetton a per-
sonal favor by marrying OF Ben," sug-
gested Henders. and the rest of the
crowd shouted with delight at the idea
Ut the silent Benjamin marrying.
But he wouldn't know how to ask a
girl" suggested Colonel Covell. Some
one would have to pop the question for
him. BY John Rogers" he added, ~
think Ill do 1t for him! I've maiden
aunt back east who's been crazy to get
married for more years than I've lived.
Her names AdUra Dedrick, and she
must be- about sixty now
shes got a little money. and she
may think that he's marrying her for
that, but she'll take him. Wen carry
along the game until we've proposed
for him. and then we'll let Ben get the
answer or else we'll bring the old lady
on and let him fight 1t out with her."
THAT would be great" declared Hen
ders approvingly. Let her walk right
up to him and put her arms around his
neck and say Darling! I'll bet that
will scare him into talking"
I'll be one to help pay the old lady's
travelling expenses on this here excur-
sion." broke In Denver Bill. What
will 1t cOsty'
Say $780," suggested Covell as be
took OF his hat and threw In $50. In
few minutes more than the needed
sum had been realized. and. calling for
pens and paper. COvell wrote the first
letter. while the rest Of the crowd
looked on.
Betterley WAS not disiiked In Raj
moral, but his taciturn ways and his
refusal to make one Of the crowd that
nightly thronged the hotel bar mark
ed him a man apart from the rest.
Hence the crowd was willing to pay
for the pleasure Of seeing his amaze
lnent when his undesirable bride elect
should appear.
Unmindful Of all postal regulations.
the postmaster agreed to let C0vell
have the letters addressed to Dan Bet
terley should any come from the little
New England town where Miss Adora
Dedrick lived Presently 1t came. a
heavy letter In which Miss DERRICK ex-
pressed willingness to correspond
with a man 50 we'll recommended by
Cousin Covell.
~ guess she's forgotten you. colonel
suggested Henders when this line was
reached. but Covell merely grinned ap-
preciatively aud continued to read.
There was little to laugh at In the
letter. Indeed, more than one In the
crowd wished there was some one
back east who would write letters like
that to him. but Covell's vivid descrip-
tion Of Miss Dedrick's Overripe charms
and the thought Of what Dan would
say when she arrived kept the joke
alive during the correspondence that
followed. Finally when Miss Dedrick
wrote that she was sending her pic
ture and the accompanying photo
graph proved to be that Ut cOmely
girl scarcely ont of her teens Coveli
rolled on the floor In his delight.
cousin Adora was that old before
they knew how to take pictures" be
insisted. "She must have begged this
Of n photographer. think that It's
time to spring the joke now. Well
send her the money to come on with
and ask her to start at once. Dan Will
see this picture. and when Cousin
Adora comes reckon hell be some
surprised"
CoyelI laboriously indited lengthy
letter. in which he declared Dams In
ability to wait longer for his bride and
begging her to come west at once.
A few days later telegram teie
phoned from the railroad town to camp
announced her start. and when they
had learned the sense of the message
the plotters allowed II to be Delivered.
while at the same time Miss Adora's
last letter and her picture. inclosed In
the original letter, were plnced back IN
the postoffice and delivered to Dan that
evening.
Dan received them. but said not q
word the next day. and the crowd was
disappointed.
"Wait until be sees what he draws.
reminded Covell. Hell go some shy
of sleep when Cousin Adora gets aftef
him with all those letters. She'll never
believe that he didn't write them"
The thought cheered the disappointed
ones. and even when Dan went quietly
to his claim on the morrow and did not
even ask the postmaster about the let.
ter they chuckled as they thought OF
the awakening that WAS In store for
him.
Every man In the camp was on hand
when the stage came over from Bux
ton three days later.
Far down the trail the driver waved
his hat three times az q signal that the
bride had arrived. and they were all
lined up about the front Of the hotel
where they could watch Ben and his
sister without being So near that be
might suspect something.
There was q tense moment when the