The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1915-11-13
CAPTAIN EPGalIH's car
'aaL
~ mana anow,N

Dy DORIS BROWN.

lined. Contrary to Woodell tradition,
Nyra Pitt continued for many years 10
be maid, but she refused to grow
old.
Trim little craft" muttered the
captain. a. his neighbor approached.
her black eyes dancing a. usual.
Good evening. Myra." he greeted
her. removing the stubby pipe from
between his lips.
Good evening. captain" returned
Myra, pausing. You heard anything
about your cati"
mot q wordl"
i've got to say this" went on MyrA
firmly; Its q sort Of reflection ON
me-your putting that In the paper
about libby being seen going south
southeast; why. that would mean she
was going right through my gate or
on to my prop'ty."
$50 she was"
Land sake!" gasped Myra, ciinging
to the gate. Next thing you'll be say
ing that stole libby"
Hum! You amt any too fond Of
CATS" ventured the captain warily.
II hate. emil"
The captain grew red with anger.
You're the fust old maid ever saw
who didn't set store by CATS" he
barked rudely.
I'm the first old maid who didn't
accept the first half-witted old bache-
lor who wanted to marry her!" re-
torted Myra, still more rudely.
Captain Ephraim grew still more
crimson.
I'm COMPOUNDED glad you didn't"
he roared.
Myra smiled provokingly over her
shoulder as she turned away.
At that moment two barefooted lads
came scufiling along the dusty road.
"Oh. Cap'n Eph! L jest heard q cat
in Miss Pitts smokehouse. sounded
like your Tibby!"
II reckon we better be setting sail
for your smokehouse. Myra," said Cap
tain Ephraim, mildly.
There was a scared look in Myra
Pitts flashing black eyes.
It'll be on every tongue in town."
she thought with mental anguish. but
never a word did her lips utter. She
lifted her brown head and proudly led
the way south-southeast through her
front gate to the little weather-beaten
smokehouse near the orchard.
Mrr-r-e-e-eow!"
There was no mistaking Tibby's pc.
culiar wall Of despair.
Il guess we've sighted q SAIL" re-
marked the captain dryly az he
tramped up the grassy path to the
smokehouse door.
Myra grew paler than before. An
the pink forsook her sweet face and
she looked drawn and old.
"Mr-r-r-e-e-eow!" yowled libby from
within.
The latch clicked sharply and the
door swung open. Something yellow
and gray and white, with shining fiery
eyes, leaped out and alighted on the
captains blue cloth shoulder.
Captain Ephraim's hand stroked her
silky coat, but his bright blue eyes
were staring into the open door Of the
smokehouse.
On the clean. bare floor were set o
tempting array OF blue and white china
saucers. One contained cream, another
one chicken livers, still another the
white breast Of chicken, another one
Of water. A soft, silken pillow showed
where libby had rested her well-fed
body.
Surely libby had Jared well.
Captain Ephraim's blue eyes turned
In puzzled inquiry on Myra's downcast
face. h.
what made you do 1t. Myraf" he
asked sternly. ;s
~ "How do you know--?" she lifted
her hand. saw the discriminating row
Of saucers In the smokehouse, and
hid her face in her hands.
f, libby snarled as her master uncero-
moniously shook her to the ground.
His hands gently grasped Myra's IN
gers and pulled them away from her
wet eyes.
"How did known" he chuckled
softly. "why. I jest happened to see
libby cruising over this way-and ]
saw you steer her into the smoke
house ana I knew she was there: but
/ couldn't understand what you wanted
Of her. wasn't afraid you'd harm
-leastways. I was pretty sure you
wouldn't. says to myself. II she
harms poor libby, I'll be COMPOUNDED
glad she wouldn't marry me. II she
don't harm her. why. Ill Jest keep on
being sorry she won't have me and
make me the unloneliest man in Wood
elll'
"Oh-ohI. sobbed Myra Pitt.
why did you lock 4p my libby and
then treat her like the queen Of cats5s
insisted Captain Ephraim.
"Oh. because because was jealous
Of her, therel" confessed Myra. "She
used 70 come to meet xou every night;
and I wanted to be doing y myself
Ephraim-yes, I didi Don't AK ne
why l didn't accept you nve ysars $50
~ don't know why. Only, now-onlys
now \.
~oniy. now, you dol" finished CAD