The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-11-23
CHAPTER VII.
Through Fire and Water.

main with them. She had to finisl
out her term of school and Captain
Fri could not bear to think of hel
boarding at the tavern, where hel
only companions would be thu
homeless men of the village anG
drummers.
But, again, there was the ques
tion of Mrs. Snow. Elsie could mo-
remain with them If she left. anC
the housekeeper had been hired t.
act as such while John Baxter was
in the house. Now he was gone
and there remained the origina
marriage agreement between Cap
tain Jerry and the widow, ant
honor called for decision one way
or the other.
Mrs. Snow, of course, said moth
ing about 1t, neither did Captain
Jerry, and Captain Fri felt that ht
must take the initiative as usual
But, somehow, he was not al
prompt as was his wont, and an
other week went by.
| Captain Perez might, and prob
ably would, have suggested actor
upon this important matter, had
not his mind been taken up with
what, to him, was the most i'm
portant of all. He had made VI
his mind to ask Patience Davis tt
marry him.
Love is like the measles; 1t goes
hard with a man past fifty, and
| Captain Perez was severely smit
ten. The decision just mentioned
was not exactly brand new one
his mind had been made up fol
| some time, but he lacked the cour'
age to ask the momentous ques-
ton. Something the lady had said
during the first stages of their ac-
uuaintance made a great impress
sion on the Captain. She gave II
as her opinion that a man who
loved a woman should be willing
to go through fire and water te
win her.
So the Captain delayed and Miss
Patience, who had cherished hopes
found need of good share of thu
virtue for which she was named
But one afternoon, at the end OF
the week following that of the
funeral, Perez set out for a cal
upon his intended which he meant
should be a decisive one.
He found the lady alone, for ole
Mrs. Mayo had gone with her son
whose name was Abner, to visit
cousin in Harniss, and would moi
be back until late in the evening
Miss Patience was very glad tc
have company, and it repired NJ
great amount of urging to per-
| suade the infatuated swain to stay
| to tea. When the meal was over
| they washed the dishes together
and the Captain was so nervous
that 1t is a wonder there was
whole plate left-the pair were
seated in the parlor. Then SAID
Captain Perez, turning red ant
hesitating, "Pashy, I've got some.
thin l want to ask you. Do you
think you could-er-er-"
what, Perez?"
81 wanted to ask you"-the
Captain swallowed several times
Ito ask you What in the ma.
ton is that?"
ooh, that's nothin'j only thu
hens squakin'. Go on!"
"Yes, but hens don't squawl
this time of night 'thout they have
some reason to. It's that fox come
back; that's what tbs"
Miss Patience, earlier in The
evening, had related a narrowing
tale of the loss of two of Mrs
Mayo's best Leghorns that hat
gone to furnish Sunday meal fol
a marauding fox. AS the said Leg
horns were the pride of the ole
lady's heart, even the impending
proposal was driven from Mis-
Davis mind.
ooh, Perez! you don't s'pose til
the fox, do your"
Eyes, ma'am, I do! Where's tn,
gum"
There It's, behind the door, bu
there amt mite of shot in thu
house. Abner's been goin' to fetcl
l boulo lTOH tuc btOft lOE Il uOn
, know W, how O. !. long, BUT he's Away
'Never mind, I'll pound the crit
ter with the butt. Come quick, ant
bring 4. a lamp"
The noise in the henyard con
tinued. and when they opened tn,
door II was louder than ever.
Hes in the henhouse," whis
pered Miss Patience. HE mus
have gone In that hole at the sid,
that had the loose board over IL.
"All right" murmured the Cap
tain. You go round with tn,
lamp and open the door. That'l
scare him. and I'll stand at tn,
hole and thump him when HI
comes out"
So, shielding the lamp with he
apron. the guardian OF Mrs. Mayo
outraged Leghorn tiptoed around
to the henhouse door, while Cap
tain Perez. brandishing the CUR
like a club, took up his stand b,
the hole at the side.
Without the lamp the darkness
was pitchy. The Captain. stoopint
down to watch, saw something
coming out Of the hole--some