Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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=d if i Partners 9/ b JOSEPH c LINCOLN, ?f ~c*e* tvr the Tide Copyright, 1009. by ^ 1 Barne? t? Co. _ chapter t ^eTTTlAS you cal'latln' to buy one |W I of them turnovers; bub?" ??ni casus lly Inquired Mr. Clark, h ceasing to gaae it hie teg? boots, which were planted the bulging center of the sta and turning toward the Kj at the lunch counter. Tea, air." aald tue boy. He had off one worsted mitten and held ft Ire cent piece % clutched tightly In Mi red hat The station agent wrapped the pas? try In a piece of newepaper and band St It to Ms customer boy, a youngster of about twelve of age, with' a' freckled face and pair of bright gray eyes, took big groover" to the settee in the corner the waiting room and began to eat. bad on a worn cloth cap with an attachment that could be pulled down fjs) cover the ears and a shabby over ejsat of man's eise, very much too for him. As he munched the t end the thin layer of *wraporated" sppls he looked around anas with Interest. The station itself was like the aver SSjr railway bo 1 kling on Gape Cod. Bleept for the sign "Hernias" that ftggsj ootalde It might havo be?n the SJtStton st Wellmouth. which hs hsd ?ata so often. Battered |etteee gssjsjnd the walls; lithographs of time tables aad year old K>uncements of excursions sod conn fairs hang above them; big stove I tn i bo* of sawdust?all these ejpsre the regulation fixtures. Regula fhsi also were the "refreshments" on SJa* counter et tat side?"turnovers'* er cobbouae faahlon under a glass with a dingy "Washington" pie another cover and jars of strip stick candy, with boxes of "Jaw and similar sweetmeats be? lt was snowing bard, and la the 4keet of the winter evening the flakes sen Oed against His windows ss If un oed ladles m starched summer were shirt ring hi the storm end to get s peep within. The gjgf hi the shut waiting room sine lied of tor. store, sswdt et, wet clothing and Hi. Clark's clga*. To this collection esf perfumes was presently added the ess) ir of kerosene we the station agent m%\% the bag lamps m their brackets on sin. wan. I Vom ootalde came the sounds of gsgsklag wb/.ei4 and stamping horses, tkgt stamping muffled by the snow <Wj|Jch covered tho ground. The door opened, end a big man with M lace of which gray whiskers and red asset were the meet prominent features stamping and puffing Into the He jerked off s pair of leather playfully shook the congealed from them down Mr. Clark's I aside his collar, tossed a long Into the comer end, holding his id fingers over the stove, began to SMSSJ "Whoa. Ifimtna!" with enthusiasm. sir Clark, being too busy clawing the saastlng snow from his seek to iipen a sasar creation. Mr. Bodklu observed: ?Hello, barney Small! Hoar's the trav'l ta*? Have s rough time drtvln' over?" "Oh, snlddlln', mlddllu'," replied the rer of the Or ham stage, un button ale overcoat end reaching for his "but this earth's s vsle of tears ruow, so what's the odds so long's you're happy. Hello. Dan!" The last a SSSoated greeting to the etstlon a i rent In Its* little room, whose answer was a wiive of the hand aud a sidelong nod ?cross the telegraph Instrument "What's doln' over In Or ham, Bar ?ayV Inquired Mr. Clark. "Prlssj aud Tempy's adopted a boy." The agent evidently waa Interested. "Theold mauler "Tup, the old mslds. 1 s'poee they ensue to realise that they needed a man "Pound the house, but as there wa'n't g*s bids In that line they sort of com promised on s boy," i_"You doo't mean the Allen old mslds ghat llvs down on the 'lower rood,' do won?" asked Mr. Bodkin. "flarttn. I said the old maids, didn't It There's plenty of single women lu Or ham. but when you say lbs old gas Ids' lu our town everybody knows jou mean Prissy sod Tempy." % "What about the bcry. Barney ?" said tbr station agent, coming Into the waiting room. ' Why." said Mr. Small, "It's this W/sjr: Seeins that Prissy aud Tempy's gather, old Cap'n D'rius Allen?he's beam dead six years or more now?had a ulece name of Sophia, that married Cap'n Ben Nlekersou over to Well month Cap'n Beu snd his wife had one sou. 1 think the boy'sv name's Bradley. Anyhow Cap'n Ben and his wife wa<* drowned off the Portuguese ist two year* ago when Ben's bark lost. May lie you remember? Well the hoy wus left at home thut voyage with Ben's ha'f brother. lotOS Nlcke* awj. eo's the youngster could go to school. Whan his folks was drowndel test wuy the boy kept on llvln' with lolon til) *lH)tit three weeks ago Solon era* took with pueumony god up and als??I. Prissy and Tempy's the only re? lations there was. you see. so It Wag left to them to say what should be (tone with the lw?y. I cal'late there gaunt have been some high old pow seowln* In the old house, but the old anslds ere pretty conscientious spits of belu eo everlaatln' 'old msldy,' they fln'lly decided 'twas their to take the little feller to bring upr~That*s the way I heard the yarn. They kept It a secret until yesterday, but now the whole town's talkln' 'bout It You see, It's such a good joke for them two to have a boy In the house. Why, Prissy's been used to shooiu' every stray boy off the place as If he was s ben." Mr. Small laughed so heartily at this that the others joined in. When the hilarity had subsided tho station agent ssksd: "W hen's the Nlckerson boy com In' over from Wellmouth?" "Why, today, come to think of it He was to come up on the afternoon train from Wellmouth and go to Or? bs m with me tonight You ain't seen nothln' "? The station agent Interrupted him with a sidelong movement of the head. "Huh?" queried Mr. Small. Then he. In company with Mr. Clark and Mr. Bodkin, turned toward the corner of the waiting room. The boy who bad bought the apple 'turnover," having finished the last crumb of that viand, had turned to the window and was looking out through a hole he had scraped in the frost on the pane. He hsd shaded his face with his bauds to shut out the lamplight, and, though he must have heard the conversation, his manner betrayed no Interest In It Mr. Small' interrogated the station agent by raising his eyebrows. The agent whispered, "Shouldn't wonder," snd added, "He came on the up train this afternoon." "Hey, boy," said Mr. Clark, who nev? er let consideration for other people Interfere with his own curiosity, "what's your name?" The boy turned from the window and, blinking a little ss the light struck his eyes, faced the group by the stove. His freckled cheeks glistened ss the light shone upon them; but, as If he knew this, he pulled the big sleeve of the overcoat serosa his face and rubbed them dry. "What's your name, sonny?" said the stage driver kindly. "Nlckerson," raid the boy in a low tone. "I want to know. Your fust name ain't Bradley, is ltr "Yes, sir." "Sbo, well, there now! Guess you're goln' to ride over with me then, drive the Orb.am coach. Hum, well, declaie!" And Mr. Small pulled his beard In an embarrassed fashion. "Come over to the stove and get warm, won't you?" ssked the station agent "I sln't cold," wss the reply. The trio by the stove fidgeted In si? lence for s few moments, and then Mr. Small aald uneasily: "Ain't It 'most time for that train to be In? 8he's a ha'f hour Iste now." "Sh<? wss twenty-five minutes late st Sandwich," said the station agent, "snd she's prob'ly lost ten minutes or so since. She'll be along In s little while now." But In spite of this cheerful prophecy s full fifteen minutes passed before the train, which hod been started from "What's your name, monnyt" Boston with the vague idea that some time or other it might get to Province town, came coughing and panting round the curve and drew up at the station platform. Only one passenger got out at the Harnlss station, nml he, stopping for a moment to bund his trunk check to the station agent, walk oil briskly luto the waiting room and slammed the door behind him. "Hello!" he halle?], pulling off a buck skin glove and holdlug out a big hand to the stnge driver. "Barney, how's she ksadfaT Mr. Small grinned and took the prof fere I hand. "Well, for the land's sake. 1>. Tit Comb!" he exelalme?!. "Where'd you drop from? Thought you was some? where* off the coast bStWSSQ New Turk and Portland Jost 'bout now." ' * lot shore leave for a fortni't or so." said tho aawdOtntf. unbuttoning his overcoat with I smart Jerk and throw Ing It wide open. "Schooner sprung a lenk off fJay head last trip, and she's hauled up ut East Boston for repairs. Dirty weather, ain't It? Hello, Lou! How urc you. IkslM Mr. Clark and his friend grinned and respoudod. "How are you, Cap'n Ez?" In unison. The arrival was a short, thickset man with a sunburned fuce, sharp eyes, ?air t?at was a re?dis? Drown sprin? kled with gray and a close clipped mustache of the same color. He wore a blue overcoat over a blue suit and held a cigar firmly iu one corner of his mouth. His movements were quick and sharp and he snapped out his sen? tences with vigor. "Full cargo tonight?" he asked of Mr. Small, who was buttoning his overcoat and pulling on bis gloves. "Pretty nigh an empty hold," was the reply. "Only 'bout oue and a ha'f goin' over. You're the one, and the boy here's the ha'f. All aboard! Come on. Brad. You and the cap'n git lnalde, while me and Dau git the dunnage on the rack." The boy picked up the carpet bag and followed Sir. Small out to the rear platform of the station, where the coach, an old iishloned, dingy vehicle, drawn by foA* sleepy horses, stood waiting. Captain Ttteomb followed, his over? coat flapping in the wind. "Hero, Barney," he observed, "have a cigar to smoke on the road. Have one. Dan? Here, Lon; here's a couple for you and Ike. Who's the little feller?" he added ln a whisper to the station agent "Ben Nlckerson's boy from Well mouth. He's comin' down to Orham to live with the old maids. They've adopt? ed him." "The old maids? Not the old maids? Not Prissy and Tempy?" "Yup. All right, Barney; I'm com? in'." The station agent hurried away to help tl>e driver with the captain's sea chest, and its owner, apparently over? come with astonishment, climbed mute? ly into the coach, where his fellow passenger had preceded him. The old vehicle rocked and groaned as the heavy chest was strapped on the racks behind. Then It tipped again as Mr. Small climbed clumsily to the driver's seat. "All ashore that's goin' shore!" shout? ed Mr. Small. "So long, Dan. Glt dap, Two-forty!" ' The whip cracked, the coach reeled on its springs, and the whole equipage disappeared in the snow and black? ness. The boy, Bradley Nlckerson, had nev? er ridden in a stagecoach before, and after ten or fifteen minutes of jolt and roll he decided that he never wanted to ride in oue again. Suddenly Captain Tltcomb, who had been silent so far, spoke. "Heavy sea on tonight," he observ? ed. "'Pears to me Barney'd better take a reef. She's rollin' consider' ble." The boy laughed and said, "Yes, sir." "Goin* all the way to Orham?' asked the captain. "Yes, sir." "Got folks over there, I presume likely. Friends or nothln' but jest re? lations?*' "Relations, I?I guess.** "So! Well, I've got a good many re? lations over there myself. Fact is, I've got relations, seems to me, 'most everywheres. Father used to have so many of 'em that when he went vis ltln' be used to call It 'goin' couslnin'.' My name's Titcomb. What do they call you when your back ain't turned?" The boy laughed again ln a puzzled way?he scarcely knew what to make of his questioner?and said that his name was Bradley Nlckerson. "Nlckerson. hey? That settles it; you're a Cape Codder. Minute I meet anybody named Nlckerson I always know they've got the same kind of sand ln their boots that I have. Is it Obed Nic\erson'8 folks you're goin* to see?" "No, sir. I'm goin' to live with Miss Prlscilla Allen. Her and her sister. They was some of mother's people." "Sho, well I swan!" muttered the captain. "Prissy and Tempy, hey? Then 1)? \ wa'u't foolln'. And you're goin' to 11 e with 'em?" "Yes. ft . Do you know 'em?" "Who- ue? Ob. yes! 1 know 'em. T'm a partle'lar friend of theirs?that is," he added cautiously, "I call on 'em once in awhile Jest to say 'How are you?' Why? You didn't hear any of them fellers nt the depot say anything 'bout me and then did you? No! Well, all right, I jest thought? Oh, yes! I know 'em. Nice folks as ever was, but what you might call a Utile mite 'sot in their ways.' Do you always wipe your feet when you come Into the house?" "Why?why?yes, sir, if I don't for? get it." "All right. It's a good habit to git into, 'specially If you're goin' to walk en Prissy's floors. Sometimes I've wished I could manage to put my feet ln my pocket when I've been there. I wonder if I knew your father? What wns his name?" Bradley told his father's name and In response to the captain's tactful ques? tioning a good deal more besides. In fact, before long Captain Tltcomb kuew all about the hoy, where he came from, how he happoned to come and all the rest. And Bradley for his part learned that his companion command? ed the coasting schooner Thomas Do ane. that he had been a sailor ever since he was fourteen, that he had a marvelous fund of sea yarns and knew I how to spin them and that he (Brad? ley) liked him. By and by the captain noticed that the hoy's replies to his cheerful obser? vations were growing^ rather Incoher? ent, and. inspecting the reason, he ceased to talk. A few minutes later he leaned forward and smiled to find his fellow traveler, who had slipped down \ipou the cushion, fast asleep. When Bradley awoke Captain Tlt? comb was Standing <>n the ground by the open door oi' the coach. "Good Dlgal Brad," he said. "Here's where I'm bjund for. You've got a live minute ride or so more 'fore you git to I the old mal?that Is, to Prissy and | Tempy's. I'll see you toiuorrer. You and me's goin' to be chums, you know." j ' The door wftf shut. Mr. Small struck Hp "Camptown Races," and the stage bumped ou again. This time the boy did not sleep, but holding on to the strap, tried to pefer through the snow crusted window. He saw a light here and there, but little else. After a short interval the coach turned a sharp cor? ner, rolled on for perhaps twice its length and then stopped. Mr. Small opened the door, and Brad? ley, looking past him, saw the side of a large house and a lighted doorway, with two female figures, one plump and the other slender, standing in It. From behind them the lamplight streamed warm and bright and sent their shadows almost to his feet "Come on, bub," said the stage driv? er. "Here's where you git out. Miss Prissy," he shouted, "here's your new boarder.p CHAPTER IL rr\ lHE plump woman, whom Mr. J I Small had addressed as "Miss i^?-jl Prissy," was counting into the HtacBi stage driver's palm a sum Id su-aii change from a portentous black wallet that fastened with a strap. "Good night," said the driver, pocket? ing the money, with a grunt and a jin? gle. Like the boy, he had been very careful not to step off the mat "Good night, Miss Tempy. Snow's lettin' np a little mite. Guess 'twill be clear by mornin'. Good night, Brad." The proinp lady closed the door be? hind him just in time to shut out the opening notes of the "Sweet By und By." Then she dropped the hook into the staple, wound the leather strap carefully about the wallet, placed the latter In a. compartment of a tall et est of drawers In the corner, turned the key upon it and put the key under the alabaster candlestick on the mantel. Then she turned to the boy, who, bold* I lng his carpet bag with both hands, still stood uneasily on the mat while the slim lady fidgeted in front of him. "Bradley," said the plump lady?she was aressed in some sort of black ma? terial that rustled and wore a lace col? lar, jet earrings and a breastpin with a braided lock of hair In the center of it ?"Bradley, we're real glad to see you. I'm Miss Prlscllla; this is my steter, Miss Temperance." "Yes, Bradley," coincided "Miss Tempy," "we're real glad to see you." She was the younger of the two and was gowned in what the boy learned later was her "brown poplin." Her hair was not worn plain, like her sls I tor's, but had a little bunch of curls over each ear. She also wore a hair breastpin, but her earrings were gold. Bradley shook the extended hands. Miss Prissy's red and dimpled and Miss Tempy's thin and white, with two old fashioned rings on the fingers. *Won't you?won't you set down?" rentered Miss Tempy after a rather awkward pause. "Why, yes, of course." said Miss Prissy, "and take your things right off -do." i Bradley placed the carpetbag on the corner of the mat and pulled off the shabby overcoat. The jacket and trousers beneath were also shabby, but it was at his shoes that Miss Prissy glanced, and, oddly enough, their con? dition served to break the formality. "My goodness me!" she ejaculated. "Jest look at his poor feet, Tempy Allen! Come right over to the stove this minute and take off those shoes. They're soppin' wet through." "No, ma'am," protested the boy. "They ain't, ??honest They only look so." "Don't tell me!" commanded Miss Prissy. "Go right over to the stove I this minute." Bradley reluctantly obeyed, stepping gingerly across the spotless oilcloth and taking as long strides as possible. It did not add to his comfort to see Miss Tempy shake the melting snow Into the center of the rope mat, fold the latter carefully together and dis? appear with It into the kitchen. Miss Prissy piloted him to the chintz covered rocker by the big "airtight" stove. Then she proceeded to unlace the patched brogans, commenting In an undertone upon the condition of the stockings beneath. "I'm 'fraid," said Bradley fearfully. **that I've got some snow water on your floor, ma'am." "Don't say a word. Thank goodness your feet ain't so wet as I thought they was. Put 'cm right on the rail of the stove there while I go up to the gar? ret and get those slippers of father's. I'll be right back." She hurried out of the room Just ss her sister entered It by the other door. "Now, set right still," said Miss Tem? py, bustling about with the steaming teakettle In her hand. "I'm goin' to make you some pepper tea. There's nothln' in the world like pepper tea when you're likely to catch cold." "Pepper tea" was a new prescription for the boy, and he watched with Inter? est while Miss Tempy turned some milk Into a bowl, flooded It with boil? ing water, added a spoonful of sugar and vigorously shook the pepper box over the mess. . "There!" she said. "Now. drink that, every drop. Ain't you hungry?" Bradley, with tears in his eyes, the result of the first swallow of pepper tea. gaspingly protested that he wasn't hungry, not very. The sight and smell of the loaded supper table were so tempting that the denial was rather half hearted. "Not very! When did you have any? thing to eat last?" "Mr. Bartlett-he's the s'leetmnn at Wellmouth?gave me a sandwich at the depot 'fore I started, ma'am, and I bought a turnover at Harniss." "My takes! Prissy"?to her sister, who came rustling in?"he hasn't St a thing but a sandwich and a turnover since morning. Now, come right over to the table, Bradley, aud set dow n." ^ro ie CMNTIRUXml Now They Don't Speak. Mary?Do you think it would be con? ceited for me to tell my friends that I made this dress i vself? Edith? Not conceited, my dear?superfluous. For Infants and Children. ALCOHOL 3 PER CENT. AVegclablerVeparationforAs sirailaling tlteFwdanillteijula I ting Uic S tomarits andBowels i; Infants/Children Promotes Di^3uon?heerfid ness and Itest.Contains neither 1 Opiimi.Morphine nor Mineral] Not Narcotic. jhcipt of ou Jtewcwrnwi Plmykln Seed' Aperfect Remedy forCorefipaj Hon?Sour Stowach.Dtarrto j Worms jCorrviilsionsievBn? ness andLoss of sleep. Exact Copy of Wrapper. and -TO WASHINGTON. D. C., ??, -VIA ATLANTIC COAST LINE. ACCOUNT INAUGURAL CEREMONIES PRESIDENTELECT T/FT. TICKETS ON SALE FEBRUARY 28th. MABCH 1st, 2nd AND 3rd, ?<TNAL LIMIT TO REACH ORIGINAL STARTING POINT NOT ;.ATER.THAN MIDNIGHT MARCH 10th. great military parade. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. RESERVATIONS. ETC.. CALL ON NEAREST TICKET AGENT OR WRITE, W. J. GR&'.G, Pas. Traf. Mgr. T. G. WHITE, Gen. Pas. Agt. Wilmington, N. C. Ill b a ? Seed ? Potatoes ? b m m m * m u b b m m m a b ? b * m m m m m * * ? b b * b B m a b b Bed Bliss, Irish Cobbler; Early Rose. These potatoes have been carefully selected and are as fine as we have ever seen. We can make you special price in quantity lots. Seed Corn Snowflake, Golden Dent, Extra Early Adams, Minnosota, White Cary, Landreth's Sugar, Country Gentleman, Early Mammoth, Evergreen, Late Mammoth, Onion Sets, g A Large Assortment to Select From. We have about 10 bushels ? Onion Sets left and are still m selling them at 10 cents a quart or $2.50 per bushel. ? - b Bean Seed. * - b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b Mohawk, Yellow 6 Weeks, Extra Early Valentine, Blaek Wax, Golden Wax, Dwarf Lima (Henderson) Dwarf Lima (Durpees) Case Knife White Dutch, Carolina or Sewee, Kentucky Wonder. All kinds of paper seed in Vegetable and Flower seed. SIBERT'S DRUG STORE.! b b b W. W. SlBERT, SSxitl^Miiri 8t. :: Telephone 288 _ BBBBBBBBBBBBHBBBBBBBBBBBBH Ring up No. 30?That's the Daily Item's Telephone number when you want to place an advertisement that will bring results.