University of South Carolina Libraries
Asfr ofrsshemAawdl Partnc tl b JOSEPH C LINCOLN, mi *W? Isf Copyright. IPO (Continued.) ," bo said. ?> Ising her band snd esawdlng It. "hawm't you got anything Sh? say to me?" ?be did not loot st him. "What shall ? fmjr she asked. "What do you want egss to eayr j ?Why. I thought you'd be glad that hTmm got the schooner off. I thought d say" "I am glad, very glad. And very fjreud But I knew you would succeel thelnt we better gor* I Bat he would not let her go. *1 hoped you'd say more than that.'* efcft said disappointedly. "I was drea 1 bloe the other night when Ban I thought that after ad, 1 was making a fool of myself Mt giving op the city and trying to wl o a** down here. It looked so small he esde the great jobs Bam talked about Xmtmt when yon spoke to me on the steps ejgad told me you believed lo me It all sod I swore to myself that I wtfl bees use you wanted me to. do you really carer Are you really ir she turned to him, and lie sa v ft eyes were wet ?What do 700 want me to sayT** slis That I am more glal than been In my life before, and ?jo gee od of you. so proud becauiie you brave enough to make jour flgl t win ft to the face of the whole fit IT Anw so ashamed of myself he I didn't encourage you as I when you first told me? I can all that Brad, and truly mean It." Gas?oh, Its no use! That Isn't 1 haven't got any money, aal only begun In my work, and I fait ?fter alt But Oos, will yoj for me? Do you care enough for was so wait and hope with me and mar* mm gee some day when I really win? 9a your' Be held her band In both of his and breathless, for the answer, ehe did not give It; Instead she st the window and through It be waring beach grass and the blue beyond. And Bredley, gating at face, saw the tears overflow bar and roll down her cheeks, turned white, snd a great dread over him. "Qua, don't you? you care for me7" he begged, djed then she turned and, leaning by head upon hie shoulder, cried heart Ig and without restraint "Why did ask me? Why did you?" she sob 1 bad to. Qua, don't yon aeT* Brad. I don't knew. I think I hut I'm not certain. I'm very, very of you, and I believe In you, oh, dear. I'm sfrald of myself, afraid of my temper; afraid I may afraid I don't really lote you I much as 1 ought to." There Isn't spy one else. Is there7" Mm smiled tearfully. "No, Brad, awe Isn't sny one else." ?Tien won't you tyy to say yes? er' ups you'll lesru to care for me. ft you say yes and try, dear?" ?Do you want me to any It. now that sa understand just how I feel?" -Tea." ?Do you went to take me Just tin 1 Bs- liking yon better than nnybody Ige la the world, but not - perhaps not t] loving you ss It seems to me s < tight to love the man who Is go sjr to marry her?" Tee." Tri s queer girl. Brad. Grandma I'm Mke ber best china teacups? I must be bandied carefully or there'll fee a smash. I guess that's so. I don't trust myself. 1 chsnge my mind five fJbaes a dsy. Do you wsnt me to say wee fu spite of all this?" "1 do " Tien I will say It, and I will try **? be what you would like to have lie bent his head snd kissed her. CHAPTER Xn. I It AI ?I.F.Y would hsve t v claimed his happiness through s speaking trumpet but Qua begged that the engagement be kept secret for awhile. "Please let gee feel s little surer of myself first," ehe pleaded, and Bradley agreed, as he would bare agreed to climb Bunker Hill monument on the outside If she had ssked him to The tug arrived the next forenoon, end the hull of the Roth Qlun was tswed up Into Orbam harbor. There ehe was anchored, where the getting of the rest of her cargo would be a ;ieratlvely easy taak. They worked with might and main st the end of a month, the Job dons. The last Joist was hitd upon the wharf. Obed Nickers >n expressed Mnwe'.f as surprised snd highly pie > ?cd ThHr sharo of the cargo'* value amounted to $'2\**\ and. all expenses dexin- te I. the profit to the partners was ever $.'. 000, *He4 so mean for two greenhorns In a float In* soup ladle." CrOWed the < :ip tain. "Hrad. how's the Jeremiahs dnja? Ain't lajrhjOfj H.ihl I told so' ylt. have they?" The underwriters' agent uns their friend now, and. Iggfldf ?>f another fort? night, he had pill ,\ J??'? In their 1 I] that hroflgl I I em !u *l;" more. Bhe a coasting schooner that had lided off tit i' ?Int. au I her skipper contemplated telegraphing t ? the esslvage company, but, thanks to Obcd's mm* 5fS of ie Tide 5. by A. 5. Barnes r> Co. recommendation, the chance was given ?for a much lower price, of course?to the Lizzie's owners. The vessel laid easy, with only her bows on the sand, and the anchors and cablet got her clear In three days. Then they went anchor dragging again and met with considerable suc? cess. All this was profitable, aa well aa good advertising, and the Lizzie's owners were doing well. Bnt they were ambitious and yearned for the day when they might undertake bigger things. Captain Titcomb was for or? dering a new and larger wrecking schooner Immediately. Bnt Bradley, more conservative, counseled waiting a little longer. "No nee saddling ourselves with a big debt to ttart with," he said. ?'Dead none' la thi meanest animal to pay for that I know of/' But, although the captain agreed to wait a little longer before ordering the new vessel, he announced that he waa going to keep his eyee open, and per? haps he'd strike a bargain some day or other. One evening a little later Bradley and the old malda were In the sitting room. Mlaa Prissy was much better and had, for the first time, donned a wrapper and come downstairs to sit In the big rocker. Miss Tempy was read? ing aloud to her, and Clara waa In the kitchen washing the supper dishes. "Tie earl bent his proud head,' read Miss Tempy, "'and gamed Into the clear bine orbs that met Ms own. "Claire,** be murmured In a deep, rich tone that vibrated through the heavy air of the gloomy cavern; "Claire, my beautiful, my own, poor and humble your ntatlon on earth may have been, but henceforth, tf we escape from the lurid flames of yonder volcano and the cruel blades of the merciless bucca? neers, yon shall no longer be the peas? ant maid, bnt my bride, my wife, mis? tress of Castle Craggy knoll; the peer "What's thatr she exclaimed, break? ing off suddenly. "What's whatr asked her sister drowsily. "Seems to me 1 heard somebody in the kitchen.'* "Clara la there, isn't she?" queried Bradley. M,Yes, but?1 thought?yes, there's somebody else. I do b'lleve It's a man! You don't s'pose she's got A beau? I'm goln' to see." And, before the others could remon stru.e, she put "the Comforter" on the table and started for the kitchen. They beaad her cross the dining room and or on the door. Then came an ex? clamation. "Why, 'why!** ahe cried; and then, "Well. I do declare!" "What do you s'pose 'tis?" asked Miss Prissy, now thoroughly awake. The kitchen door had swung to. but there was a great clatter of voices be? hind It Misa Tempy was exclaiming and arguing; Clara Hopkins, who was visiting the old maids durlug the ab seuce of her folks from town, appar? ently, was suylns very little, and a third person. In a deep bass rumble, was explaining something or other. "Land of goodness." or e? Miss Pris? sy. "I hope It ain't the minister, and me in this old wrapper!" The kitchen door was opened. Miss Tempy appeared beaming, and there followed her Into the sitting room DO less a personage than Captain Ezrn Titcomb. The captain's face was the least bit redder than usual, but he was otherwise as suave and unmoved as If the time of his previous call had been but yesterday Instead of four years before. "W*ll. Prissy,** he said, shaking hands with the Invalid, "how are yoti tonight? Moat ready to come on deck and take command? No, don't git up. Evenln', Brad.** Poor Miss Prissy! She patted her tumbled hair Into the most present? able shape possible, hurriedly pulled the red and white knitted "afghan" over the wrapper and managed to gasp that she was glad to see the captain. Then she sat still and stared reproachfully at Miss Tempy. But that lady was too excited to notice her sister's agitation. She flut? tered about the visitor like n hen with one chicken, trying to hang up his hat. dropping it. blushing violently as she collided with him In the attempt to pick it up and generally behaving, ns Miss Prissy said afterward, like n born gump. "Set right down, cap'n," she plondo:l "We're reel glad to see you. What made yon come to the kitchen dOOfl I couldn't think who 'twas, could you Prissy? Oh, my snkes!" In bor nervous hnsto she had pushed forwgfl tho big armchair thai hod BjftCi bOCl flu? throne of Captnln Dar! u?. but which, owing to tho Infirmities of age, had for some time been kept in tho uovnsf for iIkhv purposes only, it i?nd i freak leg, and when Captain Tltcesnli planted himself <?n tho worn black: oilcloth cushion the infirm mem her pfemntly hent Inward, and tho ? ' ifnlry t<? the flo >r. "Teno '" tgeUlmed Miss Prissy in a freoalnf; tone Bindley laughed and ran to ns^t tho fallen out, Mm Ttm< py. now in n perfectly helpless state. wniutr ggf hinds' nnil vtuM red. "The Men of gffhY him father's chair'" Pill 1 MlM PHsoy, "Tempy. hove you cotm lo mv? 1 hope you nln't hnrt, Cap'n Ezra. We never use that chair now. It used to belong to fa? ther." Miss Tempy was heard to remark, feebly, that It looked "so like him." She declared afterward that she didn't say it. The captain made light of the acci? dent and selected another seat, care? fully testing it beforehand. He at once began to talk about the weather and Miss Prlssy's illness. But the older sister interrupted him as soon aa the opportunity offered. "What made you come to the back door?" she asked. There wasn't an Instant's hesitancy in the captain's reply: "Oh." he said lightly, "it's rainln' a little,.and 1 thought I wouldn't muss up them floors of yours. I know them floors of old," he added, and laughed heartily. He continued to talk about the 'floors and seemed to think his fear of soiling them a great joke. Miss Tempy, who was a trifle more rational by this time, laughed with him, but Miss Prissy seemed still curious. "You used to come to the dlnln' room door, even when It snowed,** she said. "Yes, but I had on my sea boots this time, and they're so big I tote ha'f the road along with me. Reminds me,** he added hastily, just in time to cut off another question, "of what the old man ?my dad, I mean?said about a colored cook he had aboard his ship once. Dad said that darky's feet was the largest live things without lungs that he ever saw out of wster." Bradley thought he had never seen his partner so willing, even anxious, to monopolize the entire conversatloL as he was that evening. He cracked jokes and spun yarns without stopping to rest Clara came In, after a little, and seated herself quietly on the sofa. She, too, seemed a trifle nervous, but the sisters did not notice It. They were hypnotised by their caller's live? ly tongue and laughed like girls. Miss Prissy grew more like herself every minute. * "Don't go. cap'n," she pleaded, as the visitor pulled out bis watch and rose from the chair. "I declare, you're better'u the doctor P "Much obliged, Prissy, but *twas too much of a good thing that busted the the cider jug. Two opposition doc? tors In one house would be like the two Irishmen flghtin' for the pig?'twas an 'llegant row' while It lasted, but It killed the pig. No, I must be gtttln' on. I left my umbrella out in the kitchen. Clara, bring the lamp, will you, please?" Clara rose and started for the kitch? en, but Miss Tempy Intercepted her. "I'll git your umbrella, cap'n," she said. "No. no, jou set still! Clara knows just where 'tis; she put It away." "Well, I guess I can find It You needn't come. Clara. Yes, here 'tis. Good night, Cap*n Titcomb. I?I hope, now you've found the way, you'll call again some evcnln'. Bradley '11 be glad lo see you. und so will Prissy and? and 1. Good night" The captain wulked briskly down to the gate. Then, as the door closed behind him, he paused, wiped his fore? head with his coat sleeve and drew a long breath. There was Jubilation In the old maids' room that night. On Tuesday of the following week this telegram came: Boston, Mass. Bradley Nickerson. Orham, Mass. Come my ottlce immediately. ALPHEUS COOK. "Humph!" grunted Captain Titcomb. "Short and crisp, like the old woman's pie crust, ain't it? Well, Brad, I guess you'd better go." Bradley agreed with him and hur? ried home to pack his grip. He took care to tell Gus. She rejoiced with him over the triumph they both felt sure was coming. "You're succeeding. Brad," she said. "Everybody is talking about It I'm prouder of you than ever." "But when will you be willing to have me tell people thut we're en? gaged? Mayn't I do that now. Gus?" She paused, and his hopes rose, hut then she shook l.er bead. "It wouldn't be fair to you." she said. "Sometimes 1 feel that I almost?well, like you enough to Le content to stay in Orham all my life and work for you and with you. I'm trying hard to feel that way. But at other times it seems as If I must get away to where the people talk of something besides their neigh? bors' affairs; where there are great things being done and where the world moves. You think I'm Inconsistent, don't von?" "No, It Is dull down here, and most of the folks are rather narrow, I'm afraid. Gus, you know what my busi? ness means to me. Well. If It will please you and you will come with me. Til give It all up, even now. and go back to the city nnrt try it there." She smiled tenderly. "You're a dear, good hoy," she said, "but do yon sup? pose I should ever be happy again if I let you do that?" | The railway Journey to Boston had only one Incident worth notice. At j Buzzard's Bay the Boston train meets I that hound down the cape. There was some delay at the station, and Brad- ' ley stepped out on the platform. lie was walking up and down smoking when somebody shouted: "Hello, Brad j Nlckertonl What are you doing here'.'" Brad turned and saw Sam Ham? mond. "Well!" he exclaimed, shaking hands with hh old seat mate. "Where are v mi bound Orham?" "Y- p Row Is the oi l graveyard nnyv.-.v ?" "Pre ' quiet Just now. Most of the 1 summer folks have gone home. You on another vacation''" Bam laughed. "Kind of vacation a follow hm da out to himself." be an? pwcrod, "The wrecking company end I bad a row. They tried to put ten men's work on mo. and i wouldn't stand f >v It io 1 told 'em to go to the devil. |t ' 'cm In a hole, all right. but nobody's going to walk on my neck if I know It. I'm going home to loaf for nwhlle. I need a rest anyway. Thon I'll go bnok to Now York nnd hook on with another crowd. There's plenty of 'em wnnt me, but they can wait. How's all the girls? Gus Baker pretty well?" They talked for a few minutes long? er. Sam asked how the anchor drag? ging trust was getting on. Then the two trains started. Bradley leaned back in his seat in the smoker nnd meditated. Somehow a conversation with Sam always made him "blue." He wished the fellow was not going to Orham. Next morning, bright nnd early, he walked into the "coal king's" office. An important young man with a pen behind his ear disdained to notice him. "Who'd you wish to see?" he asked after a dignified interval. 'Mr. Cook?the older one," answered Bradley. "He's busy now: likely to be busy all the morning. What do you want to see him for? Won't I do?" 'Dont know, I'm sure," replied the wrecker gravely. "I'll speak to Mr. Cook about it. You see, be was the one that sent for me, so**? *He sent for you! Oh, excuse me. I wish you'd said so sooner. Sit down, please. What name, sir?** "Nlckerson, sir." The young man, much less impor? tant, honied into another room and re? turned at once. "Mr. Cook Ml see you, sir,** he said, opening the gate. "Step right Into his private office, Mr. Nlckerson." The great Mr. Cook was seated be? hind his big carved desk. The whole outfit looked rather formidable. He stared at Bradley over his glasses. "Sit down," he commanded. "Got my wire, I suppose?** "Yea, sir." "Well, what's your lowest price for the anchor and chain of the Liberty, which I understand you have buoyed, delivered on the Orham wharf? Low? est, mind. No trimmings!'* "Five hundred dollars.** "All right, you may take It up. Til give you four hundred cash for the job. Go ahead, and work quick. Good day. Nlckerson; glad to have met you.*' He swung around to the desk and picked up some papers. But Bradley did not go. "Excuse me, Mr. Cook," he said 'Our figure was five hundred, not four." "Humph! Well, five's robbery. Four's what I'll pay." "All light, sir. Sorry we can't trade. Good morning." "Hold ou there!" shouted the owner of the Liberty. "Do you mean you won't raise the anchor?" "Not for less than five hundred." "Split the difference. Make it four fifty?** "No, sir." "Oh, well, hang it, go ahead! Five hundred, then?only don't bother me any more." But Bradley still hesitated. "There Is just one thing more, Mr. Cook," he said. "That chaiu has sanded in every day since it has been on that bottom. "Stt dotcn," he commanded. We may not be able to get up tue whole of it. We warned your tugboat skipper who was down there to look matters over. We'll do our best, though." "Oh. you'll get it. I'd be willing to bet that you'd get up the everlasting foundations if you made up your mind to. Say, Nlckerson"?Mr. Cook put his hands in his pockets and looked quiz? zically at Bradley?"if you get sick of anchor dragging any time, come and see me. Have a cigar to smoke as you go along. Good day." Bradley was happy. He felt that when Cook & Son should have future wrecking contracts to give out Tit comb & Nlckerson might be considered as bidders to be reckoned with. <? T CHAPTER XIII. HERE!" exclaimed Captain Titcomb ten days later, when the last section of the Liberty's chain had been laid on orham wharf. "There, that child's born, and Iiis nnme's Adonlram! Now, then, Brad, what next?more anchor dragglu'V" Getting up that chain with a hand windless was a tough proposition, but they bad done It Anally. The calm weather helped them here, for, though the heavy links had sanded somewhat, they managed to work the last one loose after a struggle. Again the part? ner! bad longed for the much talked of schooner with an engine, but this time it was Bradley who did most of the complaining. The captain merely look el wise and winked knowingly, "Keep your head to wind'anl, son,"' be re? marked. "May "he I'll have a s'prise party for you some of these days." Bradley didn't know what he meant, and the captain wouldn't explain. In reply to the question concerning what was to he done nest the Junior partner, who was sitting ou an over? turned salt mackerel tub aboard the Lizzie, asked a question In "his turn. "Cap'n Kz," be said, "do you remem ber that schooner loaded with tar that foundered on the Mats off Caleb's point last March 1 The one wo located when we were dragging for Anderson's an? chor that tiiueV" j Captain Titcomb nodded. "Yup," lie said. "She b'longed to a Boston firm, j seems to me. Let's see?what was their names?" "Colton, Lee & Co. They are on Com? mercial street. Well, I went in to see 'em when I was up to Boston." "You did?" "Yes. That tar has stuck In my mind ever since you told me about It. It was in barrels, you see, and it's harder than Pharaoh's heart natural? ly, so the salt water hasn't had time to hurt it any to speak of. Obed told me that the schooner was insured and the cargo wasn't. So I thought I'd go In and see the owners. Well, they'd pretty nearly forgotten about the tar. I suppose it had been charged to profit and loss long ngo. We talked, and I told 'em that I might perhaps be able to save a few barrels?only a few, of course. The upshot of It all was that I bought tho whole carjm, 840 barrels, Just as it lies on the bottom, for $25 cash." "You didn't?" "I did. It wni ?25 more than they ever expected to get at* that. Now, cap'n, our agreement was that no new move should be entered into without the consent of both partners. This deal was so 'all In the air,' as you might say, thut I didn't say anything about It until I'd seen the owners. Now. If you feel that we can't raise enough of the stuff to pay for the trou? ble I'll let the twenty-five come out of my pocket and call It a fine for being too smart." "You shan't do no such thing. We can git out enough of that tar to make that up tvice over, even with the back number rig we've got But if we had a divin' kit and a diver I'd be wlllln* to bet we could save two or three hun? dred barrels, maybe more." "That's what I thought. So I spent nearly th*ee hours cruising up and down Atk ntic avenue and rummaging in ship stores and such places. And, Cap'n Ezri, I know where we can buy a complete fit out second hand?pumps, pipes, divor's suit and the whole busi? ness, in A\ shape, so far as I cau see? for $350. Just for a flier I paid $10 and got an option on it for a week." "No? Ton didn't? Brad Nickerson, here's where the old man takes his hat off. You're got me beat, hull down. I'll be aside' you for a mate's job yit. Three hundred und fifty! Dirt, dog cheap!" "I'm glad you feel that way, cap'n. Of course a diver '11 he expensive. The salvage company will charge us any? where from $15 to $20 a day for a good one. Aud there's where I'm afraid th i; whole speculation falls down. We don't know how that tal? lies, whether the hull's broken up, whether the barrels are sanded over of not It might take so long to get it out that we'd lose money." The captain, with both hands jam? med Into his pockets?1?3 beckets, he called them?was pacing up and down. "I've got your diver, hoy!" he cried. "That is, I've got him if you say the word. Five dollars a day, too, in? stead of fifteen." "Whore In the world"? "Right here in Orham. And lie's hr I p e...y experience. What's the tor nr.th Han Haaaiiiendr" "Sam ?ammoud! Sam?why, Cap'u Ez, what are you talking about? Sam told DM himself tliat he'd come home to rest, lie's going back to New York I lu a little while. He wouldn't work i for us!'' I "Wouldn't, hey? Brad, 'twas the fel ; ler with one le^ that was too religious to dance. Sam's out of a job. Maybe ! he tired the boss; mayl>e the 1m>ss fired j him. AU I know is that he told me bist night he'd dive for us at $5 per. Course he'd only do It to help us out, but that's all right. .1 don't care if there's a hole in 'the cookies are inside." And so that is how Samuel Ham? mond, late of the Metropolitan Wreck? ing company of New York, came to en? ter the employ of Titoomb & Nieker son, to whom he had contemptuously referred as "anchor draggers." But if Bradley supposed for a moment that Sam would change his patronizing at? titude because of the move he was much mistaken. Mr. Hammond laugh? ed when he boarded the Lizzie, asked facetiously if "this was the vessel or I only the long beat?" and poked fun at the whole outfit generally. He gave each member of the crew to under? stand that he was only doing this for awhile to help out Brad. Ho said that puttering around this way was such a change for him that it was the best fun of his vacation. He took palm, to make his position plain in the minds of the townspeople. Captain Jabez Bailey told Bradley in a confidential whisper: "It's mighty good of Sam to turn to and help you and Ez out of a hole. I hope you appre ? date It." Bradley said he appreciated It fully. Even Qua was Inclined to view the matter in that light Sam saw to it that she did. He called at the Baker homestead pretty often and when Bradley was there treated the latter in a jolly, good fellow sort of way that couldn't well be resented, but which had always In it that aggravating fla? vor of pitying patronage. Bradley felt that he was placed in an awkward and humiliating position. He told Gus so plainly. "Gus," he asked, "do you think it's fair to allow Sam to call here as he does P A more experienced ladies' man Captain Titcomb, for instance?would not have selected this particular even? ing to bring up this particular subject Gus was in one of her uncertain moods. She had refused to be serious before, and she was not serious now. "Why, Bradley NlckersoDl" she ex? claimed, with a laugh, "I do believe you're jealous!" "No, I'm not Jtnlw s~"**t*T. But why do you let him (on e ! ere V "Brad, don't you trust me?" "Of course, I trust you." Zto hk ciNTixmesw] A New Sensation. Mrs. Bullion?I wish I knew some j thing to do that would provide me with i an absolutely new sensation. Mr. Bul j lion?Go out and pay cash for some j thing.?Life. " Windmills. Windmills were invented and used j by the Saracens. J ] -The Daily Item ? Read by nearly all the city's entire population (6 days out of every week) is one of the best adver? tising mediums in the State. Place Your Ad and be Convinced. ?THE WATCHMAN AND SOUTHRON The best Semi-Weekly County newspaper in the State. It reach? es the buying class imcng the farmers of Sumter, Lee and Clarendon counties, and is a "SURE WINNER." Our Ads are Attractive and Bring Results.