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Partite tl ? ? ? ? ? ? JOSEPH C LINCOLN. ?I -???'* BrT P Copyright. 19a (Continued..* ?"Tnoror he cried In triumph after boor* of bard work. "Brad, come d fcrpooe one of tbem mean tneak tries to boat Into that cabin, pry the ?Uple off that padlock can't be? Tos. but the way that li sow *twon't open fur enough ?o climb down; bo't got to open And that door's got on It dollar pataut lock that can't %t opened without the key. and no ten whistle down the barre key el The key that'll open thai has lace i* oa It. Too hoar me! and I've off the knob on the Inskls of the go It oaa't bo worked that way. i whan wo want to go home we to too hatch and lock It with the get j let i Thon wo jest slam the door, if There yon are! A tpilng lock, that for high? Thou deration! tVa loft the key Inside!" sVavhlly the key was lying oa the top of the cabin stairs, and taey were to roach It with a fishhook on the on* of a stick. QtMtiij op the tar with Ule aid of "flggt patent windlass and the angine sjaw srmpry fun. They took oat all they ejewftd bring op through the liatchway egad theo began blowing out the tide ejf fee butt with dynamKe. The ezplo dtoo wot stored In the Diving Bella's behind a bulk* sad with small manhole In It and was hazed la to prevent accident. itgoiMT*! whole Interest In life now kg Ids work. Oos ht? had not with since the nigtit of the hoi. In fact, only toot her at t , while on toard the mag pica tont and, to all an? as friendly at Bradley lit ham ba, bot from Captain OJMl from other eoasldtr?te and ttvteg tools the yonhr partner lint Hamtaood wit now a at tho Baker 01 OHAPTim XT. III! had goon a month of mt woath or, hot hi tho night of Nor. 1 Brad lay woks u> foot tho n t rambling and to hoar tho tho roof OTorhead gftnt rattling? against tho windows. trhiie ho wan drtsslng ho hoard ^toasts kg tho road bolow and, opening ^nnt window, taw Jhn Bogors, the nth fitting la hit wagon with tho arolrind from tho peak of bis ton' and, carrying on a tbootod con with Mrs. Bakar. it did you say 'twas, Mr. Rog sgoir* acrearned tho oM lady, speaking Onrengh tho closed blinds of her cbam mmr window. ^bo Freedom- big tlz matted coal awrge. She's high and dry on the Bo tort lack. Hawser parted. The tug's "OrrhV to git bcr off dow, bnt Cap'n Jlnowles telephoned Sam Hardy that "Ihwan't no use.'' 1 nwadkrr didn't hear the last part of 'too conversation He ttruggled into (it clothes, and then, putting on bit ?Oteaklns, ran out of tho house and down imm road. aVndley'a objective point waa the ne wanted to see Hard] learn the particulars, but Cnpt iln ?b wat Ihere before him. They at the door. The captalu'a eyes thinlng. ?Votes on. Brad!" he said. "I was goln' to send for you. 1 know all it It ' He told the story nt they walke?! to wharf In ths pourlug rain, it was Rogers bad said. The great barge In titter of the Liberty, was ou bcr from Boston t j New York under The storm had corns up une* Bortodlj, tnd the hawser bad par led. Mow the wat fast on the Razorback Trimustee!" exclaimed the captain. "?Wont she be a job! Bral, Brad. If yon and me could only have tho ?Chance!" Alvln Bearse. who boarded nowaday*, at the boose of s relative In Orbam, was alretdy on board the Diving Belle when tlie partners reached her. "She*! bard tod fatt for iure." mut ?and Captain Tltcornb when they gonchod the bnlk. "Five thousand toot of coal Inside of ber and thlt northeaster drlvln' her farther on OTory minute. I twan to man. Brad, she's there for awhile! No tug?nor throe tugs, fur's that goes?can haul her off 'Meml>er what I tald when the Liberty come to netr landln' where aha ItT It't tn anchor and cable Job, and we can do that as well as anybody and cheaper than the bin fellers. If they'll only let us try! By crlmustee. they've got to That evenliiK the train brought rep rosentntlves of three larg? wrecking companies to Ortwun The younger Mr. Cook came also. The partners saw him, but he would give tl cm no sat lafsctlon. "You must come to Boston tomorrow If you wnnt to bid." he tald. Hut I tell you frankly, price Isn't the only tiling -we must he satisfied that the Job ran be carried through." It waa evident that he didn't believe they could handle It. But Bradley and tho captain were certain they could handle It If the chance wat given them. Seventy men, at least, would be nee led. and to house and feed them was the problem. The Boston Selvage company had lighters and barges for this purpots and they had not. But there wat tin big shanty at tho Point, the one In which the pic 2 S. by A- $. Barnes &? Co. * ? zj) nlc had been held. Thirty men had lived and slept there before. By build? ing new bunks and slinging hammocks twice that number at least could find room. The rest must occupy other shanties or come up to Orham at night. The partners schemed and figured un? til nearly 4 o'clock In the morning. One pX theni_.must jpo, to Boston that day. The captain said Bradley ought to go because Cook knew blra, but the Junior partner didn't agree. "You go, Cap'n Es," he aald, with decision. "You're a better bargainer than I am, and it'll take a good talker and a clever trader to land this job In the faee of the competition. Oo, and good lock be with yon!" Bo the captain went on the first train. He promised to telegraph as soon as a decision wae reached. But no telegram came that day. All the next forenoon Bradley hung about the station waiting. The noon train arrived; no captain, and still no word. Be determined to wait until the even? ing train arrived, and then, if the cap? tain didn't come, to telegraph. Bnt the first man off the train was Captain Tit comb. "Didn't get it, hey?" asked Bradley. "Oh, I got It! Yes, 1 got It! Now. don't ask any more questions here. Come on down to my room." He was silent all the way to the Traveler's Rest and, for a man who had Just secured the greatest contract of his business life, seemed strangely downcast. When they reached the room he locked the door and threw his overcoat and hat on the sofa. "Well," he said slowly, "I made Boa loo all right and stood for Cook 4 Bono' under foil canvas. 1 balled the young squirt with the hay on his upper lip and asked him If the old man was In. "What do you want to see him tor?* says he. 'Son,' says I, *you trot along like a good little boy and toll the old man that the feller that's gohV to git the Irsedsas off Orham shoal Is out here.' That kind of fetched him over with a tint and he went In and told Oook. In a minute ont he comes and pilots me Into the skipper's state? room. *1 collate Oook was expecttn' to see another feller. 'Are yon from the Sal? vage company T says he. 'No,' says I. takln' a chair; 'my name's Tltcomb. I'm from Orham. My partner's a young feller name of Nlckerson. He's the one you picked out to lift the Liberty's anchor that time.' Well, that way of puttln' it made him laugh, and he told me to go ahead and spin my yarn, only be quick. I spun It, but 1 ain't sartln that I was quick. I never talked so afore In my life, though I've beat It once sence. When I hove an chop fln'lly be sayi, 'Cap'n, there's' notiln' the matter with your nerve, Is thei^eT 1 told him no. I hadn't had to lake physic for It. 'Well,' says he. Td like to give you the job, but you nln t big enough. This ain't anchor draggin'.' "Then I got after him* again, told him about the new schooner, drew a diagram of the shonl and lnnde It plain Jest how she'd got to be got of If 'twas done at ull and tint we could do It as well as anybody else lu the world and a whole lot Qtoaper. At lust he told me to come lu and see him again late that afternoon. "I was round on time, you bet! The hay lip chap told me the old man had gone for the day. but that he'd left word that 'twas no use; our firm won't big euough for the Job. Says I to bay lip. 'Where's the old man live He didn't know, belli' a good liar. I asked htm lu an Interested sort of ?-uy if he was dead sure where he lived himself and went out to paw over the directory. Inside of an hour 1 wan ou an electric car bound for Brook line and Cook's home. "Pretty soon down comes Cook lu a swaMortall coat. He looked mad. 'Is It you?' he says. 'Didn't you git ray message?' I told him I'd got It. but that 'i wouldn't be fair to him to let jat end It. Pretty soon young Cook come iu. and he listened too. "Fln'lly the old man says. Well. Tlt? comb. what's your Agger?' I told him what you und me bad agreed ou. He seemed surprised, 1 thought. Then he end hie son went Into the uext room and talked. When they come luick he says, 'Tltcomb, you've got the perse? verance of the devil or that partner of yours.' Put you lu good company, hey, Brad? 'Your price, I don't mind telliu' you,' he goes ou, Ms lower than any one else has given. If you were a big ger concern I guess I'd give the Job to you. Anyway, you come in and sei? me to-norrer.' "We'l, this morn in' 1 was at his o lire when the doors opened. And thoiv 1 set until after 2 this uflernoon. A lei ler from the Salvage eoinpnny conic In while I was there, and so did one from the South Boston tug people. They went into Cook's room and come out again. Kln'lly the old man scut for me. He mid his son were there together. 'Tltcomb.' says he, 'I'm a fool, und I know It, butj'mjjoln' to let you try to glt the Freedom clear.' That wan t all he said. He went on tc tell me that lu glvin' us the Job he was rlsklu' u brand now vessel worth $80, 000. 'Mind,' he says, 'I b'lleve you cau do It If anybody cau, but I won't risk another cent. 1 won't pay by the day. I'll give you llft.OOO when she's off the shoal and towed to Boston, but 1 won't pay a red uutll she Is. It's got "What do you want to see him fort*1 say* he. to be a contract Job, payment on deliv? ery of the goods.'" Bradley's face fell. "Of course that settled It," he said. "You couldn't ac? cept such an Idiotic offer as that." Captain Ezra took his cigar from his mouth. "Well, Brad," he answered so? berly, "that's what I did; I accepted it" , "Now, Csp'n Ez, look here! You and 1 have put almost our last copper into the new schooner. We're got practical? ly no ready money. We must hire from seventy to a hundred meu at $3 a day and pay them every week. We must feed 'em. We must spftid money fit? ting up the shanty to lodge 'em in. It'll take, maybe, a month before we get her clear?it we do clear her. We may have to spend five or six thousand before then. Where's the money com? ing from?" "I kuow all that We'll mortgage the Diving Belle and raise the cash." "Are you out of your head? We've been lucky so far aud haven't had a failure. But failures are bound to come. Suppose we work on this barge for a month and then a heavy gale strikes." "But, Brad, think of what it means to us If we make good." "Cap'n Sk, we got that job because nobody else would take it that way. We can do it if anybody can, not no? body else would be fool enough to gamble against the Lord Almighty's weather. We'd be called fools from hero to Provinoetown." The captain drew a long breath, "All right" he said gloomily. "Maybe you're right Brad. It Is a craay gam? ble, I s'pose, and I was afraid yon'd see It that way. Only yon must make op your mind to this?if we give up this chance we most settle back and be uothln' but anchor draggers the rest of our lives. We've flunked once, and, no matter how good the reason Is, no more big Jobs '11 come our way. But If we make good?whew!" Now It was Bradley's turn to hesi? tate. There was some sense In what his partner said, but It was playing against odds and with the last dollar on the table. Suddenly Bradley spoke. "Oh, hang It, what's the odds?" he exclaimed reck? lessly. "Go ahead, cap'n! I'll sink or swim with you!" Captain Ezra grasped his hand. "I I swore you would," he cried. "Son, I tbJs Job's gotn' to make us!" Bradley's laugb was short and rather hitter. I "Yes," he snld, "make?or break." _ CHAPTER XVI. SFwlT was close to daybreak when j 1 ] the partners separated. They ^Sgl had planned and figured and estimated, and each now knew what his part In the great flght was to lie. As he was leaving Bradley ashed the captain how, Id his opinion, Obed Nlckerson had learned that they had the contract. "Phoned the Salvage company," re? plied Captain Ezra decidedly. "I'll bet on lt. Von see. Brad, this Job's a big one. und the salvage folks might have figured there was sugar enough in It to drop a lump iu friend Obcd's tea? cup providln' he stirred up their spoon. Well, good hlgbt Of good mornln', rather. It's double or quits with us , this time, son. for surlin, but If Tit comb & Nlckafsan do go under It'll lie with colors flyln'." Within the week Setuckit Point, from a lonely, gull haunted sand pit, Lnbstat? ed only by the life saving crew and the lighthouse keeper und his family, be? came a small town, the population of which left each morning for the Razor back shoal and returned at night to eat aud sleep In the big shanty and those surrounding It. Captain Tltcomb saw the people at the Wellmouth bank and placed a mort? gage on the Diving Bolle. As the partners owned her free and clear, he was able to get her cost price, $."?000. Placards announcing that men were Wanted nt once and at $3 a day and board were hung in the postofflces and railway stations la Orham. S >uth Or hauj, west Ilarniss. 11 amiss Center, Wellmouth and other towns; also an advertisement appeared in the Item. The response was Immediate, Work at good wages was scareo in the win? ter months, and men Came from twen? ty miles away to obtain It. The Diving Belle carried them down to the Point. There, under Barney Bmall'l supervision, some set to work building extra bunks In the big shanty, slinking hammocks, putting up .stoves ?the partners bought live secondhand ranges- and making three neighboring abandoned fishing huts inhabitable. The rest worked over the stranded coal barge, gel ting out the anchors, strip? ping htr of all unnecessary Ironwork and ringing and preparing to bring the coal from her bold and dump It over? board. (To Be Continued.) Home men outlive their usefulness and others never have any. CRAZY SNAKE IS SURROUNDED. Deputies Surround Indian Band And Capture Eight. Oklahoma City. Okla.. March 29.? Chlttl Harjo (Crazy Snake) was sur xounded at midnight in the north Canadian bottoms near Pierce. Three hundred militiamen, cowboys and deputies were closing in on him and his capture was expected at daybreak. Oklahoma City, Okla., March 29.? A detachment of Crazy Snake's band of belligerent Indians was surround? ed by deputy sheriffs this afternoon near Crazy Snakes' homo, and a live? ly battle followed. More than 200 shots were fired and one Indian was killed. Eight Indians were captured and the remainder fled with the dep? uties in pursuit. There were about 15 Indians in the band and they had taken refuge in a bouse. The deputies had tracked them for some distance. Advancing from all sides, the posse fired a volley at the frail house. Tho 1mlUns rushed out, scattered amow the treees and made a valiant de? fense. The posse, firing steadily, ad? vanced and routed the band. None of those captured is seriously injured, but it is raid that a number of o*hor Indians were hit with bullets. Crazy Snake's band apparently has broken up Into^ numerous bmall groups. It seemed at nightfall that each xiidian was trying to accomplish his own escape without regard fo.* tho grand dreams of the chieftain to real? ize which they were called together Sunday by the smoke of the signal fires. All efforts at organized re sistance have been dropped. The militiamen, too, scattered 'n bands, and invaded the hilly wooded region of the Creek nation in a de? termined effort to hunt down both ? leaders and members of the bands. The soldiers soon captured eight members of Crazy Snake's forces. Among those arrested are Little Ti? ger, a sub-chief, and Simla Harjo. The latter is not related to Chlttl Harjo. Host of these were heavily armed. The captives were started for the militia camp at Hickory Ground un? der heavy guard. Orders were issued that the search be kept up and num? erous parties went out during the early hours of the night to jpuud up the renegades. The Indian killed by the posse was the only fatality of the day reported to Col. Hofman. who is in comamnd of the State troops. There are numerous rumors of en? gagements. One story was that a posse of farmers near Checotah fought a large band of negro rene? gades and killed 20. This and similar reports can not be confirmed. Deputy Sheriff Frank Jones today leported that he believed his posse had part of Crazy Snake's band sur? rounded, including the chief himself. This gave rise to a story that the Snake leader was killed. No confirm? ation of this could be had, and it probably is Incorrect. Tonight it was thought that Crazy Snake had carried out his last night's Intention of taking refuge in the Hickory hills, and that he was re? ported there by some of his chief fol? lowers. Despite all the talk about Crazy Snake, officers have yet to find any? body Whoh as seen him since Sunday morning. Their only belief that he is commanding the Indians personal? ly is based on the Information chok? ed out of his son by deputies yester? day when they hanged him by the neck until he expressed an anxiety to talk. . SPRING STYLES 44 WALK-OVER" OXFORDS. The Sumter Clothing Company. NEW DESIGNS. LATEST STYLES. POPULAR PRICES. There can be no doubt ?the place to buy diamonds, watches, jewelry, cut glass, silverware, wedding presents, gift goods is at Thompson's,'the Jeweler. I have a Graduate Optician in charge of my optical department. Having bought out Dr. X. F. Highsmith we do the best work at reasonable prices. All work guaranteed. W. A. Thompson, 1 Phone 333. 6 S. Main St. LIQUOR MEN STAUT FIGHT. Mary lander May Attend Gathering In Cincinnati. Cincinnati, March 27.?The liquor interests of the country are about to start a fight in the State and Federal courtti which will make a new and more thorough test of their rights un? der the Constitution than has any previous litigation In all the years of the battle against the liquor traffic. Circular letters have been received by local brewers and distillers asking their co-operation in a m. eeting soon to be held in this city to formulate plans for the fight. % While the circulars c^uld not be secured for publication, it Is etated j that the liquor people will ask the courts "to determine whether a brew? er distiller who has invested millions In real estate that cannot be remov? ed can be legally deprived of his rights." The question is to be raised particularly in the States where there is State-wide prohibition. Especial reference is made to Tennessee, where it is said millions of dollars invested in such property has been lost. It is asked that the distillers and brewers of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York each designate a representative to become a member of a general committee to assist in the formulation of these plans and decided upon an equal as? sessment to carry on this fight. CARNIVAL IN MANNING. Amusement Seekers Having a Good Time This Week. Manning, March 29.?The Carnival is here in full blast and this corres? pondent is gratified in being able to say that it is a clean, reputable, re? fined show, and deserves, as It will surely obtain, the patronage of amusement seekers. It is the Mary? land Amusement Company No. 1, owned and under the management of Mr. E. S. Wolcott. Entertainments consist in part of high diving from a height of 110 feet, performed by Capt. William Kennell. revolving break-away lad? der and trapeze, Ferris wheel, merry go-around, and five big shows. This Carnival has a large number of men and women in their service, and no questionable amusement or gambling or any games of chance permitted on the grounds. A woman saves mony for a rainy day in order that she may buy silk stockings. "WALK-OVERS" For Spring . $3.50 & $4. Tlie Sumter Clothing Company. FINDS COSTLY MISTAKE. Iowa (Congressman Says Tobago Consumers Have Paid 4S Millions Too Mudi for the Weed. Washington, March 30.?What is designated as a "Joker" that cost the consumers of tobacco in this country nearly $45,000,000 was found today in the existing revenue laws of the United States by Representative Dawson, of Iowa, who at once Intro? duced a bill to correct the error. Under the Dingley tariff law the two-ounce packages of the tobacco sell to the consumer at five cents each and the four-ounce packages at ten cents. In 1898 a war revenue tax of six cents a pound additional was levied on tobacco. At the same time, in order to serve the convenience of the trade, authorization was given for the reduction of the sizes of packages from 2, 3. and 4 ounces to 1 2-3, 2 1-2 and 3 1-3 ounces, thus enabling the smoker to procure a five-cent and a ten-cent package of tobacco "at the store." In due time the war revenue tax was repealed. Somebody forgot, Mr. Dawson believes, to restore the pack? ages of tobacco to the original sizes, and hence ever since 1902 the con? sumer of tobacco has been paying the equivalent of the war revenue tax to the manufacturers of tobacco. Representative Dawson figures out that the purchaser of each small package has been mulcted out of one cent, and the purchaser of the 1 larger of two cents, and hence the "Joker" has cost the consumer $45, 000,000. i Mr. Dawson's bill proposed to re? store the packages to the original sizes. GREENVILLE WILL NOT GO BROKE. Greenville, March 27.?Late this afternoon the Hon. Jos. A. McCol lough, city attorney, handed down a decision to the effect that the Maul din bill will not apply to Greenville this year, because of the fact that the levy was made for this year before the bill became effective. City coun? cil will follow his decision and dis? regard the law. It is not known that a test case will be made. CASTOR IA for Infant? and Children. Tbl Kind You Han Alwin Bought The Suintcr Clothing Company. INVESTIGATE THIS -& ?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 among the farmers of Sumter, Lee and Clarendon counties, and is a "SURE WINNER." _i Our Ads are Attractive and Bring Results. _&-: