The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, April 24, 1909, Image 3

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H Partivc b JOSEPH C LINCOLN, ?4 T*?'a td tl Copyright. 190! (Continued.) captain's energy eomethlng ?ful. A nervous tian by nature, kg lew from one end of the Freedom Sg the otter, commanding, helping, hur Wlth the men be was always and eure of success, but ouce a while, alone with bis partner, be hit real feellngn. One morn I before turning In bo went ashore telephone. When he came back he Bradley aside and said: "Bred, Bam says the gov'ment weather folks are forutellln' a big for day after tomorrer. It's from the south and Ml strike about then. It's a terror, they gery. It worrlea me. Tu more ecart eg? a gale of wind jest now than I am at the Old Harry blmtet?." The junior partner locked troubled. If thafe what's distressing \T ha observed. "Pelcg bat ?earn after me * ar since the fire. Bayt tars got eomethlng to tel. me." "He's been pstearin* mo too. I ain't had ho Bm?To Tl?ea 1o "hit yams. Ie**t eee him.* They sent for the weather prophet urn* appeared, dirtier thai. ever. "Look Pet eg." was the cap tain's saluta -What do wa feed you for? 't tat gor'ment wi either sharp i' oat t gala, an you ain't peeped. Tea* 11 here to put space on your tec test eight or we*B snip a aew prophet etat or r other." Mr. atyrtck wat trout led. "Now. On/a Bs," he protested It an aggricv tJi tone, "ain't I been tnln* to git at fem or Brad for four days or more? 1 there wat a blow comln*. She's i' a-biltn' too, And ( don't need nut her." / Bumph! Brad, thai It Iba devil and tent tt? TharU do* Peleg." Oap'n Bs, there11 eo me thin' I wanted to tall you. pv rer mind now. Put It on Ice. fuleg ? \" but with reluctance, la kept looking back and shaking hit Captain Ezra's face wat very in, Hie forehead wi Ink led, and a palled hie mustache nervously. "By erlmuateer he muttered. "We got to do tomethln' quick. 1 yoa don't take any stock in l, but If that gale does come we're higher *n the latin truck, loosenln' up eo now that a tug it help ua. 1 can git a little one Vineyard Haven, ikipper, en and all. for $40 a dar." "But they won't work on spec." "Ho. I'm going to Wellmouth to see fee bank folks. I'll tell em that If Chary ever hope to git back the rest of the money they lent on the >lvlu' Belle fJaay mutt risk enough to pay for that tag. I'm goln' now." "But you've been op all night Let tat ga Too turn In." Tutu In be durned! I'd uleep about aa wound at an eel on a ferch book. 1 can turn In when I can't do anything eta* Good by. Put in your spare time teuytu' for me. will your He went to Wellmouth. eaw the peo? ple at the bank and, as be uald, "talk? ed from ble boots up." At 12 o'clock af the follow:.,* day the Utile tug put ta tn appearance. She got a grip on Ose Freedom's bow and pulled with the The expected gale did not come that ftay. bot the neit afternoon the sky area overcast and the sun disappeared behind angry clouds. It was blowing when Bradley, worn out went bit berth at 0 o'clock. He had rht against going at all, but Cap? tain Tltcomb said: "Put In an hour or two anyway. I'll call you If you're wanted." He called btm before the second hour up. "Corns on deck, Bradl" be excitedly. "That sou'easter's on 9Jsp road, and It's backlu' up the big Vest tide ever 1 saw. Tiln't high water till 2. but she's pretty nigh as sigh ss usual now." The junior partner hurried on deck. The wind wee einging in thn rigging, aad tbe waves were rushing pact the barge, slnpplug furiously a: her ae they passed. Tbe night wan a dead Mack, and the surf on the ocean aide of the Point boomed like henry artll "I've eent ashore for the dry shift" said the captain. "We've got to make aur fight now. Looks es If 'twas our tset chance, and a mighty slim one." The dories brought the tired men from the beach. They bad worked hard all day. but they were ready to work atlll harder now. They realized it one way or another, fbla was the of tbe big job. The little tug. bouncing up and down an the wnvee, was throwing b?r whole weight no the tow line. Alvlu Rearse etond by the donkey engine ready to take In every Inch of Ute cable. The partners were in the bow. The bucketa were flying from the hold. "She tr.iin.si n heap last title inur mured the captain. "Tills extry high water aud the wavee ought to help her like fun. 'tut I'm 'frald 'tnon't bo enough, and tomorrer tbe sou'easter '11 land with both feet " Waiting wna the hardest thing. A half hour seemed longer than an or? dinary day. Tbe wind gained in force little by little The tide crept up the barge's aide. At 1 o'clock It waa far higher than It bad ever reached before, and eo powerful wae Ite rush that the huste bull quivered In its grasp. Tbe ie Tide V by A. ft. Barnes C*? Co. 8 i 0 ?????S)O)?O)?0?^ water, seen by the lantern's light, was the color of chocolate, streaked and marbled with lines and eddies of foam. Half past L The captain put his watch In his pocket and wiped bis fore? head. Tknow bow it feels when you're waitln' to be hung," be observed. "Thirty minutes for the firm to live. Brad; then"? A mighty blow from a wave, a trem? ble and then a roll The lanterns In the rigging spun around In circles. The Eon on the deck and below fell in tape. The Freedom lifted, straight* ened and then began to rock In her cradle. The cables sagged Into loops. Their silent partner, the tide, had come to the firm's rescue. Bradley got upon his foot "Hau! taotr bo screamed. Before the order was given Bearee was back at bis en? gine. The windlass shrieked. Captain Tltcomb roared through his speaking trumpet The tow boat shot forward, then back* her screw thrash? ing the water. The little Ton and I bobbed beeide bor. Bbe was pulling too. And then a long, scraping, breath leas Interval. A halt, a shock, and, pushing a wall of sand before nor, the Freedom plunged Into deep water. There was no cheering. A subdued murmur. Dko a sigh, came from the crowd on her dock. Men drew sooty arms across wot foreheads and looked at each other without speaking. She wee off the shoal, bot far from being out of danger yet She must be got over Into the deep hole behind the Point where she could safely ride out the coming gale. And to get her Into this baron there wee only the tittle tog to depend upon. Could the tiny craft do It In that wind and sea? If not then the barge would almost sure? ly drag her anchors, would strike again, and then?well, then all the work and the triumph so nearly won would count for nothing. They brought ber up to her anchors out in the middle of the channel There they waited for the tide to turn. The silence was heartbreaking. Only now and then did any one speak. In clusters by the rail they stared at the big wares and the foam streaks glid? ing by. At last Captain Tltcomb snap? ped his watch case shut and shouted through his trumpet The towboat puffed Into position. The anchors were lifted from the bottom. The time for the final test had come. Then the little tug showed what she was made of. Coughing, panting like a bulldog straining at a chain, sbe pulled at that hawser, and, slowly at first but gaining headway as she moved In the dead water of the slack of the tide, the Freedom followed ber through the channel around the edge of the shoal Into the cove and safety. At ten minutes to 4 that morning the last big anchor was sent down. "There!" shouted Captain Tltcomb. "She'll stay where she is now If it blows hard enough to frazzle out a handspike. Boys, the Job's done. Knock off!** They answered him with a cheer tint woke the cat from his sleep beneath the stove st the lighthouse. The tug took them to the Point. Tbey perched all over her. heeuless of the cold and the flying spray. Tbf men were wildly excited over the un expected good luck. They cheered tike partners again and again and gave three groans for the "quitters," mean? ing Mr. Clark and bis friends. Peleg My rick was bearing bis concertina to safe quarters in the shanty? and they insisted that he should play it Peleg protested that It was too wet for music on board that tug, bot they threatened to heave the "push and pull planner" overboard If be didn't play. "Play somethln' we can sing," order? ed Bill Taylor. Peleg struck np a doleful dirge of the sea. It was loaded to the gun? wale with wrecks and disasters. "Belay that!" cried Barney Small. "We don't want no come-all-ye's. That's the tune that soured the milk. Give us a hoe down." The musician considered; then he burst Into the air that every fisherman knows: "The grub Is In the galley, and the rum la in the jug Storm aloug, Johnt John, ?tonn along! Tho aklpper's from Hyannla, and he glvea ua bully mug? Storm along, storm along. John!" "Chorus!" howled Barney, waving bis cap. They joined lu with a whoo;>: "Storm along, John! John, atorm alonjj! Ain't I glad my day's work'a done! Storm along, John! John, storm along! Ain't I glad my day's work'a done!'' Bradley stood by the back door of the big shanty, looklug out at the storm. The first sickly light of morn? ing was streaking the dingy, tumbled sky. Inside the building the men were keeping up their celebration. No one had suggested turning In. Cantalu Tltcomb came around the corner. "There you are, hey!" ne ex? claimed, with a breath of relief. "Blamed If I didn't begin to be afraid you'd tumbled overboard. Well. son. we did It, by crlmus! We did it. thanks to the good Lord for Hcndiu' that whoopin* big tide. Tlte ?ml? ?Si Nicker soft ain't ready for the undertaker yIt. Now you can go tip to Or bam and tell Ous Baker Homethln' wuth while." Bradley shrugged his shoulders. Now that the strain was over and they had won the thought** that he had put aside were coming back. He was real lzlng that the Ann's success didn t mean much to Uim. After all. what did he really care? *T guess Gus wouldn't be greatly in? terested." he said. ' The captain seized him by the shoul? ders and spun him around. "Look here, son!" be cried. "What fool Idea have you got in your head? What's the matter with you? Wouldn't be In? terested! The girl that risked her life to haul you out of the drink!" Bradley shook his head. "I guess you forget that Hammond was In the drink, too," he said. Captain Titcomb smote* his partner a blow in the chest. "You crazy loon!" he shouted. "Is that what's allln' you? Do you s'pose she cares a hurrah In Tophet for that scamp? Listen to me! I was closer 'n anybody to Gus when she rowed acrost the harbor that night. Sam was right under the bow of her skiff. He hailed her. She saw him?looked right at him. But she never reached out a hfin4? T*?ft him. to drown, like the durned rat he Is, and went on affer you. After you?d'you understand? Does that look"? Stop!" Bradley'a eyes were ablaze. Ta that true? Say that again!" "True? Say it again? I'll sing it or swear It on the Bible If you want me to. Why, you ought to git down and crawl to that girt She's? Hi! Where you gohVF There was no answer. Bradley was running at full speed for the beach. A few minutes more and he was in the You and L heading across the bay through tho rising storm and in tbe dull morning light bound for Orbam. And behind him from the shanty floated the chorus: "Storm aJona, lohnt John, storm along! Ain't I glad my day's work's done! Storm alone*. John! John, storm along! Ain't I glad my day's work's done!" ta rz3 CHAPTER XXL I US rose early that morning. The storm bad awakened her. She pulled aside the window shade and peered out at the bare branches of the silver leaf beat? ing and whipping In the wind, at the sheets of rain scudding across the lit? tle pond rn tiie pasture, at the white cape In the Inlet and harbor and at the angry sea outside. Down In the village the storm signals were flying from tbe pole on the cupola of Cy War? ner's observatory. The southeast gale, foretold by the newspapers, had come. She saw the lighthouse on Baker's beach, a small shadowy dot In the dis? tance. Beyond It was the bay, and miles beyond that lay Setucklt Point Only the landward end of the long beach was visible through the smears of wind driven rain, but she gazed In that direction for minutes. Grandmother Baker was still asleep when Gus came downstairs. The girl went Into the kitchen, where Winfleld. gray muzzled and rheumatic, came, stretching and yawning, to meet ber. She fixed the fire In the range, filled the teakettle and, putting on her apron, began mixing the rye muffins for j breakfast Every now and then she ; left her work to go to the window. I The storm was growing steadily worse. i r 'llien the reaction came The muflins were ready, and she put them In the oven. She went to the sink and pumped the tin hand basin full of water, but before her fingers touched it she heard the yard gate shut with a bang. She thought that "Blount's boy" must be coming with the morning's milk and stepped to tbe outside door to meet him, lifting the hook from the staple. The door opened and Bradley Nicker son came In. He wore no overcoat or oilskins, and his clothes were wet through. The rain poured from the visor of his cap, from his sleeves and the hem of his Jacket. His face was dotted with drops, like beads of perspiration. He did not wlpo them away, but stoad there on Mrs. Baker's cherished In? grain carpet dripping and looking at the girl before him. She did not seem to notice his con? dition nor appear astonished at his coming. Her first words were strange ones. "Oh!" she cried. "Is she lost?" "Lost?" he repeated. "Lost?" "Yes. yes. The barge. Has the gale wrecked her?" Bradley seamed to be waking from a dream. "Oh, the barge!" he answered slowly. "The barge? Oh, she's all right. We got her off." Gus gave n little sob of Joy. Her eyes filled with tears. "I'm so glad!" she exclaimed. "I wns afraid"? He Interrupted her by stepping for? ward and seizing her hands. "(Jus!" ho begged. "Oh. tins, do you love ineV" She did not hesitate nor seem sur? prised. "Yes," she said simply, look lug up nt him. For an Instant he returned the look. Then the reaction came. He swayed, sank to his knees and cried like a child, hiding his face In her apron. And llkf a child she soothed him, stroking his wet hair and crying silent? ly In sympathy. "Oh, my dear." he pleaded over and over agnin, "I've behaved like a fool? ish child. Can you forgive me?" She smiled, like the sun shining through the last drops of a summer shower. "It was my fault more than yours," she said. "I was selfish and so silly, but I didn't know?I dldu't know." "But you know now? You're sure?" The answer was not in words alone and was entirely satisfactory, e e e e e e e When he got home Bradley swallow? ed the last drop of the "pepper tea" provided by Miss Tempy?he was iu a mood where nothing short of a gallon would have daunted him?aud hasten? ed upstairs to put on dry clothes. When he came down he went through the motions of eating breakfast and an? swered as best he could the hundred and one questions regarding the float? ing of the Freedom that the old maids and Clara asked. He had been up prac? tically all night, but was too excited to think of sleep, and. remembering how unceremoniously he had deserted Cap? tain Titcomb, decided to go down to the postofflce and telephone to the Point The storm was in full blast by this time. The wind screamed through the treetops. and the thick ropes of rain shot downward with savage force. As be entered the postofflce the postmas? ter called to him through the little win? dow in the center of the frame of mall boxes. "HI, Brad!" he hailed. "Is that you? I Jest sent a boy uptown after you. Cap'n Ez has been keepln' the tele? phone hot for the last ha'f hour. He wants to talk to you the worst way." Bradley was alarmed. Had anything happened to the Freedom? He entered the telephone closet, stood his drench? ed umbrella in a corner and gave the four rings which made up the Setucklt Point call. The wire buzzed and hummed like an overturned beehive. The receiver at his ear walled and screeched like a banshee. At length a faint "Hello!" answered his call. "Hello P he shouted. "That you, Cap'n Know lee? Yes, this is Brad Nickerson, I want to talk with Cap'n Ez. Can you get him for me7" The life saver laughed. There were more buzzing and humming. Then Cap? tain Titcfcmb's voice rose above the music of the storm. "Hello, partner.*" it called. "That you? Yon don't say! Well, this is Tit comb. No; the Freedom's all serene. She'll ride It out as slick as a duck In a bucket But there's a feller here wants to talk with you. Prick up yom ears now!" Bradley heard his partner laugh. Then another voice began?a drawling, high pitched voice. "Is that you, Bradley?" it droned. "This Is me taikin'. Do you hear?" , "Me? Who's me?" "Me. Peleg?Peleg Myrlck. Cap'n Ez wants to know what I'd better do with the dynamite I've got buried un? der my shanty. I'm scart to death of It" "The dynamite? What dynamite?" "The dynamite I took off the Dlvin' Belle the day afore she was burned. Cap'n Ez ordered me to take it all out so I done it the next forenoon. What'll I do with it? I've been tryln' to tell you an' the cap'n about It, but you never give me no chance. Skee zlcks Is the dlvll to dig. and if be scratches that stuff up, why"? I "Stop!" Bradley shouted it "Wait a minute! Peleg. what are you taikin' I about? Do you mean there was no dynamite aboard the Diving Belle when she burned?" I "Va ns. I took it all out that morn In'. Wbat'll" I Again Bradley shouted. "Stop!" He wauted to think. If there was no dynamite aboard the schooner, why why then the insurance could be col? lected. If? His heart sank again. I "I'm afraid that wou't do. Peleg,' he called. "She certainly blew up. 1 beard her and felt the shock under water. Everybody on the hill heard the explosion and saw it too. No. Pe? leg. Much obliged, but I guess you must have left some of It" The wire whirred and sang. Then the drawling Voice went on. It said: "Cap'n Ez wants to know If the ex? plosion wau't pretty small for a dyna? mite one, now that you come to think of It He says what about the gaso? line tanks?' The gasoline tanks! The gasoline fot the engine!' It had been stowed in the bow of the schooner. The receiver fell from Brndley'i hand. He stared at the calendar on the wall of the telephone booth. TUE END. But Not the "Ons." Mrs. noyle?My husband had $100, 000 when I married hlra. Mrs. Doyle How much has he now? Mrs. noyle? Oh. he has most of the ciphers left! Bohemlan. A Life Note. "Life is what we make It." said the philosopher. "Alas," exclaimed the practical one, "that we can't make It n million!" We ask Providence to make us thankful for what we receive and then go to figuring on Just how much Provi? dence is going to send us.?Atlanta Constitution. A Present. "That's a very fine purse you have. Henry." "Yes. My wife gave It to me on my birthday." "IndeedI Anything in it?" "Yes; the bill for the purse." One Exception. The Husband (during the quarrel)? You're ulways making bargains. Was there ever a time when you didn't? The Wife?Yes, sir; on my wedding day. INSURANCE AGENTS MEET. llcpreseiiUUive of Metropolitan Insur? ance Company Inspecting City Willi View of Making Investments. From the Daily Item, April 20. A meeting of the agents of the Met? ropolitan Life Insurance Co., of New York, of this district was held today in the office of District Manager D. T, Mead in the Belser building with the following agents present: District Manager D. T. Mead, M. Luck, o: Columbia, W. O. Staley, Sumter, W. H. Brown, of Camden, L. E. Harper, of Orangeburg, F. P. Fur tick, of St. Matthews. Mr. S. M. Burbanks, of the New York office also attended the meeting. Mr. Burbanks' visit to the city is for the purpose of attending the meeting of agents and making an inspection of the city with a view of reporting on the advisability of the company plac? ing loans in Sumter. The company has decided to invest a considerable amount of money in this State and arrangements have al? ready been made to loan about $300, 000 on real estate In and around Co? lumbia. It has heretofoie been the policy of the company to invest its mcney In cities of thirty thousand or greater population, but since the policy of making investments in the i Southern States, where it does busi j ness, has been adopted, loans will be placed in smaller towns where che I value of real estate is fixed and where J good security can be obtained. The visit of Mr. Burbanks may result In the investment of a considerable amount of money here at lower rates of Interest than have heretofore pre? vailed. CIL\SIXG A MURDERER. Sheriff of Clarendon County Search? ing for Abe Williams. Sheriff Gamble and Deputy Sheriff Timmons, of Manning, were in the city Monday in pursuit of Abe Wil? liams, a negro who on Sunday killed one negro woman and shot off the hand of arj other. Last Thursday Williams had a row with a woman who was known to Sheriff Gamble by the name of "Duckey," only. Williams struck her in the head with an axe but did not inflict a fatal wound. She had a war? rant issued for his arrest and an at? tempt was made to capture him Fri? day, but he resisted and escaped af? ter a pair of hand-cuffs had been snapped on one arm. Williams was in this city ;3aturay night, and on Sun? day he returned to the house of the woman near Manning killed "Duck ey's" mother and shot off one of "Duckey's" hands. That night he re? turned to this city and left his gun and the pair of hand-cuffs, with which he made his escape, at the house of Tom Mack, near town. Sher? iff Gamble secured the gun and hand? cuffs but could find no trace of Wil? liams who had departed early Mon? day morning for parts unknown. Wil? liams is said to be a bad negro, hav? ing killed a man near Camden sev? eral years a 50. Williams is described as follows: Light brown color, stout heavy built . I weight about 160 to 175 pound?, height about 5 feet and 7 inches. CALHOUX BRIBERY TRIAL. Former Supervisor Gallagher Again On Witness Stand. San Francisco, Cal., April 20.?For I I the tenth time since his confession of bribery was recorded in 1907, James L. Gallagher, once chairman of the board of supervisors, today was sum? moned as a witness in the trial for bribery of Patrick Calhoun, president of the United Railroads. He repeat? ed the story of official corruption that brought about the downfall of II Mayor Schmitz's administration, and the indictment of a score of promi 1 I nent men. L Gallagher was called after former Supervisor Ferdinand P. Nicholas, who is alleged to have received a bribe from the defendant, had been subjected to an examination lasting three days. Gallagher declared he had talked with Abraham Ruef about the appli? cation of the United Railroads for an overhead trolley permit before the fire of 1900, and that Ruef had re? quested him to ascertain if the per? mit would be granted by the board. "I talked with several members of the board." testified Gallagher, "and remember that Andrew Wilson <\ preaaed the belief that there would b? a large payment, lb- mentioned $10, 000 for each member of the board. 1 reported to Ruef that the ordinance could be put through and at this meeting, it was understood that 1 was to receive $15.000, Wilson was to ^. t $10,000 and the others $4.000 each." Gallagher testified that he had ro celved $85,000 in three payments, but that he had disbursed It to other members of the board. Man) man claims to he compleh master of hlms" -'\\ 1 h ?-'? ?*v*??h to boast of. POSTOFFICK BIDS OPENED. The Lowest Hid Which Wa? Made by Atlanta Contractor Wa* $52.352. Washington, April 19.?Bids were opened in the office of the supervis? ing architect of the treasury today for the erection of the new Federal build? ing at Sumter. The lowest bid sub? mitted was that of George A. Clayton, of Atlanta, who proposes to construct the building for $52,352. Among the South Carolina firms entering propo? sals were George W. Waring, of Co? lumbia; Simons & Mayrant, of Char? leston, and Johnson & Matthews, of Florence. COOPERS WANT XEW TRIAL. Motion to be Argued Before Judge Hart Today. Nashville, Tenn., April 20.?The motion for a new trial in the Cooper case will be argued before Judge Wm. M. Hart in the Criminal Court here tomorrow. Col. D. B. Cooper and his Kon, Robin J. Cooper, were convicted of the murder of former United States Senator E. W. Carmack, and twenty years in the penitentiary as? sessed as the penalty. The defend? ants, through counsel, filed a motion for a new trial, alleging forty-six errors on the part of the Court. Some of the errors alleged refer to the ad? mission of evidence, others to the evi dtnce on the part of the defense which the Court excluded. The de? fense also objects to portions of the charge of Judge Hart to the Jury, and to certain requests for charge which the Court refused to ' admit. They also claim that the Court erred when he did not declare the case a mistrial upon tht first report.of the Jury: "We find the defendant, John Sharp, not guilty, but are hopelessly tied up as to the Coopers." Judge Hart has announced that the attorneys must conclude their argu? ments within twe days. Most of the time will be given to the defense, the State standing upon the correctness of the Court's rulings. It is interesting to note that Judge Hart has never been reversed in a ruling upon an important case. I hold it true, with him who sings, to one clear harp !n divers tones, that men who'd :ly, e:c they have wings, are apt to break their bloom? ing bones. The birds may think it fully worth their while to soar from tree to tree; but while I live this good old earth Is- plenty good enough for me.?Emporia Gazette. If art held the mlrrow up to na? ture, nature must often be ashamed of herself. * CASTOR! A For Infants and Children. The Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the Signature Do You Want to Make $100.00? Write Chas. M. Stieff and he will gladlv tell you how to do it. Don't delay, write to-day and watch each change of our advertisement. Chas. M. Stieff Manufacturer of the Artistic Stieff, Shaw and Stieff Seifplayer Pianos. SOUTHERN WAREROOM 5 W. Trade St. CHARLOTTE, - N. C. C. H. Wilmoth, Manager. (Mention this paper.)