The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-07-10

And vt how easily things 20 right
When he leaves ct 8 decent time Of night
Hes wise who this in his memory logs;
EAthefs are fathers and dogs are dogs.
CAPTAIN BRANDY'S BET.
Few cargo steamers were in the habit
Of making the passage between New
York and Liverpool quicker than the
"Picayune," Captain Hosea E, Bart.
lett; and few men were prouder Of their
craft than was Hosea E. Bartlett Of the
aPicayune." Bartlett was q New Eng
lander, q typical long-legged. hatchet-
faced, wiry-haired, keen-eyed. New
Highlander.
america" said he, .bosses creation,
sir, and New England boys boss Ameri-
o., u that's q fact
Upon July 10, 1889, the aPicayune
was announced to sail from the foot Of
West Tenth street for Liverpool. Upon
the preceding evening Captain Hosea
=. Bartlett was seated in the Oriental
saloon, a famous house of callfor skip
pers and gentry interested in shipping,
smoking . very big cheroot, and occa-
~sionally slipping 3 John Collins at his
elbow. He had q contented expression
in his face. for no had a full cargo ats
full season when freight was going beg.
ging. he'd shipped his crew and did not
expect to have to whistle for more than
three absentees at the hour of starting,
and he was going to see his English
wife who had settled for a while in Liv-
erpool.
To him enter Captain Brandy, of the
British steamer aCockney."
just as the "Picayunep Avas famous
for her smart passages, so was the
"Cockney' celebrated as being ons Of the
.'slowest Of tubs on the pond" Hence
it was that American Bartlett and Brit
ish Brandy neve met without exchang-
ing:some lively chat and repartee, al.
though taey were the best Of friends.
Hello, Brandy! When's the old
m1asses tub off?" was Bartlett's greet
ing.
1The British steamer Cockney, Bran
dy, master, sails tomorrow morning,
July 10, as ever was" replied Brandy.
"And dye reckon she'll make Liver
pool this side o. Christmas y asked Bart
lett, with u twinkle in Ills eye.
HTo-day fortnit she brings up along
side o. the quay said Brsndy.
The Yankee skipper burst into q
scornfnl chuckle.
Captain Brandy called for q "Bour-
bon leisurely lit q clay pipe, took q
few whiffs and o sip, rested his chin on
his hands rs he leaned forward, and
said:
Bartlett, you reckon yourself tol'ble
spry.s don't yerw
WALL replied the American, II
gness Iknow the difference between q
3ay bird and q caboose. an I amt likely
10 mistake the CROWN of q shanty- town
cock for Hail, Columbia and that's a
fact"
There amt nothin' as goes out of the
port of. New York as can whip the
sPicayune,'" Continued Brandy.
mo, reckon there amt" said Bart
lett.
lyon wouldn't like to put a hundred
pound on a little notion Of mine, would
you?' said Brandy.
"Barrin' the 'Cockney,' I don't mind
II | do" replied Bartlett.
"That's right" said Brandy. s.Look
here you're always a-pokin' fun at the
.Cocknay.' Well. Illbet yer a hundred
pound that / see Mrs. Bartlett before
You do
sYon bet me o. hundred pound,
; British that you see the missis in Liver
pool before l do?' repeated Bartlett.
.An' the .Cockney' sails by first tide to-
morrer mornin' Z"
THAT'S so" said Brandy.
aBarrin' all mail steamers?" said
Bartlett.
aBarrin' all mail Steamers" said
Brandy.
aDone with you, boss" said Bart
lett.
So the wager was cemented e 9
fresh supply Of drinks, after which
Captain Brandy walked out, wishing
the American skipper @Good night"
aDerned fool, that Brandy" said the
American to himself.
In the mists Of early morning the
"Picayune' cleared out. SO did the
@Cockney."
Somehow or other, news Of The wager
had leaked out, and general opinion
Endorsed that of Captain Bartlett. al
though others guessed that Brandy
wasn't the sort to go singing away
91O0 for q mere notion, and that lie
knew what he was doing.
At seven bells-half past Z in the
morning-Captain Bartlett, on the
bridge Of the "Picayune,"a cheroot in
his mouth, and his hands plunged deep
into his pockets, sang out to his first
mate:
ssMr. Slope, send q hand up to the
fore-top and report if the 'Cockney' sin
sight"
Jay, ay, sirln replied MI. Slope. The
man ascended to the fore-top,s scanned
the ocean for some moments, and bel
lowed ont:
"sCockney' astern, sir; hull down.
sBrandy's . derned fool,a muttered
Captain Bartlett, and rolled himself of
the bridge to breakfast.
During the second dog-watch in the
evening, Captain Bartlett, reclining in
his zane chair on the bridge, observed a
commotion forward. The first mate and
half a dozen Of the. crew were assembled
around some object. and at intervals
cast side-glances at the skipper. Bart
lett had the eye of q hawk. &
MI. Slope, what's going on forr'ard?