Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-13

finest aud most wonderful face he had
ever seen. The eyes were clear and
searching; the nose straight, the brow
broad and low, and mouth and chin
sweet and feminine, but determined;
as though this were woman who
knew her own mind and would have her
own will, but with sues gentleness OF
insistence that only brute would wish
10 thwart her.
At hail from below the finder of
this paragon thrust the card into his
inner pocket. He meant to show 1t to
Moses sometime, but not quite yet. He
was not sure that Moses would. appre-
ciate a face like that and possibly his
comments might rasp.i After an hour
of work, during which time they talked
of many things but never of the por-
trait, Nathaniel, finding himself once
more alone for few moments, took adj
vantage of the opportunity 10 look at
the face again. He tried to guess her
age. Thirty or thereabouts, on n
venture. Quick, put it away-Moses
has an unpleasant habit OF interrupt
ing one at unreasonable moments.
Master and man-for such were their
nominal relations to each other,
though actually they worked now as
companions and partners-consultcd,
| planned and calculated till at last the
sailor, as having more experience in
such matters, made atiying visit to New
York to see the agents and make what
advantageous arrangements he could
for salvage. From Dunn d. Dunn he
learned that Henry Martling, master
of the Molly b, of Bangor, had been her
sole owner; that upon the insurance
lapsing owing to her being long over
due, the underwriters had asked such
an eXorbitant and really prohibitory
premium TO renew the policy that they
had let it lapse. There was no doubt
that Capt. Martling had been lost, as
the ships boat WAS picked up by a
coaster several weeks after the last
tidings OF the Molly had been received.
The firm was confident that Martling
hadno family, and they had known him
for twenty-five years, AS for the cargo,
that was another matter. That was
consigned to Dunn IL Dunn, and as the
chances of its floating were good, they
had succeeded in effecting renewal of
the risk. Lately the. underwriters had
paid their claim.
AS Mr.. Dunn, the junior partner,
made his explanation, Moses turned
the matter over in his mind. Clearly
the cargo he must see the insurance
people about. AS for the hull, as there
were no heirs at present in sight, the
agents were the people to deal with.
Moses made an advantageous ar
rnngemcnt with the underwriters, who
We're glad to get chance for reim-
burscment on any terms, and were in
clned to be liberal. Dunn &c Dunn
sent an expert to inspect the wreck,
and he reported that the Molly was
strained throughout, butts started
and timbers wrenched, and most of all
she was logged" i'll other words
her back was broken. She was not
worth more than the price Of wood
except for her copper fastenings and
! bolts. Nathaniel, acting under Moses
directions, made an offer, which was
accepted, and when all the bargaining
and transferring were finished, the
: owner of Flack's Neck was the proud
and happy possessor of the useless and
empty hull of the Molly b, of Bangor
and tidy sum in the savings bank al
> Middlctown.
: "Now,' said Quimby to his assistant
when they were finally left alone and
there was no reminder of the excite
ment and rush of the past few weeks
but few levels and ruts in the SAND
where the lumber piles had lain above
The high water mark-"Now, Moses
; we'll get her up on the knoll"
; Moses looked at his employer with
wonder and little alarm in his usual
ly stolid face. Was Qumby going cca,
Ey? lie had said nothing when the
|, purchase of the hull was made, think.
ing that there was some ultimate pur,
/, pose of breaking it up for the lumber;
the metal and timbers together might
prove modestly advantageous invest
ment; but now that he talked of NOV
Ing her up ON the little ridge 1t did mo-
: sound like the project Of q sane man.