The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-07

| been prepared to be taken in the nasty
exodus, and then abandoned or dropped
| at the last moment. Fold after fold he
unwrapped, going to the light to ex-
anime his find more carefully. Moses
| did not pay any attention to what
| Nathaniel was doing, as he was investi-
| eating the condition of certain cans and
| bottles that had once been the con-
tents of the captains private store
| chest.
Quimby went out on deck and sat
above the hatch. bracing his feet
| against the coaming. He had got TO
the very center of all that mummy-1ike
encasing of oilskin. The last cerement
had been removed from--a woman's
picture. Ii was. thought Nathaniel, the
finest and most wonderful face he had
ever seen. The eyes were clear and
searching: the nose straight. the brow
| broad and low, the mouth and chin
| sweet and feminine, but determined:
as though this were u woman VINO
| knew her own mind and would have her
own will, but with such gentleness OF
| insistence that only brute would wish
| to 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 face like that and possibly his
4
! of work. during which time they talked
| of many things but never OF the por-
trait. Nathaniel finding himself once
! more alone for y few moments. TOOK ad-
| vantage of the opportunity to look at
| the face again. fIe tried TO guess her
age. Thirty or threabouts, on VEN
! ture Quick, put II away--MOses has
an unpleasant habit OF interrupting
/ one at unreasonable moments.
! Master ana man--for such were their
| nominal relations to each other,
| though actually they worked now as
companions and partners--consulted,
! planned and calculated till at last the
sailor. as having more experience in
such matters, made q flying visit TO
| New York to see the agents and make
| what advantageous arrangements he
| could for salvage. From Dunn & Dunn
he learned that Henry Martling, master
! of the Molly Il, 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 II lapse. There was no doubt
| that Cant. 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
him for twenty-five years. As for the
cargo. that was another matter. That
was consigned to Dunn 4 Dunn. and as
the chances of it's floating were good,
they had succeeded in effecting re-
newal Of the risk. Lately the UNDER
writers 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
| rangement with the underwriters, who
were glad to get chance for rem-
| bursement on any terms. and were in
clined to be liberal. Dunn T. 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 "hogged:" in other words.
| worth more than the price Of wood
| excep: for her copper fastenings and
bolts. Nathaniel, acting under Moses
directions, made an offer. which was
accepted, and when all the bargaining
! and transferring We're finished. the
| owner of Flack's Neck was the proud
and happy possessor of the useless and
and tidy sum I'm the savings bank at
| MiddletOwn.
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 a 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 a little alarm in his usual
! ly stolid face. Was Quimby going
, crazy? He had said nothing when the
purchase Of the hull was made, think
! ing that there was some ultimate pur-
pose OF breaking 1t up for the lumber:
| the metal and timbers together might
prove a nodestly advantageous invest
ment; but now that he talked Of NOV
| ing her w on the little ridge 1t did not
sound Ike the project Of a sane man.
| "What-what you goin' to do with
! her onto the ridge" he at last man
| aged to stammer.
The other turned his tranquil eyes
upon him with an expression of su-
| periOr wisdom.
I'm going to anchor her there for all
| time. I'm going to cut door and
! windows in her and plant vines and
things around her and make the bulli-
! est house of her that there Is this side
L
her."
Moses sat very silent for few min
| utes while the mammoth idea gradual
| ly soaked into his Intelligence. Then
! he rose and took off his battered old
| hat to Quinby.
"Cap'n. 1 thought mebby you wasn't
| as smart as some because you didn't
| pear to know whole lot bout agents
an underWriters an derelicks an
| such: but YOU may call me squid If
/ ] ever see anyone with sech a head as
| you've got oAto you. Look here. cap'n.
/ amt no slbuch with tools. and en-
| run up partitions an cut windows and
doors an sech without hirin' no car
penter.'
YES" assented Quimby: Il was cal
| culating that you would After a
pause he added: II was considering
I how we were going to move her up
''Windlass and rollers. an big gang
| er men," promIted Moses. 'It'H cost.
but 'twon't cost nigh as much as house
raisin' would. You got to spend money.
but II you spend it judicious ] dino
but what you'll get off pretty cheap.
You make u sort o. holiday Of it-open
kag o. beer and sort o. free lunch, an
| tain't goin' to cost but mighty little.
| come to think"
The day of the moving was appoint-
ed. and the arrangements were COM
pleted with many a wise suggestion
from the sailor. Then I'm Sthe midst of
scene OF merriment. amid the strain
ing cables and creaking of capstan
bars and the crunching of rollers, the
Molly 3. of Bangor. began her last voy-
age. Nathaniel was on deck. the sole
passenger, feeling SO elated that his
conscience reDroved him i'm (an under
tone. Moses was everywhere; at the
winches. superintending the placing Of
the rollers. leading off like d bull OF
Bashan in the "Yo heave! o-o-d" WITH
out which nothing would have, moved.