New-York tribune., 1901-06-23

i
my own bit o property Pretty good looking,
though. and able To drag that ramshacke affair
of yours. What 30 you offer for tow?"
Two hundred and fifty pounds to Liverpool"
answered Bennett mUdestly.
In answer TO the Tudor's demand the Milu-
/ ades's skipper raised big hand in depreciation.
'Phew!" he said; and who's to pay for the
coal what's used in steaming. the grubbing of
two days. and pay for all hands Ia like to
know: and wear and tear of my steamer? Be
Sides he added, with a grin and chuckle. do
unto others as others 'ud do unto you if they
got half a chance"
Isn't f2J0 sufficient" cried Bennet with
some Indignation.
Don't leave scarce no margin for profit
swered the other man coolly. III tell you what
l will do. For $500 Ill take all risks of weather
and SO on. Your cargo must be worth all Of
tlo.ooo. AS for the ship-well. she amt what
I'd call beauty; so we won't say much about
/ her. Anyhow she'd fetch couple of thousand
sold as old scrap iron. Amt my offer fair?
It's an almighty pickle muttered Bennet.
for the Miltiades's skipper had struck home.
The TudOr's cargo of sixty thousand cases of
oranges was worth 10000 In the owner. But
+ this was the point: If Bennett refused u tow, and
landed Il had cargo through delay caused by
/ ms broken shaft. he would get the blame and
a permanent holiday; the other hand. accept
ing assistance and arriving home with Clean
/ cargo he might be able to dispense with the
holiday and keep his job Still. the coup was
very. very doubtful. The sword of Damocles
| could not be held by finer hair.
Bennet signalled to Jameson who stood be
| meath the bridge coolly grinning. and when he
reached the top of the ladder the skipper ardent
ly eXhorted him To promise steam in twelve
hours or even twenty. But the engineer would
not make any promises. He did not why ne
should kill himself with work to save another
mans neck and said aloud something about
/ more jobs than church steeples' At this Ben
net spouted up an indgestible adjective and
treated the engineer To many vivid and light
ninglike prayers concerning rotten engines and
unlucky tramp steamboat shippers
Jameson did not resent the language. on the
contrary. it gave him twinge of satisfaction.
and he dropped a remark about being in the
same box; which insinuation brought Viviily
To Bennet's mind visions OF tramping MOSlcy-
ST ard Quayside in Geordie-I Land. and Water
ST in Liverpool, looking for a ship. armed with
. thick Soled boots and much strong language. and
few small pence borrowed from u hard up
landlaGy To buy biscuits and beer. 1t was in
the middle # these bad dreams that the AiiIti-
ades.s skipper impatenty hailed the bridge of
the Tudor.
Ny old steamboat amt going To wait here all
night for your coffee mill. capin." he roared.
giving al the same time his engines touch
ah al and sheerins his vessel ciese to the Tudor
What's the decisiCn2"
Three hundred and ffty" answered Bennett
neIvously.
"Thankee very much" came the ncckiug re
ply Then the oranges will be perfectly rotten
before they gets ONE II YOU wait for my
vices. Goodnight. and h. put his hand To the
telegraph
-Four hundred" shouted Bennet desperately
Come. that's fair and square price"
1t is" replied the warriors master sarcas-
lcaIly IT'S simply mtnStrouS. and you'd bet
-er eat your oranges rather than chuck era
away"
Before he had finished speaking his propeller
churunE the blue water 2stern to u frothy
milk and Bennett watched the immense square
stern Of the Mltad.s it wabbled slowly past
the TudGr's stern. lie held his breath for one
impatient minute. then he baWlfd at the top Of
his voice, IN make il I1trl"
The other steamer walloWed round. and her
screw ceased working. y ships length distant
from the broken down tramp her skipper called
irumpEanuy.
Eight hundred. Not cent less"
The unfortunate Bennet saw il as his last
chance. and a glance at the uncomfortable
northwest hastened his decision.
I'm take you al that hc gruaned. Il might
well be hung for sheep a lamb; and If |
get booted out by the owner I'll lay the result
a your door
You may come TO me for job" jeered the
wanting trustworthy man for this ship after
this paying job: for III retire. Send a boat
with your hawserS and We'll connect your old
orange box my ship
Bennet with deep forehodrss. put out a boat
and passed his steel wires to the Miltades.
They had not been more than six hours in tow
before less than q half dozen steamers came
out of the southern horizon and passed into the
north. Bennet. on the bridge. watched them
with gloWeTIng ana hungry eyes. and as th.y
passed cursed the folly that led him to acct -;
assistance in such haste. Here from this host
of vessels. he could nave chosen a most respect
able tow. with 200 Il limit, and Matthew
Walker was the man To know it. There ai-
soluteIy excuse for his paying such an eX-
traVaGant sum tsUD. Bennett almost PRAYED
that gale would come. 1t would save my
bacon. if anything could" he mumbled. But the
Jameson Cor sympathy. and conided to HIM
his thoughts. The engineer became quite