The Republican journal., 1901-08-01
owner was not the man to take alb

owner was not the man to take alb
stract conclusions, however good, into
account in Benefits defence, while the
gre > re ultuf the voyage came danger
Ously near comparative loss instead of
affiuent profit. He was not being of
that sort. He would rate his employees
worth not according to mis- moral or in
tellectual ability, but solely in con-
sonance with his capacity for increas-
ing, and on occasions for multiplying,
the Tudor's exchequer. The denoue-
ment Of the affairs de Tudor came un-
pleasantly before Benefits mind, and
''Well, it's all up" said the latter
moodily, ''and the Tudor and I'll part
company after this-my first voyage"
They were talking the matter over in
the cabin, and it was while the skipper
pondered further on his foggy future
that he was suddenly aroused from his
apathetic state by a loud and violent
! blast on steam whistle. He rushed
on deck to see what the matter was,
followed by Jameson.
| Right abeam, moving slowly and losing
| way, was the great and unshapely tramp
| Miltiades; alongside the Tudor her own
| hawsers trailed like white and cleaning
snakes. Bennett gaZed at her for a
minute, looking curiously at her still
propeller. Then he turned to the chief
engineer and said quietly, ''stand by, MI.
Jameson. l guess it's our turn now,' y
and as Jameson rushed below to the
engine platform, Bennett raced on to
the Tudor's upper bridge, where the
mate was bawling orders to haul in the
wires. He rang up the engineer to ''slow
ahead; then he put the helm down,
and the old tramp wore round under
her restored machinery and oozed up to
the Miltiades. Bennett stopped his
engines, leaned over the bridge rail, and
took a cool survey of the Miltiades'
crestfallen skipper, who glared savagely
but helplessly back.
eyes, I'm all right, thank you, cap
TAIN said Bennett, nodding his head.
''But what's the matter with that old
tugboat of yours?"
Engine gone to smash" shouted
back the elder man, his late sarcasm
exchanged for white heat of rage.
Bennett smiled; he could afford to dc
it now, and lit cigarette with great
care.
where are you from?'' he said at
length.
alexandria, with cargo of onions
for some Liverpool people"
big hurry, l suppose? Want tow?'
"Td take one cheap"
Depends on what you call cheap,
was the irritating reply of the man witt
the big trump card. whats YOU
offer anyhow"
"Call it e2OO."
Eyes, that's pretty decent for some
old hooker that's coming home light OF
with bad freight, and wants to make
her dock dues; but couldn't think Of
it, although | don't want to be hard OF
you," and Bennett smiled genially.
The elder mans face beamed, and he
stroked the fag ends of his beard low
ingly. Pm glad you don't bear ne
SPITE he said pleasantly.
'What would you tow me for?''
Bennett lazily swung himself owe
the railing of the bridge and smoked
placidly; he was the picture of calm
contentment and victory.
''Nine hundred pounds is my price,
he replied.
The master of the MiItiades made ne
intelligible reply; he beat the rail an(
stamped on the bridge for five minutes
and blue in the face, called to the mat'
and engineer of his ship.
Bennett watched him with an amused
smile, aud when another five minutes
had been registered and still no answe
came from the other ship, he though
it time to follow up the everyday mot
to delivered to him from the ry-face(
man twenty-four hours previous: "DC
unto others as others do unto you" Sc
he hailed the bridge with some show O
impatience.
Il can't wait here all night for tha
old onion box of yours he called IN,
oranges, as you well know, may b.
bad
"Call it four hundred" reeled off til,
other skipper.
You may call it what you like, bu
so long as you call it anything belov
my figures - nine hundred captain
your onions will rot before they reacl
Liverpool, if you wait for my services
III remember you to Messrs. Ram
shackle, Tub & Co., and tell 'em you II
having good onion soup. Good-nigh
and pleasant time. There's some nic
weather coming shortly out of the nor
west"
Bennett pointed to a fiery glow OF
bow, where mass of clouds banke,
heavily below the falling sun, aud tn
purple tinge of the promising storm
came over the fat seas and sighed to hin
melody of satisfaction and hundre,
or so of weather cash into the pocket o
Matthew Walker of Newcastle.
He rang up his engine with a swift
hand and grinned at the telegraph face
The reply had but "tringed from tn
engineer when loud and hoarse shout
accompanied by something strong, al
rived to him.
g., your offers vile. You'll swa1
low up all the earnin's of the voyage
I'll give you seven hundred" and tn
oaklike fist of the man who shoute
!. thumped the bridge rail in emphasis.
That's BETTER" murmured Bennett
who had only rung his engine to ''stan
by" II thought that would bring hi1
that and the weather, God bless it
It's an i'll wind'-thoughi it pipes ont o
the nor west-that blows nobody an
good"
Cant helpit," he bawled. eff youge
broke over the job you may cali in o.
my owner-Matthew Walker of New
castle-and tell him that l can recon
mend you as thorough business man
captain. He wants people who can coil
money for him. Only-don't tell hin
you bagged $500 for towing one of hi