Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-01-02
THE wNpHAM COUNTY REFoRMER, FRIDAY JANUARY 2 1908

cause the rate Of wages gives one ava.
at the outset, but the country's mneto,
headed paternal shipping laws are obeyed
and SO every body's pleased.
Fairfax laughed and went into the oute
Offices and Patrick Cambel turned to TN
shipowner with couple OF questions
"To begin with" he said, why did yo'
offer freight to Norfolk and Pensacola ant
Mobile and those placesf II you call II
there. the natural thing would be to GO
the specie ashore and express 1t by rail-
road direct to New Orleans. II you miss
that chance and start carrying 1t round d!
sea, the thinl looks flshy at once. NOW,
fshiness is an aspect which we cant anoro
in the very least degree. The swindle VIII
call up quite enough sensation in its most
honest and straightforward dress "
"My dear Mr.. Cambel, please give me
credit for little more finesse. l see the
objection to intermediate ports as much as
you do, but ] merely mentioned them to
Fairfax as a blind. TO begin with, 1t is
hundred to one chance against our getting
any cargo consign i to them at this sea-
son of the year at all even If we offered TO
carry it gratis. In the second place, II IL
was offered could easily get out OF 1t In
so ways. Afterward, when the deplorable
accident takes place, an inquiry into this
will help to draw of attention from your
Floridian peninsula Amy one inclined to
carp will instantly be told that we were
equally ready to put the specie ashore on
tho Virginia coast II our other cargo had
led us there. What do you think of that
nowf"
! beg your pardon. That's clear sighted
enough and should work correctly. But
I fancy my other objection is better
founded. What In the lame of plague did
you go and economic overinsurance forY
Why didn't you get the stuff underwritten
slap up to the strongroom of the bankF'
ITO save $500, II you arcnt going past
the middle Of the Mexican gulf what Is
the use Of wasting money by insuring
further"
Five hundred pounds in deal Of
$500, 000 A mere straw in a cartloadp"
THAT, my dear Mr.. Cambel, is bust
ness. AS often assure my young friends
commencing life, II one takes care Of the
pennies, the pounds take care Of them
selves. 1t Is by looking after what you
are pleased to consider trivial sums like
these that the firm of Marmaduke Rivers
e. Shelf has risen to Its present eminence. "
"Oh, windl" retorted Cambel "Don't
tell me-"
"Siri" exclaimed Shelf.
well If you will have 1t, the eminence
appears to be uncommon lottery, and be-
cause Of your Internal meanness you're
doing your best to bring it over. It's just
tri1es like this that tell. Consider
what'u happen after the catastrophe.
There'll be an inquiry that'll lay every
thing bare down to the very bed plates.
Do you think they won't jump on this
point Mt oncep The stuff's fully insured
up to New Orleans. 1t isn't insured on
the levee and In the streets where the
thefts are notorious. Doesn't this drop an
instantaneous hint that 1t was never in.
tended to get SO fart"
No." said Shelf sourly. Il don't see
that it does"
Then" retorted Cambel, II differ
from you entirely, and as I'm to be the
active agent in this al air and have to take
the first and gravest physical risk do not
choose to have my retreat unnecessarily
hampered. l must insist upon your re-
calling Fairfax for additional instructions. |
That extra insurance has got to be paid"
Then pay it yourself"
That's outside the bargain. Working I
expenses are your contribution to the part
nership. And besides, for another thing,
couldn't plank down that money II ] |
wished. haven't 1t in the world"
Mr.. Cambel, believe you. win you
extend tho same courtesy to me when
tell you that II I were to attempt raising
ever such a trivial sum as $500 today II
would preoipitate me into bankruptcy to-
"Whewi Are you nipped as badly as
all that"
Il have a remorseless drain on me
which drinks up the profits Of this bust
ness like great sponge. 1t is q domestic
drain, and cannot resist II"
You poor devil" said Cambel, With
the first scrap of sympathy he had yet
shown to his partner. Il believe under.
stand, and 1t tones down your dingy col.
Or You aren't quite all black. / believe
by your own painting you're among q
moderate sort of gray. And il I've been
beastly rude and hard with you, because
I've considered you soapy scoundreI
playing entirely for your own hand, I'll
apologize to you. That isn't in the least
polite, but l think it's plain, and perhaps
wo shall get on together better now. But
about this bankruptcy. lt'll be rather
mess If you go smash before our Florida
operation realizes its profits, 1t will :
'hicken the inquiry down to very un.
pleasant keenness''
II think l shall keep on my feet Mr.
Cambel. trust, pray, SHALL and, more
'ver, l thank you for what you have said
do confess that your manner of speech
las wounded me much at times
"Oh, as to that" returned Cambel 81
ay spade when l mean it, and l don't
are to mix religion with theft when I'm
alking with coconspirator. But fancy
We understand one another more comfort
bly now, and III leave you to make the
est of the arrangements here in London.
This afternoon I'll pick up Kettle and run
own to Liverpool and get things in hand
here. They'll require care To begin
With, there's a suitable armament to be
on board without advertisement
md there are the nefarious preparations to
q made. Piracy on the high seas is not
thing to be undertaken lightly nova.
avs. Nor Is murderl''
oh, my Godl" cried Shelf. "Dont
peak Of these horrors"
Il speak of them," replied Cambel
rimly, because it is right that you
hould understand what will probably be
one. don't intend to redden my fingers
1t can be avoided, but as put my neck
jeopardy, failure or no failure, 1 natu-
lily don't intend to hesitate at any action
hich will bring unqualified success.
nr1v f.,n- r.