The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-04
A CARGO OF PALM sPLES.
BY FRANK n. SWEET.

fishing Company.g
 Blake took out his watch and lookeu at 1t impatiently, then flushed at ms foolishness and closed the case with snap. He had done the same tning twenty times before, and there was the conductor walking leisurely back and forth on the platform. gossiping with the station master and such lonnEers as be met. and utterly ob- livious that his train was two hours late and increasing its disregard or schedule at every station. The fault was his own, either in anticipating the season or not yielding to the GUS tom of the road out of 1t. Aafew months later, when the travelling pub lie began to seek its pleasure along the east coast, trains would pull in and out on the minute; until then scned- ules were merely ornamental compli- ments to unwary travellers, made con spicuous by being ignored.
 But Bates had indulged In only half-hearted breakfast at Jacksonville. his soul hungering for the flesh pots of little hostelry down near Port Orange, where he had spent occasional weeks in the fishing season, and where there was an unad&ertising, unprogres- sive landlord whose pride was in his table rather than in his bank account. Bates had sent notice of his coming, and had looked forward confidently for exactly one hour from Jacksonville. Then an unreasonably long stop at St. Augustine. the first station, had set him to dividing his attention between the time table and his watch. Now, with that uncompromisingly Hstless conductor sauntering the platform. he gave up the mental struggle and threw his feet resignedly upon the next seat, raising a cloud of dust that for the time being dulled the vision of the sawdust pile and sawmill and scat tered pine which mocked his gaze through the window.
 Presently there came a violent jerk which raised his head from the seat back, and he knew they were once more in motion. A few minutes later the conductor came in. his face becom- ing aggressive as he approached Blake. But his impatient passenger had given up to the inevitable, and instead of the usual question as to progress. he nodd- ed affably and drew out his cigar case.
 Help yourself" he said.
 The conductor hesltated and looked at him suspiciously: but there were few passengers on the train. and time was only to be considered in its dis posal. He selected several of the ci- gars, slipping all but one into his pocket. This he bit and dropped upon the seat beside the crossed feet.
 Going to Port Orange. I believe your ticket said" he remarked, by way of leading to conversation,
 "Yes. Have me down there for sup- per. suppose--or perhaps breakfast?'
 The conductor grinned.
 Have you there for supper all SD aat arr. ing for--fishing7"
 Not this time. I'm in need of a few thousand piles for new wharf exten- sions at Baltimore, and 1t struck me that some of the palma down, below here-cabbage palmettoes, you know would be just the thing. Palm trunks are about the only piles that withstand sea insects. Who do you think would be the best man for me to apply tor
 The conductor considered.
 q reckon Major Toms the man you want" he decided. %Eke owas miles square of fat lands where the cab bage palmettoes grow. Yes. Tom Parsons is the very man."
 "why he's the one I was advised to see before I left Baltimore. Lives just below Port Orange I believe?"
 \"Yes. two miles. But you needn't Eo down there to see him. He's back in the other car--got on at the last station. That's partly what kept me so long. Tom Parsons helped me to my position on the, train, so l favor him when can. He came up with me yesterday, and said he lowed to take my train down today. I waited a half hour extra for him to get round. His daughter Willie came, too; but she stopped off with friends at Ormond. wen pick her up there as we go by. But hold on a minute" as Blake rose and started toward the next car. Do you vote for Roosevelt or for Parker?"
 q am a Republican" a little impa- tiently. "But never mind that now; if you'll excuse me, I would like to have a talk with MT. Parsons"
 That's all right following and placing an admonitory hand upon his shoulder. But in this case, if I was you, and wanted them palm piles bad, I'd talk about, voting for Parker and not mention the other side. Tom Par sons is an anti-Bryan Democrat, and if you talk for Parker you'll get the piles for just half what they'll cost if you don't-even if you can get them at all as a Republican, which l doubt.
 'Oh, tut, tut" laughed Blake, de- risively. "A man isn't going to let politics spoil an eight or ten thousand dollar business deal In this campaign. The feeling isn't warm enough"
 Well, anyway, you talk mighty eau tious with Parsons till you find out how warm his feelings do run" warn ed the conductor.
 Now I'll so ahead and do the in- troducing. Your name is-?'
 Robert Blake"
 wharf maker" finished the conduc- tor. All right. Come on."
 Major Tom Parsons was a large man, with red, good-natured face, but with eyes in which aggressiveness could easily overcome the agreeable. The look which he turned to the conductor and his companion was genially agree able.
 T want to introduce a friend of mine, Major" began the conductor i'm pressiyely. This young man is Colonel Robert Blake. who is building the new Baltimore whaFves. He wants to buy all your cabbage palmet- toes for piles"
 "Just a schooner load.'S corrected Blake-"that Is, if we can come to terms. will have the schooner brought down as soon as they're
 "Otfffe so, quite so." smiled Major rom. 'It will be all right, and we can have them ready at almost any time. we will put on a large force of men, vou know, I shall be glad to thin some of the palms off my land at any price. How are politics up your way stirringr'
 NO. rather quiet when I left"
 Not much show for Roosevelt, of