Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-10-23


IL was a question tnat ,aptain bean
had been dreading for two hours.
When he had given up coasting. bought
the strip Of Massachusetts, seashore
known as Sculpln Point, built com
Portable cottnge on II and settled down
within sight and sound Of the salt wa
ter. he had brought with him Lhnk
Peters. who for dozen years had pre-
sided over the galley In the captain
ship.
More than q mere sea cook was
Iank Peters 20 Captain Bean. lie was
confidential friend. advising philo~o-
pher and mate of Sculpin Point. Yet
from Lans had the captain carefully
concealed all knowledge OF his AFFAIR
with the Widow Buckett. The time OF
confession was at hand.
In his own way aud with n direct
ness peculiar TO all his acts did Captain
Bean admit the full sum OF his rash
ness. adding thouSbtfully. Il s'pose
vou won't have 20 do much cocSln'
after stashia comes. but you'll still be
mate. Lank. and there'll be plenty 10
keep you busy on the Pint"
Quietly and with no show OF emotion
as bcfittcd sea cook and philoso-
pher. Melankthon Peters heard these
revelations. II he had his prejudices
as TO the wisdom or folly OF marrying
widows he said no word. hut IN the
matter OF Barnacles he felt more free
TO express something Of bis uneaslness.
"I didn't ship for no hostler, capn.
an guess I'll make poor fist Mt H.
but I'll do my best" he said.
Guess we'll manage him between
us, Lank." cheerfully responded the
captain. Il amt got much use for
horses myself, but as l said, Stashia'
she's down on boats"
"Kinder sot In her idees. alnt sne'
cap'n?' Insinuated Lank.
"Well, kinder" the captain admitted.
Lank permitted himself to chuckle
cuardedly. Captain Bastabol Bean, as
nm innumerable number Of sailor men
had learned, was q person who gen.
orally had his own way. lntultiveiy
the captain understood that Lank had
guessed of his surrender. A grim smile
was barely suggested by the wrinkles
about his mouth and eyes.
"Lank," lie said, 1.-THE Widow Buckett
an me had some little argument over
this horse business an'-an'-1 give IN.
She told me fat she wouldn't come to
the, Pint II I tried to fetch her by
water In the dory. Well, l want Sta
shia mighty bad, for she's fine wo'
man, Lank, a mighty fine woman, rs
you'll say when you know her. 80
promised to bring her home by land
and with a horse. I'm bound to do II
too. But by timer Here the captain
suddenly slapped his knee. "I've just
been struck with notion. Lank, I'm
going to zee what you think of It,"
For an hour captain and mate sat In
the sun. smoked their pipes and talked
earnestly. Then they separated. Lank
began close study Of Barnacles
complicated rigging. The captain
tramped aH toward the village.
Late In the afternoon the captain re-
turned riding In a sidebar buggy will
a man. Eehind the buggy they towed
a skeleton lumber wagon-four wheels
connected by an extension pole. the
man drove away In the sldebar. leav
Ing the captain and the lumber wagon
Barnacles, who had been moored tC
a kedge anchor, watched the mex
days proceedings with Interest. III
saw the captain and Lank drag III
from the beach the twenty foot dorJ
and hoist It up between the wheels
Through the forward part OF the keel
son they bored hole for the king bolt
with nut bolts they fastened the sterr
to the rear axle, adding some yer!
seamanlike lashIngs to stay the boa
10 place. As finishing touches they
painted the upper strakes Of the dory
white, giving to the bower part and
to the running gear Of the cart q coat
Of sea green.
Barnacles was experienced, but We
hIcle such as this amphibious product
of Sculpln Point he had never before
ssen. With ears pointed and nostrili
palpitating from curiosity, he was led
up to the boat bodied wagon. Reluc
tantly he backed under the raised
shafts. The practice hitch was enliv
| eued by q monologUe on the part Of
Captain Bean which ran something like
this: