The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-05-01

~S-7---', 60 Out ~ Liz uUtlSG d0Q QOW&
the road.
Bradley's objective point was the
postofiice. He wanted to see Hardy
and learn the particulars, but Captain
Titcomb was there before him. They
met at the door. The captains eyes
were shining.
Come on, Bradr' he said. II was
Jest goin' to send for you know all
about it,
He told the story as they walked to
the wharf in the pouring rain. 1t was
as Rogers had said. The great barge,
twin sister of the Liberty, was on her
way from Boston to New York under
tow. The storm had come up unex-
pectedly, and the hawser had parted
Now she was fast on the Razorback
shoal.
"Crimusteew exclaimed the captain
Wont she be job. Brad, Brad, if
you and me could only have the
chancer'
Alvin Bearse, who boarded nowadays
at the house of relative in Orham,
was already on board the Diving Belle
when the partners reached her.
shes hard and fast for sure" NUT
tered Captain Titeomb when they
reached the hulk Five thousand
tons of coal inside of her and this
no'theaster drivin' her farther on
every minute. l swan to man, Brad
she's there for awhile. No tug-nor
three tugs. fur's that goes-can haul
her off. Member what l said when the
Liberty come so near landin' where
she is? It's an anchor and cable job,
and we can do that as well as anybody
and cheaper than the big fellers. If
they'll only let US try! By crimustee,
they've got to-"
n That evening the train brought rep
resentatives Of three large wYecking
companies to Orham. The younger
Mr.. Cook came ALSO The partners saw
him. but lie would give them no sat
isfaction. 'You must come to Boston
tomorrow if you want to bid" he said.
"But | tell you frankly, price isn't the
only thing we must be satisfied that
the job can be carried through" 1t
was evident that he didn't believe they
could handle it,
But Bradley and the captain were
certain they could handle it if the
chance was given them Seventy men,
at least, would be needed, and to house
and feed them was the problem. The
Boston Salvage company had lighters
and barges for this purpose and they
had not. But there was the big shanty
at the Point, the one in which the pic
mic had been held. Thirty men had
lived and Slept there before. BY build
ing new hunks and singing hammocks
twice that number at least could find
room. The rest must occupy other
shanties or come up to Orham at night.
The partners schemed and figured I'm
til nearly 4 o'clock in the morning.
One of them must go to Boston that
day. The captain said Bradley ought
! to go because Cook knew him, but the
junior partner didn't agree.
"You go, Cap'n Ez,' he said, with
decision You're better bargainer
than / am, and it'll take good talker
and clever trader to land this job in
| the face of the competition. Go, and
good luck be with your
So the captain went on the first train.
He promised to telegraph as soon as a
decision was reached.
But no telegram came that day. All
the next forenoon Bradley hung about
the station waiting. The noon train
arrived no captain, and still no word.
He determined to wait until the even
ing train arrived, and then, if the cap
tain didn't come, to telegraph. But the
first man of the train was Captain Tit
comb.
Didn't get it, hey?" asked Bradley.
"Oh, got it! Yes, got it! Now.
don't ask any more questions here.
Come on down to my room"
He was silent all the way to the
Travellers Rest and, for man who
had just secured the greatest contract
of his business life, seemed strangely
downcast. When they reached the
room he locked the door and threw his
overcoat and hat on the sofa.
WELL" he said slowly, Il made B0s-
ton all right and stood for Cook &
sons unQef IuH CANVAS. udlleu TIE
young squirt with the hay on his upper
lip and asked him If the old man was
In. What do you want to see him
for?' says he. Son. says l, you trot
along like good little boy and tell
the old man that the Teller that's g0in'
to git the Freedom off Orham shoal is
out here That kind of fetched him
over with slat, and he went in and
told Cook In a minute out he comes
and pilots me into the shippers state
room.
II cal'late Cook was expectin' to see
another Teller. Are you from the Sal
wage company says he. No. says |,
takin' chair; my names Titcomb.
I'm from Orham. My partners a
young Teller name of Nickerson. He's
the one you picked out to lift the
Liberty's anchor that time Well, that
way of putin it made him laugh, and
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