The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-03-20

IL De dSklu yOu lOI d hoiS Jul III
Three hundred and fifty! Dirt, dog
cheapr'
I'm glad you feel that way, cap'n.
OF course diver IL be expensive. The
salvage company will charge us any
where from SIS to $50 a day for a
good one. And there's where I'm
afraid the whole speculation falls
down. We don't know how that tar
lies, whether the hulIs broken up,
whether the barrels are sanded over or
not. 1t might take 50 long to get it
out that we'd lose money"
The captain, with both hands jam
med into his pockets-hi beckets, he
called them-was pacing up and down.
"Tve got your diver, boy!' he cried.
"That is, I've got him il you say the
word. Five dollars day, too, in
stead Of fifteen"
"Where In the world
Right here in Orham. And he's had
plenty of experience. What's the mat
ter with Sam HammondY
Sam Hammond. Sam-why, Cap'n
Ez, what are you talking about? Sam
told me himself that he'd come home
to rest He's going back to New York
in little while. He wouldn't work
for us!'
wouldn't, hey? Brad. twas the fell
Ter with one leg that was too religious
to dance Sans out Of job. Maybe
he fired the boss; maybe the boss fired
him. All | know Is that he told me
last night he'd dive for us at 50 per.
Course he'd only do it to help us out,
but that's all right. l don't care if
there's a hole in the bag so longs the
cookies are inside"
And so that Is how Samuel Ham
mond, late of the Metropolitan Wreck
ing company of New York, came to en-
ter the employ of Titcomb & Nicker-
son, to whom he had contemptuously
referred as anchor draggers." But if
Bradley supposed for a moment that
Sam would change his patronizing at
titude because of the move he was
much mistaken. Mr.. Hammond laugh
ed when he boarded the Lizzie, asked
facetlously if "this was the vessel or
only the long boat?" and poked fun at
the whole outfit generally. He gave
each member of the crew to under
stand that he was only doing this for
awhile to help out Brad. He said that
puttering around this way was such
change for him that 1t was the best
fun Of his vacation.
He took pains to make his position
plain in the minds of the townspeople.
Captain Jabez Bailey told Bradley in a
confidential whisper: Its mighty good
of Sam to turn to and help you and
Ez out of a hole. | hope you appre-
ciate it," Bradley said he appreciated
it fully.
Even Gus was inclined to view the
matter in that light. Sam saw to it
that she did. He called at the Baker
homestead pretty often, and when
Bradley was there treated the latter in
a jolly, good fellow sort of way that
couldn't we'll be resented, but which
had always in it that aggravating fla
vor of plying patronage.
Bradley felt that he was placed in an
awkward and humiliating position He
told Gus so plainly.
Gus" he asked, do you think it's
fair to allow Sam to call here as he
does =
A more experienced ladies' man
Captain Titcomb. for instance-would
not have selected this particular even
ing to bring up this particular subject.
Gus was in one Of her uncertain moods.
She had refused to be serious before,
and she was not serious now.
"Why. Bradley Nickersonw she ex-
claimed. with a laugh, II do believe
you're jealousw
mo, I'm not jealous exactly. But
why do you let him come hereT
"Brad, don't you trust meY'
"Of course l trust you"
"Then why are you suspicious or
what are you afraid ofY
This very direct question was en-
barrassing. Bradley felt certain that
he had good reason to be suspicious of
Hammond's intentions. but he knew
he had no actual proof that would war
rant his saying so. He stammered and
could reply only that he didn't like the
fellows calling so often.
Bradley went home injured and re-
sentful. He made up his mind that
Gus shouldn't have another chance to
call him Jealous" He could show
her that there were others who didn't
care.
He plunged into business deeper than
ever. The diving outfit came from
Boston and worked well. They visited
the sunken tar schooner, and Sam
made his first dive. Captain Titcomb,
who understood the apparatus, worked
the pump Sam reported that the tar
seemed to be In good condition, and
that, for the present, they could get
up number of the barrels through the
hatchway. Later they might have to
blow away a part Of the hull
SO every fair day they worked over
the wreck. Sam, in the divers suit,
clambered down into the submerged
vessels hold and attached the barrels
to the tackle. Then, by the aid of the