The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-24

we nave on 01nO DtiOuSS 10 Tue peOple
who took the mortgage. We couldn'1
pay you for another weeks work So
then. either we must give up the con
tract-which VIII ruin US and drive the
firm out of the wrecking business for
good-or we must come TO you with
another proposition. l think every man
who has worked for Us knows that we
don't play favorites. Every fellow
knows that he'll be treated fair so long
as he does his work But this / want
to say: Well stick to those who stick
by us We shan't forget our friends,
And this is our proposition: To the men
who will volunteer to help US get this
barge afIoat, we will pay 81 day-in-
stead Of So, as you're getting now
when we float her and get our money.
II we fail. you get nothing. and SO do
we. Ii we win, you win. We can float
her if the weather holds good. What
I'm asking is that you share our
chances. It's up to you. What do you
say?"
Bradley stopped and put his hands
in his pockets. The men shufied their
feet and looked at each other. One or
two Of them whispered behind their
hands Then Barney Small snatched
his rusty cloth cap from his head, toss
ed it to the deck and jumped upon it
with both feet.
stage is ready for Orham, South
Orham, West Harniss and Setuckit
P'intr' he shouted. "Git aboard.
Come on, you Iubbers! Have me and
Brad and Cap'n Ez got to work her
off alone"
Alvin Bearse struck the ex-stage
driver a resounding thump in the back.
sYou bet you ain'tr' he cried. 'Tm
inr'
me, toor' said Ira Sparrow.
present and accounted for" OBJ
served Bill Taylor. Ellis simply nod
ded and stepped forward. Others join
ed them by twos and threes.
Then Peleg Myrick sauntered to the
front. II dunno's I jest understand
what the boss wants." he drawled,
zicks can do. why
That settled it. There was cheer.
and the men began pushing each other
out Of the way to join the volunteers.
In few minutes there were only five
who had not come forward.
And after that came work, work,
work The men were organized into
day and night gangs. Bradley COM
manded the former, Captain Titcomb
the latter.
The partners hired the You and 1 to
Diving Belle had been engaged in. The
lack Of the schooner was great handi-
nap, but they had no funds with which
10 hire a large vessel.
They made their headquarters
aboard the barge now. Bradley did
not go mp to Orham at all. When his
days work was over he ate a hasty
supper and tumbled into a berth In
the shippers cabin, sometimes to
sleep, but more often to lie awake and
plan for the morrow. He was still
pale and weak from the effects Of the
blow on the head, but he would not
take it easy, as the captain begged.
The worry and strain Of the, labor
We're in a sense reliefs to him-they
kept him from thinking Of other things.
Each morning the old maids tele-
phoned to the station to learn how he
felt and how the work was progress
ing. Bradley gathered from Miss Pris-
sy's anxious remarks that in the vii
lage the partners failure was regard
ed as foregone conclusion. The news
made him only more determined to
succeed.
Cook &c Sons wired daily, and every
afternoon a report was sent to them.
These reports were growing more OPP
timistic The barge was eating her
way steadily through the shoal, and
as she was lightened she moved faster.
They watched the cables as cat
watches a rat hole, keeping them al
ways tight. The captain said: BRAD,
IL didn't know what was the matter
[ should b'lieye my old Sunday school
teacher was right. He always swore
I'd be hung some day. and now all I
can dream about is ropes"
The captains energy was something
A nervous man by nature,
he flew from one end OF the Freedom
to the other, commanding, helping. hur-
rying. With the men he was always
cheerful and sure Of success. but once
n awhile, alone with his partner, he
showed his real feelings. One morn |
ng before turning in he went ashore
70 telephone. When he came back he
called Bradley aside and said:
BRAD, Sam says the gov'ment |
weather folks are foretellin' a big |
storm for day after tomorrer. It's |
,omin' from the south and IL strike |
here about then. It's q terror. they |
say. 1t worries me. I'm more scarf |
# gale of wind jest now than am |
# the Old Harry himself"
The junior partner looked troubled |
Wonder il that's what's distressing |
Peleg?' he observed. "Peleg has |
been after me ever since the fire. Says /
les got something to tell me-"
Hes been pesterin' me too. I amt /
lad no time to listen to his yarns. /
4et's see him."
They sent for the weather prophet. /
Who appeared, dirtier than ever. Look
lere, Peleg." was the captains saluta-
ion. What do we feed you for?
Here's the gov'ment weather sharp
mellin' cut gale, an you amt peeped-
You'll have to put specs on your sec