Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-02-15
CHAPTER VIII.

lamculcd owners have committed /
financial suicide 10y cuttin' You "i IN :
the flower of your youth, 80 To speak,
1t was lgie the morning Of the IhIrd 1
day after the captains return from his /
fying visit to New York. They had |
said goodhy 10 the Thomas noanc the |
previous forenoon and were now occu-
pyiug Il room in the United States no
Tel.
Bradley. who was sitting by the
window. looking down upon the hats /
of the people in the narrow street. |
answered slowly: Il don't know. I've !
been waiting to find ont what You in
tended doing"
The captain crossed his legs ana tilt
ell back in his chair.
Il carlate." he observed, that |
could walk out of this gildcd palace
of luxury and run afoul of another
SHIPPERS berth inside Of IN hour Not
at my old wages. of course, but pref
ty fair berth. all the same. But fact
is, Brad. I've had 4 Rink in my man
, sheet for IL considerable spell. I've had
a no. ion that some day | was goin 10
cut loose and cruise on my own hook.
You know Eve limited at it for over a
year Now. it looks as if this was my
chance or never. Brad, how'd you like
to be wrecker:"
~ wrcckcr:" Bradley's face showed
his absolute establishment.
"Oh. | Gon1 mean the line of wreck
in that is maxim your eyes stick out
mt this minute. DO you know Caleb
Burgess, Cap'n Jerry's cousin"
Yes: Bradley knew him. He owned
q little schooner that Tilted along the
Cape Cod coast, picking up tloatns
wreckagc when it was of value, drag
ging for anchors. dredging for chains
and ironwork lost by vessels in trou-
bic and doing sort of nautical old
junk business.
"Wrll." went Oh the captain, "Calch's
gittm' old. and he'd like to sell out.
Most foEs think he's scratched bare
livin' from TIE shoals but ! Happen to
know that he's done Il good deal better
than that The old man told me how
much lie had in the bank. and it want
to lie Nnce%pd at Now. | could buy that
schooner of his cheap. She isn't much
and money would have to be spent on
her, hut she'd do for Il start. You under
stand tie wrechin' business I'd do
wouldn't be anchor draggin' alone.
There's money in Il first clrss wreclln'
plant on cape Cod. Wrecks! Why,
they pile UP there three deep every
winter Now, listen Il minute, While |
rise To blow
Bradley listened, and the captain
talked. He had evidently given much
thought to this proposition, and his
plans We're ambitious. lie believed
that if il capable man bought the Lizzie
that was the name of the Burgess
schooner added TO her equipment and
sailed her himself he could build UP Il
profitable business. The salvage OF
cargocS of stranded schooners and OF
the schooEerS themselves played 4
large part in his plans. One or tive
good sized jobs Of this kind taken on 8
commission basis would bring in capita
enough to warrant the purchase of :
power. fitted with diving equipment
denicks ANA the like.
but wouldn't that take capital?'
"Sartin sure. But let me-us prove
that the profits there and the capital u
be donated, like frozen potatrrs at :
minister's surprise party. Oh, I've
thought it cut, Now, herew
The captains plan for Bradlcys co
operation was briefly stated. Just this
ia
the money for buying the Lizzie an,
whatever else was immediately neces
sary. Bradley would contribute hi
savings to the pile They We're to b,
partners on equal shares, but Bradle,
was to pay from his share Of whateve
profits might come from time to tim
the amount necessary to make his in
vcStmcnt the equal of the captains
No new move was to be made Witho1l
the consent of both partners. 1t was
very generous offer, and Bradley sal,
so.
"No generosity about it, protcste,
Captain Ezra. I'm loolin' ont fo
myself, and need you, as the tips
man said to the lamp post. | tell YOU
honest | shan't go into this thing uIl
less YOU 80 in with me. Maybe it's
fool notion anyway, Well, there" h
concluded. nov that I've unloade'
my mind. Wen go down to the Cap
this afternoon. I'll look round an
you take week TO think things owe
in. 1T the end Of the week you ca
say Yes or No"
They caurlt the 4 O'clorl; train fC