The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-03-06
Partners ef 4
! ! e! ! 8! !! : the Tide
~ co,xrl.,, ,oez = a,r.e.


pair walked briskly across the city to
the elevated railway station. Then
they rode uptown. had six course
dinner in marvellous restaurant.
where an orchestra played while you
ate. and then went to the theater to
see play called 1.-THE Great Metrop-
oils" Tt was all real to Bradley. and
he thrilled. wept and laughed alter
nately.
On the Sly down in the elevated he
said. with Il. whimsical smile. Brad.
I cal'late if the old maids knew took
you to the theater they'd think you
was slidin' a creased pole to perdition.
wouldn't they"
Bradley smiled also as he answered:
"No, sir. | guess they'd think if you
did it twas all right
Captain Titcomb grinned. but he
made no comment on the reply. All
he said was: 'Well, Orham's Orham.
and New York's New York, and the
way things looks depends considerable
on which end of the spyglass Won
squint through. Anyhow. p'r'aps you'd
better not put this cruise down in the
!
log"
But Bradley did put it down in the
log-that is to say, he wrote a full ac-
count of this the greatest evening of
f his life. in his next letter to the sis
ters His habit Of scrupulous honesty
still clung to him, and he did not evade
or cover up. If he did a thing it was
done because he thought it right, and
other considerations counted for little.
Occasions like the theater trip were
few and far apart. For the most part
Captain Titcomb was skipper and
Bradley was the hand" With every
voyage, sometimes to Portland, to
Portsmouth. to Boston, and, of course.
to New York. the boy learned new
things about his chief officer and to
understand him better.
He learned why it was that the cap
tain received so many presents and
was considered such slick article.
His acquaintance among seafarIng
men and shipowners was large, and
he was always ready to do little IA
vors" Sometimes Il captain just i'll
from a foreign cruise had hidden away
two or three pieces of silk or jewelry
or even in one case. piano, that We're
intended for gifts to the folks at home
and to the cost of which the custom
house duty would be an uncomfortable
addition. Then Captain Titcomb visit
ed that ship. purely as social func-
ton, and when he came away the
iewelry or silk came with him. In the
piano affair it was bribery pure and
simple, with the addition of little bull
lying of an inspector who had made
few slips before that the captain knew
of. Petty smuggling like this Captain
Titcomb did not consider a sin worth
worrying about. There was smack
of adventure in it and the fun of TAX
/ ing chances"
Then, as a bargainer and a driver OF
sharp trades with shipping merchants
and others the captain was an expert.
He liked, as he said, to "dicker." and
/ besides, he was always Oh the lookout
to further the interests Of his owners
Looking out for the owners was his
hobby and explained in measure why
him more than they paid their other
shippers.
He was a "driver" with his crews.
and every particle that was in the
rickety Thomas Doane he got out of
her. He was easy so long as a man
obeyed orders, but at the slightest hint
of mutiny things happened
The Thomas Doane passed and re
passed Cape Cod on her short VOYAGE
and Bradley. with every trip, learned
more of the sea and the seaman's life
At the end Of his three months he went
home for 4 weeks stay, but he had al
iready made up his mind to return to
the schooner again. Captain Titcomb
had said that lie was pleased with him
and limited at a steady rise in wages
and promotion later on. He was earn
ing his living now-it cost little to live
and he sent home few dollars to
the old maids every now and then.
His first home coming was d great
event. The supper that first night was
almost equal in the amount of food on
the table to his dinner with the captain
" the NEW Ofk restaurant. l u fact,
Bradley, released from salt junk and
fo'castle grub, ate SO much that he sui
fered with the nightmare and groaned
so dismally that the alarmed sisters
pounded on his chamber door, and Miss
Tempy insisted that what he needed
was a dose of "Old DR. Thomas Dis.
covery''-her newest patent medicine
and nice hot cup of pepper tea"
There was no music during the meal,
but the old maids talked continuously.
The hemming and the shawl Industry
We're bringing in some money, though
not yet what Miss Tempy anticipated
and they had had a windfaH in tho
shape of contribution from the Samp-
son fund.
Were all the children father had
said the older sister THE letter said
that there was money due IS from tile
fund and that we was entitled to 50
much every wear most n bupdrod ,laj