The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-27

nut WHeu Will you DC WILING 10
have me tell people that we're en-
gagged: Mayn't do that now. GusT'
! She paused. and his hopes rose. but
/ then she shook her head. 1T wouldn't
j be fair TO you." she said. sometimes
I feel that l almost-well. like you
/ enough To be content to stay in Orham
/ all my life and work for you and with
/ YOU. I'm trying hard TO feel that way
/ But NJ other times II seems as IL
must get away TO where the people
( talk of something besides their neigh
bors' affairs: where there are grent
things being done and where the world
moves. You think I'm inconsistent.
don't you:'
"No. il is duh down here. and most
OF the folks are rather narrow. I'm
afraid. Gus, ,you know what my bust
ness means to me- Well. il IL will
please You and You will come with me.
I'll give ii all up. even now. and go
back TO the city and try it there
She smiled tenderly You're a dear,
good boy" she said. "but do you sup
pose I should ever be happy again If
l let you do that?''
The railway journey TO Boston had
only one incident worth notice. At
Buzzard's Bay the BOSTON train meets
that bound down the cape. There was
some delay at the station. and Brad
ley stepped out on the platform. He
was walking up and down smoking
when somebody shouted: Hello, Brad
Nickerson! What are you doing
here:"
Brad turned and saw Sam Ham
mond.
"Wellr' he exclaimed shaking hands
with his old seat mate. Where are
Won bound-Orham:'
"Yup. How is the old graveyard
anyway
Pretty quiet just now Most OF the
summer folks have gone home. You
on another vacation?'
Sam laughed. kind OF vacation n
fellow hands out to himself" he an
swered. THE wrecking company and
l had a row. They tried to put ten
mems work on me. and I wouldn't
stand for it, So told 'em TO go TO the
devil. 1t put 'em in a hole. all right.
but nobody's going to walk on my
neck il I know il. I'm going home TO
loaf for awhile. l need n rest anyway.
Then I'll go back to New York and
plenty OF 'em want me. but they can
wait. How's all the girls? Gus Baker
pretty well?'
They talked for few minutes long
err. Sam asked how the anchor drag
ging trust was getting on. Then the
two trains started. Bradley leaned
back I'm his seat In the smoker and
meditated. Somehow a conversation
with Sam always made him "blue."
He wished the fellow was not going
to Orham.
Next morning. bright and early. he
walked into the "coal kings" ONCE
An important young man with a pen
behind his ear disdained to notice him.
Who'd you wish to see?" he asked
after dienified interval.
Mr.. Cook-the older one" answered
Bradley.
"He's busy now: likely to be busy
all the morning. What do you want to
see him for? Won't doT'
don't know. I'm sure" replied the
wrccker grsvsly. .T'li speak to Mr..
Cook about It. You see, he was the
one that scEt for me, so"
HE sent for you. Oh. excuse me.
wish you'd ss.l so sooner. Sit down.
please. What name. sir?'
"Nickerson. SIR
The younG man. much less impor-
tant. hurried into another room and re-
turned at cnce.
''Mr Cook II see sou. SIR" he said.
opening the gate. '.Step right into his
private office. Mr.. Nickerson.'
The great Mr.. Cook was seated be-
., ind 1T To- e,A ,ln1n
outfit looked rather formidable. He
stared at Bradley over his glasses.
'Sit down. he commanded. Got
my wire, I suppose"
Yes. sir"
"Well. what's your lowest price for
the anchor and chain Of the Liberty.
which I understand you have buoyed,
delivered on the Orham wharf? Low
est. mind. No trimmings
give hundred dollars"
'.All right, you may take II up. Til
give you four hundred cash for the
Job Go ahead. and work quick. Good
day. Nickerson: glad to have met you"
He swung around to the desk and
picked up some papers. But Bradley
did not go.
Excuse me. Mr.. Cook" he said.
''Our figure was five hundred, not
four"
"Humph! Well. fve's robbery. Four's
what III pay"
'.All right, sir. Sorry we can't trade.
Good morning"
"Hold on therer' shouted the owner
Of the Liberty. do you mean you
won't raise the anchor!'
mot for less than five hundred"
''Split the difference. Make II four
fifty"
mo. sir
''Oh, well, hang II, go ahead. Five
hundred, then-only don't bother me
any more"
But Bradley still hesitated. There
is just one thing more. Mr. Cook" he
said THAT chain has sanded i'm every
day since 1t has been on that bottom.
(f7I Tt lI1tll