The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-02-20


Orders are orders" he said. Mr.
burke was your skipper-with me out
of the way-and you ought to have
minded him, just as l should my own
ers"
Wreck a vessel for her insurance."
groaned Bradley. Il didn't think you'd
do 1t. Cap'n Ez. l didn't think you'd
do it,
The dismay, the grieved disappoint-
ment and horror in his friends tone,
seemed to hurt Captain Titcomb sore
". He glanced at Bradley and then
looked away again.
"Tve heard all sorts of yarns about
you I'm Orham," went on Bradley.
They say you're too smart and that
you'll bear watching and all that. I've
called those that said 1t liars, and I've
stood by you through thick and thin.
But now What do you think they d
say II they knew of this? What do you
think Miss Prissy and Miss Tempy
would say? Why, they b'lieve you're
the best
The captain broke in testify. Never
mind all that" he said. Gas for 'Squeal-
err Wixon and Jabe Bailey's talk, l
don't care a snap. And the old maids
Amt exactly up to date in this worlds
way Of lookin' at things. S'pose the old
Doane was booked for thunderation by
the shoal route-what Of it2 Mind, 1
only say s'pose. Better to go that way
on a smooth night, with all hands saw
ed, than to bust up in a squall and
drown us ALL as was likely to happen
any minute. Nobody loses but the In
surance folks, and they'd lose quick
enough anyhow. Why, it's done a hun
dred times a year all along this coast.
Member when the Bay Queen piled up
on the beach OFF Setuekit last summer?
Everybody was as sartin as could be
that twas done a-purpose. but you
couldn't prove nothin'. So with the
Rhoda Horton and the Banner and any
quantity more. S'pose-mind, I'm only
sposin'-that you'd got orders from
your owuers-orders. you understand
to do somethin' you didn't like? S'pose
you'd always stuck to owners orders a
good deal closer'n you had to the Bible?
You talk lot. So do other folks. But
what would you have doneY'
I'D have been honest and said No "
"Humpn. Well, l guess you would.
You're the nearest thing to an honest
man that I've run across ylt. Honesty
is the best policy, they say. But was II
honesty that made ha'f the million
aires? Are Williams Bros. rich because
they've always been honest? Josh
Bangs Is in the poorhouse and he's the
most honest critter in Orham, while his
brother Sol Is chairman of school COM
mittee, deacon in the church, has mon
ey in the bank and would skin the eye
teeth out Of a down east horse jockey.
Why
"Cap'n En-" interrupted Bradley.
"stop talkin' that way. You don't be-
lieve word Of IT, | know you too
we'll. The trouble with you is that ev-
erlasting owners orders | almost
think that that accident last night was,
as Miss Tempy would say, sent to
keep you from doing something you'd
be sorry for all the rest of your days"
The captain looked at the speaker
oddly. Then you callate,' he said,
that | ought TO thank God Almighty
and a tipsy fomast hand for savin'
what the book folks would call my
honor? That's all right only wait till
Williams Bros. send me their thanks
on clean plate with gilt doc
dads round the edges. Williams
Bros and your particular friend,
Mr. Burke, amt been heard from yet,
my son. Well. Brad, | s'pOse you'll be
packin up tonight anyway. An honest
man. 'cordin' to your log, amt needed
on the Thomas Doane. | told you you
ought to ship board the Arrow"
II didn't ship on the Arrow because
I'd rather be with you than anybody
else on earth. | wouldn't sail with a
rascal that would wreck a schooner,
and don't believe-I know you're not
a rascal oh, can't you see? 1t isn't my
self I'm thinking about-lt's yOu-you!'
The captain took his knife from his
pocket and whitfield a corner Off the
cabin table before replying. Then he
said slowly:
much obliged. Brad. But what do
you s'pose Williams Bros. will want
me to do when they give me orders
for this liners next trip"
II don't know"
"S'pose those orders are the same
as the last what them"
'Then say No. like an honest man"
Captain Ezra gave a short laugh.
Honesty. my son, is like dfmonds
sometimes - it's pretty. but it comes
high. You turn in. I'm goin' to set
up awhile and smoke"
Bradley reluctantly went to bed, but
when he awoke. several hours later,
be heard the captain stirring in his
stateroom.
Next morning the skipper received a
telegram.
civilians Bros, havin' heard from
friend Burke. want to have a little
chat with the commander Of the
clipper Thomas Doane," he remarked
TO Bradley. THAT doctor squilgeein'
my maintop with his physic stun has
made me feel Al again. I'm goin' to
Naxu York fonfOht IN thp Fall River