The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-03-06


hands clearing up the coal dust that be-
grimed everything The schooner had
carried coal for over year now, and
her latest occupation had not improved
her appearance. She was old enough be-
fore and patched and mended enough.
and to turn her into collier seemed
final humiliation Captain Titcomb had
felt it keenly, and his disgust was out
spoken.
well, by crimusteev' he had eiacu-
lated when his fiatfOoted rebellion
had been smothered by another raise
in salary. Il used to dream about
cornmandin' Australian clipper some
day or mother, but | never dreamed
that I'd come to be skipper of a coal
hod, and secondhand rusted out
coal bod at that. Blessed If it amt
enough to make the old man-dad.
mean-turn over in his grave, Come
on, Brad. Let's go to the theater !
want to forgit it,
The captain had another project III
his mind, a sort of secret hobby he
limited at every little while but never
told. These hints usually followed
particularly disagreeable trip or when
the rickety Thomas Doane behaved
even more like cantankerous old maid
than was her wont Then. when he
! and Bradley We're alone. the captain
would wake from day dream to say
BRAD, | git more and more sick of
this bein' somebody else's errand boy
every minute. Some of these days I'm
goin' to take a whack at somethin'
different, and / have a notion what
twill be too. | guess likely | may ask
you to come in with me- / b'leve it's
good notion. Tell you bout it some
day"
But he never did.
Bradley had grown tall and broad
during his term of cruising. He
had learned self reliance, and his
voice had masterful ring. When he
went back to Orham nowadays the
old maids took special delight in hav-
ing him escort them to church, and
Miss Tempy's eyes during the sermon
were oftener fixed upon him than upon
the minister. The money that he sent
the sisters amounted to something
now, and he had an account in the
savings bank.
Now, as he stood by the rail, with his
hands in his pockets. he heard a step
on the wharf behind him and turned
to see Captain Titcomb jump from the
stringpiece. catch the shroud and
swing aboard. The captains usually
good natured face had a scowl on it,
/ and he was plainly not happy.
i Bradley touched his cap. How are
] things going up at the office?" lie
asked
plumb to the DEVIL was the short
reply. The gla-scing up at the young
mans face ana looking hurriedly away
again, he added: Come aft. | want
to talk to YOU
Seated in the dingy cabin, the cap
tain took q cigar from his pocket. bit
off the end with jerk and smoked in
great puffs. Bradley waited for him
to speak. The shippers i'll humor and
obvious discomfort had come upon him
the afternoon of the day the Thomas
DOane reached port and had grown
steadily worse Each morning Cap
i tain Titcomb had spent at the Office
of Williams Bros. and when he re-
turned to the schooner he had done
little but smoke. scowl and pace the
deck. The second mate was worried.
but he asked no questions
Brad said the captain. looking at
the shabby carpet on the cabin floor.
we're goin' to have a new mate"
Bradley was surprised rs Mr. Bal
1 ley going to leave?' he asked The
/ old first mate had been as much
i part of the Thomas Doane as her main
mast
They've given him the Arrow. the
new schooner He's goin' to run her"
''Why. why Cap'n Ezra thought
I she was promised to YOU
Il thought so, too, but | missed my
reck MIN, it seems Williams-he amt
ha'f the man his brother Was-he
wants me to wait till the other one, the
four master, is off the ways. Then |
can have her il | want her..
but she won't be ready for six
months though | guess from what
near sHG IL DG AOElu Willing 1Of.
Who'll have the old Doane them"
Captain Titcomb crossed his legs, but
didn't answer. Instead he asked:
Brad, how would you like to sail I'M
der Bailey? You and him got long
first rate. / wouldn't wonder if |
could git you the second mates berth
on the Arrow. She's bran new and
clean, not like this hencoop." And he
kicked ,stateroom door with empha
sis.
Bradley did not hesitate. 4 guess
if YOU can stand the hencoop cam he
said decisively. I'D rather wait with
you, thank YOU"
Il don't knows you'd better. Look
here" And for the first time the cap
tain raised his eyes. You know
wouldn't try to influence you if 'twan't
sor your own good. / honestly think