Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-03-22

WIFI IpdIHtA anu L IA AfAh
" at the fimsiest jokes aud Wmsi'd
as lie stood at the LiZzie's wheel ANA
steered her out Of the harhor
They worked at getting out the tar
until 3 O'Clock. when, at Captain Tit
combs suggestion, they quit for the
day. and the Lizzie came back To hcr
moorln@s. Then the crew went ashore
and the partners shut themselves IN
the cabin to once more discuss the
project of buying the Diving Belle.
The photographs and sketches were eX-
hibited, the captain argued and en-
Unused. and Bradley did his best to
forget Gus AMI to be interested. H.
succeeded partially.
The junior partner agreed that the
VINEYARD Haven schooner WIS 4 Won
derful bargain, but lie disliked th' idea
of going in debt for Il part OF her, as
it seemed that they must do.
You see Cap'n En-" lie said, we've
got altogether less than $1,000 between
us if we put UP every cent we've made
We shall have to borrow at least an
other thousand. and | hate To. In Il
year. if things 20 rs we'll as they have,
we ought to be able to build Il new
vessel and pay for every stick OF her.
And yet" he added. ut seems a shame
to let this chance 90 by"
The captain glanced at his compmn-
ion and drummcd with his fingers on
the table When he spoke there was a
hesitancy in his manner,
We can't let it 90 by" he said.
"Wc'd never @it another Ike it, Now,
Rrad-now. EraU'- He stopped ANA
drummed again. Then he went on
without looking up. Il don't knows
l mentioned this afore hut all my
money amt been put into this wreei,in'
deal yit You see, | own some shares
in that big cranbry bog of the OStlhle
folks. Must be about ST. 500 Wuth nj.
together. callate maybe | amt
spoke of this to you afore. have II"
"Well. no. you haven't" answered
the aStonish.d Bradley dryly.
NO. | presume likely it-er-must
have slippel my mind. Wcn I'll sell
the bog shares ami put up what's need
ed to finish Juyn' the Diyin' Belle.
You can pay or FOUR pant as we earn
it. Is it go?'
"All right" BRADLEY said finally; TN
agree of course. If you're willing 10
risk it, ought to be"
Good. Wen take a day off tomor
rer and go up 10 the Haven and look
her over"
The partners started for Vineyard
Haven i'll the early morning. The cap
tain talked most Of the way, for which
Bradley was thankful. lie didn't feel
like talking. They found the Diving
Belle lying at the wharf. and Captain
Titcomb watched his companions face
MS they stood on the stIiugiJiece look
ing down at her.
They bought the schooner It re
malned only to bring over the check
and take away the schooner. and this
they did week later. Meanwhile
Captain Iitc0mb had performed auU.h-
er miracle. He had hunted up man
who had expressed Il desire to lur-
chase the Lizzie and after two DAYS of
bargaining, during which time the cap
tain had twice pretended to give it I'D
and return to Orham, hal sold him
the old schooner for 500: also lie sold
his shares in the cranberry bog.
There was Il good sized crowd of
townspeople on the Orham wharf when
the Diving Belle slid smoothly past the
harDor. mouth and up to her mornings.
There was a splendid breeze. hut they
wouldn't have used the sails for any
consideration. The sight Of the NOV
ing pistons in that wonderful sixteen
horsepower engine, the enchanting
smell OF the gasoline, the mul.lnd drum
ming of the propeller under the stern
these We're brand new, unauthorized
joys of pr0prietorship that no mere
item like the saving of unnecessary
expense could induce them to forfeit.
Captain Ezra put in the most of his
spare time 'inlproving' the new pur-
chase. Bradley told him it seemed
like the Thomas Doane days to smell
paint and trip over Il bucket of water
and sWab every little WHILE
Orham was just then in the throes of
burglar scare. Two houses in the
village had been broken into, and the
natives were talking of calling an III.
dlgnatlon meeting for tile purpose of
expressing their opinion OF the select
men. Then steam yacht belonging to
a summer resident, which lay housed
over for winter in the harbor, was
boarded and ransacked.
1t was on the day following this rob
berry that Captain Ttcomb began tim
kerlng with the cabin door. This door
and the sliding hatch above it had been
fastened with a paddock The CAPTAINS
first move was to block the hatch so
that it would slide back but little
way. Then he sawed and hammered
away at the door.
"Thcre.' he cried in triumph after
two hours Of hard WORK. Brad, come
here! Spose one of them mean sneak
thieves tries to bust into that cabin.
He can pry the staple OF that paddock
easy, can't he? Yes, but the way that
hatch is now 'twon't open fur enough
for him to climb down; he's got to open
that door And that doors got on It
three dollar patent lock that can't
be opened without the key, and 10 ten
cent whistle down the barrel key eli