The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-03-20

a. LIS minute. DO you KNOW Caleb
Burgess. Cap'n Jerry's cousin?n
Yes; Bradley knew him. He owned
a little schooner that fitted along the
Cape Cod coast, picking up floating
wreckage when it was of value. drag
ging for anchors, dredging for chains
and ironwork lost by vessels in trou-
bic and doing sort of nautical old
junk business.
Wen. went on the captain, "Calebs
gittin' old, and he'd like to sell out.
Most folks think he's scratched q bare
Twin from the shoals. but / happen to
know that he's done good deal better
than that The old man told me how
much he had in the bank, and it want
to De sneezed at. Now, l could buy that
schooner of his cheap. She isn't much,
ana money would have to be spent on
her, but she'd do for a start You under
stand, the wreckin' business I'd do
wouldn't be anchor draggin' alone
There's money in a first class wreckin
plant on Cape Cod Wrecks! Why,
they pile up there three deep every
winter. Now, listen minute, while
rise to blow
Bradley listened, and the captain
talked. He had evidently given much
thought to this proposition. and his
plans We're ambitious. He believed
that IT capable man bought the Lizzie
that was the name of the Burgess
schooner-added to her equipment and
sailed her himself he could build up Il
profitable business The salvage of
cargoes of stranded schooners and of
the schooners themselves played a
large part in his plans One or two
good sized jobs of this kind taken on
commission basis would bring in capital
enough to warrant the purchase of
bigger vessel, fitted with auxiliary
power. fitted with a diving equipment
derricks and the like
But wouldn't that take capital?"
Sartln sure But let me-uS-prove
that the profits there and the capital III
be donated, like frozen potaters at a
minister's surprise party. Oh, I've
thought it out! Now, here!"
The captains plan for Bradley's CO
operation was, briefly stated, just this
He Captain Titcomb) would provide
the money for buying the Lizzie and
whatever else was immedia tely neces-
sary. Bradley would contribute his
savings to the pile. They were to be
partners on equal shares, but Bradley
was to pay from his share of whatever
pronfs might come from time to time
the amount necessary to make his in
vestment the equal of the captains
No new move was to be made without
the consent of both partners. 1t was
very generous offer, and Bradley said
SO.
mo generosity about it," protested
captain Ezra. I'm lookin' out for
myself, and need you, as the tipsy
man said to the lamp post. | tell you.
honest, l sha'n't go into this thing. I'M
less you go in with me. Maybe it's a
fool notion anyway. Well, there he
concluded, now that I've unloaded
my mind, We'll go down to the Cape
this afternoon. I'll look round. and
you take week to think things over
in. At the end of the week you can
say Yes or No."
They caught the 4 o'clock train for
Orham
The .sold maids were washing the
supper dishes when Bradley surprised
them by walking into the dining room
When the first shock was oyer the sis
ters were the most delighted pair in
Orham. They insisted on preparing a
brand new meal for their boy and
no amount of Hrotestation on his part
could change their minds.
They were very curious to know why
Bradley had come home so unexpect-
eddy, and when they learned that he
had left the Thomas Doane and not
only that. but that the captain also
had left. they asked one question after
another. Bradley simply said that the
captain had other plans and that he
couldn't tell what they were yet
After supper they adjourned to the
sitting room. Bradley was uneasy
and several times glanced at the clock.
After awhile he said that, if they
didn't mind he should like to go out
tiers said, they didn't mind,'' and he
put on his hat and went.
Miss Prissy's shrewd guess wasn't
far wrong. Bradley passed out of the
Allen gate only to open the one Of the
yard adjoining His knock at the
side door apparently started canine
insurrection, for there was a tremen-
dous barking and growing inside, and
when old Mrs. Baker answered the
knock the heads of Tuesday and Win
field, the only survivors of Gus troop
Of pets, protruded from either side of
her skirt Both dogs and old lady
were surprised and glad to see the
visitor.
"Why, Bradley Nickersonv exclaim-
ed Mrs. Baker. How do you do?
Come right in, won't you? No, Gusty
amt in jest, now. It's prayer meet
in night, and she thought she'd go.
Well, I'm sorry you won't step in and