The Elbert County tribune., 1908-07-02
SCARLET SILAS'

saiu the Dr1dge-tender, as he
peered through the window of
the shanty into the fog that
lay sullenly on the water,
q heavy, uncompromising fog born OF
the smoke of Chicago's chimneys and
the driving white mists of Lake Mich.
igan.
What gets me Is why any man
takes to lake sailorin' in the fust
place. and why he keeps at 1t after
he makes one trip and learns wot
dogs life it is. Now, there was my
self. l tried it, but skipped at the
fust port we made and plugged my
way back to Chi on a freight. 1t
was tough travelin', but it beat deck
hustlin on lumber boat all to
pieces. Bridge-tendin g as close as
ever l want to get to sailin' again.
1t amt that lake sailors is so stuck
on their jobs that keeps them at 1t.
There's Joe wilkins, Bandy Joe, as
We call him, sit right on that seat
where you're settin' now, six months
ago, and told me how he'd saved up g
few hundred dollars and him and his
pal, Sam Burrows, was goin' to start
into business for themselves and
nevea would set foot on ship again.
But notice Bandy's back cookin' on
the Jim Hill and Sans doin' a fore
mast stunt on the schooner Mary
land
Mebbe they might have kept their
word, though, if they hadn't struck a
snag before they got started on the
new deal This yer Bandy was al
E ways a close, savin' sort of guy,
which is most unusual thing with
sailormen. Sam often made up his
mind to save, too, but never made 1t
up enough to begin. But when his
uncle died and left him 5000, Bandy
heard of 1t and looked him up right
away.
"See here, Sam" ses he, you've
bin fool long enough. Wot's the use
of bein' rawhided and jawed by low
down ornery mates and captains all
your life? I've got $500 scraped to-
gether, and II you add your pile to
mine we can buy out old Daddy Minis
lunchroom on the docks. He's made
enough money to live bully for the
rest of his days and wants to sell
out. It's sure winner, for most all
the river boys feed there, and old
MIN told me l could have the joint
for $1,000 cash down"
The idea looked good to Sam and
hey headed for the Mariners Rest to
have a quiet drink and talk 1t over.
Nearly everyone there had heard of
Sans luck, and they kept comm up,
one after the other, to congratulate
him. If Bandy hadn't bin along. Sam
might have loosened up and treated
all hands. But Bandy kept whis-
perrin In his ear and joggin' his ell
bow all the time. warnin' him to be
careful.
There was stranger in the bar,
white-bearded old chap with pleas
ant, smilin' face He'd bin watchin'
the gang gettin' after Sam, and when
they got tired seein' that there was
nothin' doin', he came over and sit
down at their table.
"'Scuse me, gents" he ses, "but II
you'll honor me by havin' drink, /
shall feel myself under a obligation to
you"
Bandy was never known to refuse
anything he could get for nothing,
and Sam was only too willin', so they
didn't shy at putting the old fellow
under obligation, as he called It,
He was very smooth speakin' chap,
and before they was settin' there long
they put him under couple more
obligations without maxim any kick
about it. Then Sam, who was a
good-hearted guy. and thought it was
about time he did something, was
going to call the waiter, when Bandy
logs his elbow and makes a face at