The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-03-17

S SAAChS III uuuiOr, the interview
the day before leaving New York. the
sudden change OF mates, the shippers
studied Indifference to the demuraliza.
tion among the crew, Burke's frantic
determination to keep on the course set
by him even after the proximity to the
shoals had been proved beyond doubt
ALI these We're fingers pointing In one
direction. Bradley, however, had not
looked In that direction. But now the
last wisp Of fog blew away and he
Saw clearly.
"Cap'n Ezw he gasped. "Cap'n Ez!
Were you going to wreck her on pur-
pose"
The captain shifted in his seat, but
did not look ut his companion.
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 should my own
ers."
Wreck a vessel for her insurancey'
groaned Bradley. IL didn't think you'd
do it. Cap'n Ez. l didn't think you'd
do it!'
The dismay, the grieved uisappoint-
ment and horror In his friends tone,
seemed to hurt Captain Titcomb sore
ly. He glanced at Bradley and then
looked away again.
"I've heard all sorts of yarns about
you In Orhaln," went on Bradley.
"They say you're too smart and that
you'll bear watching and all that I've
called those that said it liars, and I've
stood by you through thick and thin.
But now What do you think they'd
say If 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. "As for 'Squeal-
err Wixon and Jabe Bailey's talk,
don't care snap. And the old maids
amt exactly up to date In this worlds s
way Of loolSin' at things. S'pose the old
Doane was booked for thunderation by
the sh0al route-what Of It? Mind. I
only say s'poSe Better to go that way
on smooth night, with all hands saw
ed, than to bust up In a squali and
drown US an, 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 hun.
dred times q year all along this coast.
Member when the Bay Queen piled ND
On the beach OF Setuckit last summer
Every body was as sartin as could be
that twas done a-purpose. but you
couldn't prove nothin'. So with the
Rhcda Horton and the Banner and any
quantity more. Spose- I'm only
s'posin'-tha< you'd got orders Nom
your Ov ers-oRders. yop understand =
to do somethin' you didn't like? S'pose
you'd always stuck to owners orders q
good deal closer'n you had to the Bible 2
You talk lot. So do other folks. But
what would you have done"
"I'd have been honest aud said Mo- /"
"Humpn! Well. guess you would.
You're the nearest thing to an honest
man that I've run across yit. Honesty
10 the best policy. they say. But was It
honesty that made hat 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 crttter 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 down cast horse jockey.
Why
'Cap'n Es," interrupted Bradley.
stop talkin' that way. You don't be-
lieve q word Of It know you too
well. 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 oil the rest Of your days"
The captain looked at the speaker
oddly. "Then you cal'late," he said.
that ought to thank God Almighty
and a tipsy fo'mast 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 q sleal clate Mit..: .... ...: DO,
dads round the edges. Williams
Bros. and your particular friend,
Mr.. Burlse.. mint been heard from vet,
my son. Well, Brad. s'pose you'll be
pacliin' up tonight anyway. An honest
man. 'cordin' to your log. aln't 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 q schooner,
and l don't believe-I know you're not
a rascal. Oh. can't you see? It isn't my
self I'm thinking about-it's you--you!"
The captain took his knife from his
pocket and whitfield a corner of 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
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