The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-03-24
THE wATcHMAN AND soUTHRoN, MARCH a. 1909.

There's nigh on to $4,000 worth aboard.
and II Peleg's forecastin' works have
not got indigestion we ought to clean
up close to every stick of 1t. Brad,
shaker
And they shook hands. The oppor-
tunity they had been waiting for was
theirs at last.
The partners talked for another hour
before they separated. Three extra
hands at least, so the captain figured,
would be needed on the Lizzie.
So the next forenoon Bradley took
the train to Harniss, where he found
Alvin, oldest Of the Bearse "boys."
gray headed, leather faced youngster
Of flfty-five, and engaged him for the
sum Of SO day and his keep. ke was
to report on board at half past Z the
following morning. Then, having ac-
complished his share of the hiring, the
junior partner returned to Orham to
Inspect the Lizzie with nervous care
and to listen to the remarks Of dozen
or more disinterested acquaintances
who, having heard Of the contract, had
come down to the wharf to prophesy
and offer advice. 81
Bradley called on Gus that evening.
He had been SO busy with Captain
Tttcomb, planning and working for the
new contract, that he had seen her but
once and then only for monet since
the night Of the ball. But now, full of
hope and the triumph Of having Sc
cured the chance he had longed for, he
looked forward to telling her the good
news and receiving her congratula-
lions.
The windows of the Daker 'best
parlor" were lighted up--a most unusual
occurrence-and he vaguely wondered
II they had company" and who It
Ja.ss4 b.
Gus herself opened the door In re-
sponse to his knock.
"Why. hellor' she said. IL wonder.
ed II you had forgotten me entirely,
Mr.. Contractor, now that you really
are business man and the talk of the
town"
''Then you knewT' he exclaimed in
surprise.
"Why, Of course knew! haven't
heard anything else oil day. And, to
make 1t certain, Melissa called on
grandmother this afternoon, just after
she had been at your house."
Bradley smiled ruefully. "You must
have heard an encouraging yarn from
her." he said. "Have you got COM
panyY
"Oh. only friend of ours that you
know. Come right into the parlor."
He walked across the threshold of
that sacred apartment to find Sam
Hammond seated In the haircloth rock
er and looking very much at home.
Neither Of the young men appeared
particularly happy at meeting the
other. but. truth to tell. Hammond was
the more self possessed.
Hello. Brad" he said easily. 'Tve
heard nothing but you and Cap'n Ez
since breakfast. I'm glad for you; It's
nice little Job. II you can carry it
out"
The contract had seemed anything
but a little one to Bradley, and this
nonchalant way of referring to 1t took
him down a bit. Hammond continued
In the same condescending way.
II don't believe should know how
to handle Job like that" he observed,
without power or towboats or things
OF that sort. It would be like working
with your hands tied. Our people have
everything to do with. and they'd have
that lumber or In no time. Did
ever tell you how we raised the Mar
grave for the Barclay line folks. Gus?
That was a Job there was some fun in!
She was big iron steamer that ran