The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-02-24

ahuSt"SAC Va TIC SAINT cOiOr. lie wore Il
blue overcoat over blue suit and held
a cigar firmly in one corner Of his
mouth. His movements were quick
and sharp and he snapped out his sen.
tences with vigor.
Full cargo tonight" he asked Of
Mr.. Small, who was buttoning his
overcoat and pulling ON his gloves.
Pretty nigh an empty hold" was
the reply. "Only bout one and a ha'f
yoin' over. You're the one. and the boy
here's the ha'f. All aboard! Come on.
Brad. You and the capn cit inside.
while me and Dan git the dunnage ON
the rack"
The boy picked up the carpet bag and
followed Mr.. Small out to the rear
platform Of the station. where the
coach. an old fashioned, dingy vehicle
drawn by foN' sleepy horses. stood
waiting.
Captain Ti.comb followed, his over
coat tapping in the wind.
Here, Barney" he observed, "have q
cigar to smoke on the road. Have one
Dan? Here, Lon; here's a couple for
you and Ike. Who's the little Teller 2"
he added in a whisper to the station
agent.
ben Nickerson's boy from Well
mouth. He's comm down to Orham to
live with the old maids. They've adopt
ed him."
"The old maids? Not the old maids /?
Not Prissy and Tempy?"
"Yup. AL right, Barney; I'm COM
In"
The steaon agent hurried away to
help the driver with the captains sen
chest, and it's owner. apparently over
come with astonishment, climbed mute
ly into the coach, where his fellow
passenger had preceded him.
The old vehicle rocked and groaned
as the heavy chest was strapped on
the racks behind. Then it tipped again
as Mr.. Small climbed clumsily to the
drivers seat.
"All ashore that's goin' shorew shout
ed Mr.. Small. $50 long. Dan. Git
dap, Two-fortyv'
The whip cracked, the coach reeled
on its springs, and the whole euuipage
disappeared in the snow and black
ness.
.
The boy. Bradley Nickerson, had new
er ridden In a stagecoach before, and
after ten or fifteen minutes of Jolt and
roll he decided that he never wanted to
ride In one again.
Suddenly Captain Titcomb, who had
been silent 80 far, spoke.
Heavy sea on tonight" he obsery-
ed. "'Pears to me Barney'd better
take a reef. She's rollin' consider
ble."
The boy laughed and said, eyes,
SIR"
"Goin' all the way to orhamr' asked
the captain.
"Yes, SIR"
Got folks over there, I presume
likely. Friends or nothin' but Jest re-
lations?'
Relations, IL guess"
$50! Well, I've got good many re-
lations over there myself. Fact is,
I've got relations. seems to me, most
everywheres. Father used to have so
many of 'em that when he went WIS.,
itin' lie used to call 1t 'goin' cousinin'.'
My names Titcomb. What do they
call you when your back amt turned 2"
The boy laughed again in q puzzled
way--he scarcely knew what to make
OF his questioner-and said that his
name was Bradley Nickerson.
"Nickerson. hey? That settles It;
you're Cape Colder. Minute I meet
anybody named Nickerson always
know they've got the same kind of
sand In their boots that l have. Is It
Obed Nic<erson's folks you're goin' to
see?"
mo. sir. I'm goin' to live with Miss
Priscilla Allen. Her and her sister.
They was some Of mothers people,"
"Sho, we'll swami muttered the
captain. "Prissy and Tempy, hey?
Then Da, want foolin'. And you're
goin' to II re with emf"
"Yes. 81 q. Do you know 'emY'
WHO de? Oh. yes! l know Iem.
I'm partic'lar friend Of thelrs-that
is," he added cautiously. II call on 'em
once In awhile jest to say How are
youT Why? You didn't hear any of
them fellers at the depot say anything
bout me and them did you? No! Well,
all right, ! jest thought Oh, yes!
know 'em. Nice folks as ever was, but
what you might call little mite 'sot
In their ways Do you always wipe
your feet when you come into the
houseY'
"Why-why-yes. sir. II I don't for
get It,"
"All right It's good habit to git
INTO, specially II you're goin' to walk
On Prissy's floors. Sometimes I've
wished COuld manapo to n,,t nv Foot