The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-02-27

UuSlS. bTtuleV TeIlTeQ 10 the D&cK
room and emerged clothed In his new
garments and tremendously conscious
Of the fact. The captain said he look
ed so fresh that you could "smell the
paint on him.
"Say, Caleb" said "Squealer" Wixon
after Captain Titcomb and his protege
had left the premises. "did Ez tell you
who that boy wasp
"NO, he didn't. limited two or three
times. but he wouldn't say"
swell, I'll tell you. Twas the old
maids boy-Ben Nickerson's son. Bar
ney said he brought him over in the
coach last night"
you don't mean it," exclaimed the
chopfallen Mr.. Weeks. 'Well, if that
amt enough to- Ez made me throw
In hat that was wuth a dollar n
ha'f cause he said he'd pay cash for
everything and take his chance of git
tin his money back. And Prissy and
Tempy always pay cash for everything.
Reg'lar Titcomb trick"
The loafers about the store roared
with delight
"Oh, tell you," remarked "SQuealer,"
you've got to keep your weather eye
peeled when you're dealin' with Capn
Ez. He'll have you, head and scales,
If you amt careful"
That's all right" grumbled "Bluey"
Bachelor. "but he'll git fetched up all
standin' some Of these days. You can
call him smart If you want to, but it's
pretty risky smartness, most folks
think You notice his schooner's al
ways maxim record trips, and he's al
ways havin' presents give him and all
that. How many presents did you
have give to you, Cap'n Jabez, when
you was runnin' coaster"
"Not one." Indignantly replied the
person addressed. Captain Jabez Bal
ley. mot one. What I got l had to
work for"
It may be that Captain Jabez over
worked during his sea experiences. Ger
tainly no one In Orham had known him
to do stroke Of work since he retired
to live on his wife's earnings as q
dressmaker.
WELL" commented Captain Fri
Hedge. who was not member of the
circle, but had dropped in to buy some
tobacco. II like Cap'n Ez. He does
love to git the best Of q bargain, and
he's driver on a vessel, and perhaps
he likes to shave the law pretty close
sometimes. Ez is a reg'lar born gam
bier for takin' chances, but never
knew him to do a mean trick"
'What do you call that game he put
up on the old maids?" asked "Squeal-
er." "You knew bout that didn't you,
Jabez? Seems Prissy and Tempy
wanted to sell that little piece Of cram
b'ry swamp Of theirs cause 1t didn't
pay them to take care of 1t and keep 1t
in shape. Prissy told Seth Wingate
about 1t. and Seth said he didn't want
1t, but that he'd give them so and So
fair price, consid'rin'. Well, they
was goin' to sell it to Seth, but Ez
comes home bout that time, hears of
the deal and goes to Prissy and buys
1t for $50 morn Seth offered. And in
side Of three months along comes that
Ostable company and buys all that
land for their big swamp. They say
Titcomb made more'n a hundred dol
lars out Of that deal. If you don't
think that's mean trick, Capn Fri,
you ask Seth Wingate what he thinks
Of it."
II know about that" said Captain
ri 1y,,lvy Nor ~
another case Of Els takin' chances,
that's all. Seth's growlin' is only sour,
grapes. Ez knew the Ostable folks
was talkin' bout layin' out a big
swamp over here some time or other
He jest bought the Allen piece and
run his risk. You notice Prissy and
Tempy amt findin' no fault They
think he's the only man in town. Fact
is, he Is the only man, outside Of the
minister, that they'll have any deal
in's with. Queer pairin' off that is
Ez and the ministerw he chuckled.
"Oh, women's fools. anyhow" snort
ed Captain Jabez savagely. "Ez Tit
comb always could wind 'em' round
his fingers. He's been next door to
keepin' comp'ny with more girls'n
few in this town sence he was old
enough to leave school, but he don't
go fur enough to git engaged or nothin'
like that. Minute there's any talk that
he's likely to git married to one Of 'em
away goes Ez, and that's the end Of
that cOurtin'. And yet, spite Of their
talk bout his bein' slick and hints that
he's tricky they're always heavin' up
to feller, How smart Cap'n Titcomb
is.' and why don't you make money
same as Cap'n EzryY 'Nough to make
an honest man SICK"
Captain Fri made his purchases and
went home, but the others continued
to dissect Ezra Titcombs character,
and the general opinion seemed to be
that he would "bear watchin'."