The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-03-31

ly at the nimsiest Jokes and whistled
as he stood at the Lxxie's wheel and
steered her out OF the harbor.
They worked at getting out the tar
until 8 O'Clock, when. at Captain Tit
combs suggestion, they quit for the
day, and the Lsxie came back to her
moorings. Then the crew went ashore,
and the partners shut themselves In
the cabin to once more discuss the
project Of buying tho Diving Belle.
The photographs and sketches were ex-
hlbited, the captain argued and en-
Unused, and Bradley did his best to
forget Gus and to be interested. he
succeeded partially.
The Junior partner agreed that the
Vineyard Haven schooner was a won
derful bargain. but be disliked the idea
Of going In debt for part Of her. as
It Seemed that they must do.
'You see, Oap'n Ez," he said. "we've
got altogether less than $4,000 between
us II we put up every cent we've made.
We shall have to borrow at le0st an
other thousand, and hate to. In q
year. II things 90 as well az they have,
we ought to be able to build q new
vessel and pay for every stick Of her.
And yet" he added, ut seems a shame
to let this chance 60 by"
The captain glanced at his compan.
ion and drummed with his fingers on
the table. When he spoke there was
hesitancy In his manner.
I'VE can't let 1t go BY" he said.
WED never git another like 1t. Now,
Brad-now. Brad He stopped and
drummed again. Then he went on
without looking up. II don't knows
mentioned this afore, but all my
money amt been put into this wreckin'
deal yit. You see. own some shares
In that big cranb'ry bog Of the Ostable
folks. Must be about $500 wuth al
together cal'late maybe I aint
spoke Of this to you afore. have Ir'
We'll, no, you haven't" answered
S-c astonished Bradley dryly.
'No. presume likely it-er-must
rave slipped my mind. Well, I'll sell
the bog shares and put up what's need.
ed to flush buyin' the Divin' Belle.
You can pay of your part as we earn
1t. Is 1t go?"
"All right" Bradley said finallya "IJl
agree, Of course. II you're willing to
cck 1t. ought to be-"
Good! Well take day of tomor
Hr and 60 up to the Haven and look
her over"
The partners started for Vineyard
Haven in the early morning. The cap
thin talked most Of the way, for which
Bradley was thankful. He didn't feel
Ike talking. They found the Diving
Belle lying at the wharf. and Captain
Titcomb watched his companions face
rs they stood on the stringpiece look.
Ing down ut her.
They bought the schooner. It re-
maIned only to bring over the check
and take away the schooner, and this
tiey did a week later. Meanwhile
Captain Titcomb had performed anoth-
er miracle. He had hunted up q man
who had expressed Il desire to pur.
chase the Lizzie and after two days of
bargaining. during which time the cap
tain mad twice pretended to give 1t up
and return to Orhaln, had sold him
the old schooner for $5O; also he sold
bis shares in the cranberry bog.
There was good sized crowd of
townspeople on the Orham wharf when
the Diving Belle slid smoothly past the
harbor mouth and up to her moorings.
There was splendid breeze, but they
wouldn't have used the sails for any
consideration. The sight Of the mov-
Ing plstons In that wonderful sixteen
horsepower engine. the enchanting
smell Of the gasoline. the muffied drum
ming Of the propeller under the stern-
these were brand new. unadulterated
Joys Of proprietorshlp that no mere
item like the saving Of unnecessary
expense could induce them to forfeit.
captain Ezra put In the most Of his
spare time improving" the new pur-
chase. Bradley told him It seemed
like the Thomas Doane days to smell
paint and trip over bucket of water
ana swab every little while.
Orham was just then In the thrOes Of
burglar scare. Two houses In the
village had been broken into, and the
natives were talking Of calling an in
dignation meeting for the purpose Of
expressing their opinion of the select.
men. Then steam yacht belonging to
Il summer resident, which lay housed
over for winter In the harbor. was
boarded anc ransacked.
1t was on the day following this rob
berry that Captain Titcomb began tin
kering with the cabin door. This door
and the sliding hatch above Ii had been
fastened with paddock. The captains
hrst move was to block the hatch so
that 1t would slide back but little
way. Then he sawed and hammered
away at the door.
(To Be COntinued)