The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-04-03

uVcO uuu Hicpt Iuolo DckOTc. Dy Dullu-
Ing new hunks and singing hammocks
twice that number at least could find
room. The rest must occupy other
shanties or come up to Orham at night.
The partners schemed and figured un-
til nearly o'clock In the morning.
One Of them must 60. 70 Boston that
day. The captain said Bradley ought
to 60 because Cook knew him, but the
junior partner didn't agree.
"You 60. Cap'n Ez." he said, with
decision. you're a better bargainer
than I am, and it'll take a good talker
and q clever trader to land this Job In
the face Of the competition. Go, and
good luck be with your
So the captain went on the first train.
He promised to telegraph as soon as
decision was reached.
But no telegram came that day. All
the next forenoon Bradley hung about
the station waiting. The noon train
arrived; no captain. and still no word.
He determined to wait until the even
Ing train arrived, and then. II the cap
tain didn't come. to telegraph. But the
nrst man OF the train was Captain Tit
comb.
Didn't get It. heyf'' asked Bradley.
"Oh. got I'll Yes. I got It'll Now.
don't ask any more questions here
Come on down to my room"
He was silent al the way to the
Travellers Rest and, for q man who
had Just secured the greatest contract
of his business life, seemed strangely
downcast. When they reached the
room he locked the door and threw his
ovsrcoat and hat on the sofa.
WELL" hs said slowly, II made Bos-
ton all right and stood for Cook 4
Sons under full canvas. I hailed the
young squirt with the hay on bile upper
Up and asked him II the old man was
10. What do you want to 80 him
forr says hs. 'Doo.' Gays I. you trot
along IKE Z good little boy and tell
the old man that the fellsr that's goln'
70 GIT the Frsedsm OF Orham shoal 10
out herA' That kind Of fetched him
over with slat and be went In and
told Cook. In Z minute out he comes
and pilots me into the shippers state
room.
u cai'lats Cook was sxpectin' to ses
another feller. Are you from the Gal.
vase companyr says be. No. says I.
takin' . chair; my names Titcomb
I'm from Orham. Ny partners a
young feller name Of Nickerson. He's
tho one you picked out to lift the
Libsrty's anchor that time.' Well, that
way Of putin Il made him laugh, and
he told me to 60 ahead and spin my
yarn. only bs quick. I spun It, but /
amt sartin that was quick. never
talked 90 afore In my life, though I've
beat II once sence. When hove an.
Choir nn'lly he says. 'Cap'n. there's
nothln' the matter with your nerve. Is
thereY told him no, I hadn't had
to take physic for It, Well says he.
I'D like to give you the Job, but you
amt big enough. This amt anchor
draggin'.'
''rhen l got after him, again, told
him about the new schooner, drew
diagram Of the shoal and made II
plain jest how she'd got to be got OF,
II twas done at all and that we could
do 1t as well as anybody else In the
world and a whole lot cheaper. At last
he told me to come In and see him
again late that afternoon.
IL was round on time. you bet! The
nay lip chap told me the old man had
gone for the day. but that he'd left
word that twas no use: our firm want
big enough for the job. Says TO
hay lip, Where's the old man live;
He didn't know. bein' a good liar. I
asked him In an interested sort of way
u he was dead sure where he lived
nimseif aud went out to paw over the
directory. Inside of an hour was
on an electric car bound for Brook.
line and Cooks home.
Pretty soon down comes Cook In a
swallertail coat. He looked mad. is
it your he says. Didn't you git my
messagey told him I'd got 1t, but
that 'twouldn't be fair to him to let
lat end 1t. Pretty soon young Cook
come in. and he listened too.
"Fin'lly the old man says. We'll. Tit
comb. what's your fggerT l told him
what you and me had agreed OH. He
seemed surprised. thought. Then he
and his son went into the next room
and talked. When they come back he
says, 'Titcomb, you've got the perse-
verance of the devil or that partner of
yours Put you In good company, hey,
Brad? Your price. don't mind telln'
you,' he goes on, Is lower than any
one else has given. IL you were big
ger concern I guess I'd give the job
to YOU Anyway, you come in and see
me tomorrer'
well, this mOrnln' was Mt his Office
when the doors opened. And there /
set until after this afternoon. A rel-
Ter from the Salyare comnany cona I'm