The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-03-10

iOIlS conversation In the CABIN, and
after it was over the skipper was a bit
out of temper, and his orders were un-
usually crisp and sharp.
On one memorable evening the cap
tain. having previously whispered to
Bradley to put on his Sunday togs,"
sent the boy on an errand to a cigar
store near the wharf and told him to
wait there "for further orders" In a
little while he himself came into the
store. commanded Bradley to "lay
alongside and say nothin'," and the
pair walked briskly across the city to
the elevated railway station. Then
they rode uptown. had a six course
dinner In marvellous restaurant,
where an orchestra played while you
ate, and then went to the theater to
see play called "The Great Metrop-
oils" 1t was a\ real to Bradley, and
he thrilled, weft and laughed alter
nately.
On the way down in the elevated he
said, with whimsical smile, BRAD,
l callate If the old maids knew I took
you to the theater they'd think you
was slidin' creased pole to perdition.
wouldn't they?"
Bradley smiled also as he answered:
mo, sir. guess they'd think If you
did 1t twas all right"
Captain Titcomb grinned, but he
made no comment on the reply. All
he said was: "Well, Orham's Orham.
and New York's New York, and the
way things looks depends considerable
on which end Of the spyglass you
squint through. Anyhow, p'r'aps you'd
better not put this cruise down in the
log"
But Bradley did put it down in the
log-that Is to say, he wrote full ac-
count Of this the greatest evening of
his life, In his next letter to the sis
ters. His habit of scrupulous honesty
still clung to him, and he did not evade
or cover up. If he did thing it was
done because he thought it right, and
other considerations counted for little.
Occasions like the t1eater trip were
few and far apart. For the most part
Captain Titcomb was skipper and
Bradley was the hand" With every
voyage, sometimes to Portland, to
Portsmouth, to Boston, and. Of course,
to New York, the boy learned new
things about his chief officer and to
understand him better.
He learned why 1t was that the cap.
tain received so many presents and
was considered such "slick article"
His acquaintance among seafaring
men and shipOwners was large, and
he was always ready to do ''little ia
vors." Sometimes captain just in
from foreign cruise had hidden away
two or three pieces Of silk or jewelry
or even, IN one case. a piano, that were
intended for gifts to the folks at home
and to the cost of which the custom
house duty would be an uncomfortable
addition. Then Captain Titcomb visit
ed that ship, purely as a social func-
ton, and when he came away the
jewelry or silk came with him. In the
piano affair 1t was bribery pure and
simple. with the addition of little bull
lying Of an inspector who had made n
few slips before that the captain knew
of. Petty smuggling like this Captain
Tltcomb did not consider a sin worth
worrying about. There was q smack
Of adventure in 1t and the fun Of "tak-
ing chances"
Then, as bargainer and a driver OF
sharp trades with shipping merchants
and others the captain was an expert.
He liked, as he said, to "dicker," and,
besides, he was always on the lookout
to further the interests Of his owners.
Looking out for the owners was his
hobby and explained In measure why
Williams Bros. were willing to pay
him more than they paid their other
shippers.
He was "driver" with his crews,
and every particle that was In the
rickety Thomas Doane he got out of
her. He was easy 80 long as a man
obeyed orders. but at the slightest hint
Of mutiny things happened.
The Thomas Doane passed and re-
passed Cape Cod on her short voyages,
and Bradley, with every trip, learned
more Of the sea and the seaman's life.
~ ShS ShA Va LILO iii &C uOAtnS uC w SuI
home for a weeks stay, but he had al
ready made up his mind to return to
the schooner again. Captain Titcomb
had saic that he was pleased with him
and limited at q steady rise in wages
and promotion later on. He was earn
Ing his living now-it cost little to live
and he sent home few dollars to
the old maids every now and then.
His first home coming was a great
event The supper that first night was
almost equal in the amount Of food on
the table to his dinner with the captain
1T the New York restaurant. In fact,
Bradley, released from salt junk and
fo'castle grub. ate SO much that he SUI.
fered with the nightmare and groaned
so dismally that the alarmed sisters