The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-03-06

Soeas, out never mlnd-they pay the
wages. seer"
''She's good GIRL" said the boy
stcutly. "She came In and took my
part when she didn't have to, and l
like her. And won't promise not to
speak to her. neither"
The captain looked down at the lads
square Jaw and whistled.
"welfr he said, N don't b'lieve you
need to promise. but don't whoop too
loud about II. Run as close to the wind
as you can, and don't carry all sail In
a two reef breeze Jest to show you
amt afraid to. Catch my driftY'
"Yes, sir" answered Bradley, rather
doubtfully. "You mean be chums with
the girl, but don't tell Miss Prissy and
Miss Tempy about It."
"No-o." Captain Ezra looked some
what put out BY the literal interpreta-
tion. THAT amt jest II. Be-well, be
easy. and oh. thunderl Let 1t 60 at
that. guess you know what mean.
How do you think you're goin' to like
your schooIr'
Bradley answered, "Pretty well, I
guess, when ! get more used to IT,"
but although he did not say 30, he was
certain that Il would take some time to
get used to IL As a matter Of fact,
however, that very lively nrst day was
the only serious trouble for him during
the entire term. He was quick to learn
and % found little difhculty with his
studies and advanced as rapidly as
other boys Of his age. AZ for his be-
havior, Il was no worse than that of
any other healthy youngster. At the
end Of the year he was '.promoted"--
that ID, he was NO loAger a member of
the fourth class, but instead proudly
left his seat when the third was called.
Gus was promoted" also, much to
the surprise Of the "old maids| who
could not believe there was any good
In the dog girl" They gradually ceas-
ed to urge the boy not to have anything
to do with her. for the very good rea-
son that In this matter their urging was
OF no avail. They grew to understand
their colt better a. the months passed,
and they learned just how tight q rein
Il was advisable p draw.
Bradley also grew to understand the
sisters. He discovered that Miss Prissy
was the business woman and that she
paid all the bills. bought all the house.
hold supplies and did Il without cou-
sulting Miss Tempy. whom she treated
a. q sort Of doll with mechanism that
must not b Jared.
Bradley made friends among the VII
lage boys and did not make any viru-
lent enemies. He had his interrupted
night ''out' with Sam Hammond and
emerged a conQueror with black eye
and q swollen nose, which were the
cause Of his being In disgrace ut home
for week. Also be joined the "Jolly
club" q secret society that net on Sat
urday afternoons in "snuppy" Blacks
barn.
During the long summer vacation
there were chores to do. but shere was
also all iorts Of fun along shore, dig
ging CLAIMS on the fats. spearing fat-
nsh along the edge Of the channels or
rare and much priced trips to the fish
weirs where the nets were hauled.
Captain Titcomb came home In August
for an intended stay Of two weeks,
and he made the boy happy by taking
him for an all day sail and blue fishing
excursion Off Setuckit POINT.
That fishing trip had unexpected
and fateful results. The captain had
called on Miss Prissy and her sister
the morning Of his arrival In Orham
and. as was his custom. had brought
each OF them present-exactly alike.
OF course. He had promised to dine at
the Allen house the following Sunday.
But 1t happened that Peleg Myrick
wanted to make one Of his infrequent
visits to the mainland that week, and
he seized the opportunity to hail the
catboat containing Bradley and Cap
tain Ezra as II passed his quahaug
dory a"d beg for passage up.
Mr.. Peleg Myrick was a hermit. He
lived alore In little two room shanty
on the beach about half mile from
Setuckit Point. Hc owned q concer-
tina that squeaked and walled and
Mexican dog-gift Of wrecked skip
per-that shivered all the time and
howled when the concertina was play
ed. Peles: was certain that the howl
ing was an attempt at singing and
boasted that Skeezicks-that was the
dogs name-had an "ear for music
Jest like human" er
Among his other accomplishment
Mr.. Myrick numbered that of weather
prophet. He boasted that he could
smell a storm further n cat can
smell fish," 1t was odd. but he really
did seem able to foretell or guess what
the weather would be along the Or
ham coast, and the longshoremen
swore by his prophecies.
He was great talker when he had
any one to talk to and was gossip