The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-03-20

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sac ooms ous and stood on tAs step.
why. haven't seen you for an
agsv' said Gus. "And you haven't
written. for nearly three weei4 why
did yoa come home nowf You didn't
expect to come homo 20 soon. aid
your
Bradley explained why he had come
homs. Captain Titcomb had left the
Thomas Doane, he said, and be had
left with him. He didn't tell the real
reason for tie leaving, but hinted at
dissatisfaction with the owners. TO
head on further questions on this tic
klish subject be asked Gus what she
had been doing that winter.
well" she said, II graduated from
high school, for one thing, and I'm
keeping house for grandma. I guess
that's about all"
whats been going On In town!
Any dancssr
"Yes; . few. went to the wash
ington's birthday ball. but It wasn't
much fun Most Of the door commit
tee were DID, married people and about
every other dance was Hull's Victory
or . Quadrills. Round dances, you
know, are wicked. especially II you
don't know how to dance Them"
"You wrote me you went to that.
Sam Hammond's been home hasn't
her ~ 2sa iye s- S
'Oh. yes. went to the ball with,
him. He's q lovely dancer. and we
waltsed whenever they played waits
tune. no matter whether the rest were
busy with q Quadrills or not But why
don't you tell me what you are going
to do now that you've given up your
positionr.
Bradley told her Of Captain Titcomb's
idea concerning the purchase Of the
Lissie and the offer Of partnership in
the w-ecking business. As he talked
his growing interest In the plan be-
came more evident, and be spoke Of II
~ something already nearly decided
upon. What do you think Of itY' he
asked In conclusion.
why. don't know" replied Gus.
III II all works out al the capn hopes
II VIII be hne thing. But Isn't ii
rather riskyf It means staying OF
home here In Orham. where peoples
Ideas get into a rut. 1t seems to me.
The cities seem. SO big and to have
such chances for man! You know
yourself. Brad. that you've improved a
lot since you went away"
II haven't got gold watch yet or
any fine clothes, and my dancing
wouldn't draw crowd. guess"
Don't be silly. Sam Is good waltz.
er, and he has improved In his manners
and In other ways. ! shouldn't want
you to settle down into nothing but q
'longshoreman. I guess I'm like Miss
Tempy. hoped you'd be captain Of
IN ocean liner some of these days."
We'll. ! don't mean to cramp myself
to longshoreman size Just because
stay In the village. 1t looks to me like
q chance-a good chance--to be my
own boss and make something of my
self. ! hoped you'd see II that way"
Perhaps I shall when ! get more
used to II. Tell me more, please"
They had reached the little house,
and. leaning on the gate under the big
silver leaf tree. Bradley again went
over the details Of the new plan. Gus
was Interested and asked many Ques-
lions. but to both Of them the inter.
view was not entirely satisfactory.
The old, boy and girl whole hearted
exchange OF condolences seemed to be
lacking. To Bradley in particular az
he turned away after saying Good
night the consciousness Of a differ
ence In his relation with his old time
"chum" was keen. She was interested
In him and In his hopes and plans. but
she had plans and hopes of her own.
ana perhaps be was not 90 much the
central ngure al he used to be.
Next day Bradley called on the cap.
tain. The latter had seen Caleb Bur
CESS. and the Lizzie could be bought
ror very reasonable sum. CaprIln
T1tcomb was also preparing a long
table OF figures showing the cost Of
what was needed to at her up. They
talked for over an hour. but Bradley
was not yet ready to decide. He
would taks his full week. he said.
But by the end Of the week his mind
was made MP. He was ready to take
the chance that the captain offered.
He told Gus 30, and she agreed that
perhaps he was doing right. He told
the old maids and 20 knocked Miss
Tempy's air castles into smithereens
In one tremendous crash.
The partnership articles were signed,
Bradley drew his money from the saw.