Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-04-12

| q as pleQRe0 nlmSeiI 10 uOupIe tue
capital of the firm. Now I've let the
cat out Of the bag. I'm sorry. ole man
-pon me soul, am-but wen Dickey's
name crops up on change you know as
well as me 'ow many captains tickets
will be backed WI t brass"
Neither man spoke during 30 long q
time that the break seemed to impose
test of endurance. In such crisis
he who has all at stake will yield
rather than he who only stakes a part
"S'pose we talk plainly az man to
manY' said Coke thickly at last.
II can't talk much palmer" said
Verify.
"Yes, you can. Promise me the COM
mand of your next ship. an the An
dromeda goes on the rocks this side O.
Montevideo."
Verify jumped as though he had been
stung by an infuriated wasp.
"Coke. I'm surprised at you" he
grunted. not without a sharp glance
around to make sure no other was
near.
mo, you amt not bit surprised.
on'y you don't like to ear 1t In cold
English. That's wot you're drivin' at
the insurance. Wot are you afraid OFT
I take all the risk an precious little OF
the money. Write me letter.
write! Mel Coke. you're loony."
mot me. Wait till I'm through.
Write letter sayin' you're sorry the
| Andromeda must be laid up this fall.
but promisin' me the next vacancy.
'Ow does that 'urt your
verity's cigar had gone out. He re-
lighted It with due deliberation. 1t
could not be denied that his nerve at
least was superb.
/ "Tm willin' to do anything In rea-
son." he said slowly. ~ don't see
where can lay 'ands on better man
| than you. Jimmie. even II you do talk
nonsense at times"
"T'll call at your Office In the morn
in for the letter." said Coke. whose
red face shone like the setting sun
seen through haze.
"Yes. yes. I'll ave 1t ready"
"An' you won't back out Of them
extry stores? I must sweeten the crew
on this run"
"Tll supply the best Of stun. enough
| to last for the round trip. But don't
make any mistake. You must be back
afore Sept. 80. That's the date Of the
policy. By the way. 'oo's the new man
you've shipped as second? Watts Is
the chief. I know. but 90 IL Mr.. Philip
HozierT
"Youngster flllin' In sea service to
get q ticket an qualify for the Gu.
nard."
Thoroughly reliable sort Of chap.
eh?"
'The best. Just the right kind Of
second for the Andromeda's last
cruise. Smart as a new pin. You
could trust i'm on the bridge Of bat.
tleship. Now. Watts Is good man.
but tot of rum makes i'm fair daft"
"Ah." purred Verify. you must keep
a tight and on Watts. I like an appe.
tizer meself wen I'm of dooty, 80 to
speak. but it's no joke to ave boozer
In charge Of a fine ship an vallyble
| freight OF course you're responsible
as master. but you can't be on deck
mornin'. noon an night. Choke Watts
of the drink an you'll ave no trouble.
Well. come along. Let's lubricate."
The Andromeda sailed on the Tues
day afternoons tide. She would drop
the pilot OF Holyhead. and If she fol-
lowed the beaten track on her long
run to the river Plate-as sailors will
persist In miscalling that wondrous
Rio de la Plata-she might be signaled
from Madeira or the Cape Verde Is
lands. But shipmasters often prefer
| to set a course clear Of the land till
they pick up the coast Of South Amer
lea. II she were not spoken by some
| passing steamer there was every pos
sibility that the sturdy old vessel
would not be heard Of again before
reaching her destination.
But David Verify heard Of her much
sooner, and no thunderbolt that ever
rent the heavens could have startled
him more than the manner Of that
hearing.
Resolving to clinch matters with re-
gard to Iris and her elderly sister, be
invited "Owd Dickey" to supper on
Sunday evening. The girl endured
the mans presence with placid dig
| nifty that amazed her uncle. On the
| plea of a headache she retired at an
early hour. leaving Bulmer to gloat
over his prospective happiness and
| primed to the point of dementia.
he was quite willing to accompany
Verify to the bank next morning. A
pleasant spoken manager sighed bis
relief when the visitors were gone,
| and be was free to look at the item
bills discounted" on Verity's page In
the ledger. More than that, lawyer
was instructed to draw up a partner.
ship deed. and the representatives OF
| various shipbuilding firms were asked
to supply estimates for two new yes
sells.
Altogether Dickey was complaisant
and David enjoyed a busy and sue
cessfui day. He dined In town. came
home at hate hour and merely grim
ned when a servant told him that Mr..
Bulmer had called twice. but Miss Iris
happened to be out on both occasions.
Nevertheless at breakfast on Tues
day he warned his niece not to Keep
her admirer dangling at arms length.
"E's a queer owd codger." explained
the philosopher. "Play up to I'm bit
an you'll be able to twist I'm around
your little finger. I b'lieve he's goin
dotty, an you can trust me to see thai
the marriage settlement II o. r."
"Will you be home to dinner" was
her response.
mo. Now that the firm Is In smooth
water again. l must show myself bit
It's al thanks to you. lass, an Ill mol
forget It. Goodby"
Iris smiled. and Verify was vastly
pleased.
II am sure you will not forget" she
said. "Goodby!'
"There's no understandin' wimmin.'
mused David as his victoria swept
through the gates Of Linden House
Sunday afternoon Dlckey might ha
bin a dose Of rat poison. Now she,