The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-09-08

just as well-maybe better"
And the deal was as good an made.
But before the vote was taken another
chap came TO the great man and said:
Look here, want to get nm appro-
priation of. say. $4,000 to deepen and
improve u river down in my state'-a
southern state Wen say-.I've been to
the chairman Of rhe pork bill commit
tee. and he says it's impossible. The
bill simply cant be- loaded any further
But / find that you have an item FRI
there for deepening and improving
harbor back in your own district
Why don't you rut that item out
shove 1t over until next year? You
can easily find satisfactory explana-
ton for your constituents. And you
want TO remember this: The improve
ment of this river means that the-the
well. n certain sugar growing COM
pany can get their stuff to market at
figure which will send its stock up and
Up. And you are said to own consid-
cradle amount OF that stock So why
not drop the harbor item and subsH-
tute my river slice? Then Well. i
guess that's the end or the tale"
He paused and relit his cigar Cap
tain " thoughtfully marked with his
fork on the tablecloth.
HUM he grunted. That's q very
1nterestin' yarn. Yes, yes; don't knows
ever heard q more interestin' one. /
presume likely there amt a mite OF
proof that it's trueP
mot an atom + told you II was
fairy tale. And / mustn't be quoted
in the matter. Honestly, the most or
It is guesswork at that But perhaps
committee or one dropping a hint at
home might at least arouse some un-
comfortable questioning Of a certain
great man. That's about all, though.
Proof IS quite another thing"
The captain pondered. He was fully
aware that the unpopularity Of the
committee" would nullify whatever
good its limiting might do.
"Humphp' he grunted again. TITS
one thing to smell q rat and another
to nail its tail to the floor. But I'm
mighty obliged to you, all the same.
And I'LL think it over hard Say, +
can see one thing-you don't take On
very big shine to Heman yourselfp'
Not too big, no. Do your"
swell, don't wake up nights and
cry for him.
Everdean laughed
That's characteristic" he said.
You have your own way Of putting
things. captain, and it's hard to be Inn
u proved On. Atkins, has never done
anything to me. I just just don't
like him, that's all Father never liked
him either in the old days, and yet,
and It's odd, too, he was the means of
the old gentleman's making the most
of bis money"
HE? Who? Not Hemanr
Yes. Heman Atkins. But so far as
that goes father started him toward
wealth. suppose. At least he was
poor enough before the mine was sold"
What are you talkin' about7 He
man got his start tradin' over In the
south seas. sellin' the Kanakas glass
beads and calico for pearls and copra-
two cupfuls Of pearls for every bead
AAJ AOWp AAdL lnG way lhC yu4A
goes"
II can't help that. He was Just
common sailor who had rum away from
his ship and was gold mining I'm Cali.
fornia. And when he and his partner
struck It rich father borrowed money,
headed a company and bought them
out That mine was the Excelsior, and
it's just as productive today as 1t ever
was. rather think Atkins must be
very sorry he sold suppose, BY
right, should be very grateful to your
distinguished representative"
We'll, do declare! Sho, shoI Amt
that funny, now? He's never said a
word about 1t at home. / don't be-
Geve there's q soul in Bayport knows
that We all thought twas south sea
tradin' that boosted Heman. And your
own dadi declare, this 10 a small
world"
Its odd father never told you about
It. It's one OF the old gentleman's pet
stories. He came west in 1850 and
was running little shipping store In
Frisco. He met Atkins and the other
young sailor, his partner, before they
left their ship. They were in the
store, buying various things, and
father got to know them pretty we'll
Then they ran away to the diggings-
you simply couldn't keep a crew in
those times-and he didn't see them
again for a good while. Then they
came il one day and showed him
specimens from a claim they had back
in the mountains They were mighty
good specimens, and what they said
about the claim convinced father that
they had II valuable property. So he
went to see few well to do friends
of his. and the outcome was that q
party was made up to 60 and inspect.
The young fellows were willing to sell
out, for II was quartz working, and
they hadn't the money to carry It On.
The inspection showed that the
claim was likely to be even better
than they thought, SO, after some bar
gaining, the deal was completed. They
sold out for $4,000, and 1t was the
best trade father ever made He's So
proud or his judgment and foresight
in making 1t that wonder be never
told you the story"
HE never did. When was this?"
an - WharT'