The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-14

can't jump art ~ al
/ !: : ! ! !: ! !: !: !: !. ! !
the bars. we can't W21 w
carry 'arf the stuff. ~ \E
We pay double In -eaeTEK AM
surance. an we're S5,M rs
axed to find ~ 6@WE%AzESs
terest on more'r MA JSS$S%
double the capital iWeNS.GN x
| AS you say. Jim 'SESS>$~"o
mie, wot bloomin' "THE ANDRoMEDA
chanst ave we?" GOES ON THE
Coke smoked ST. ROCKS
! lenuy. He had said none of these
things. but when the shipowner's
glance suddenly dwelt on him he nod
ded.
premium gone up. thenr he in
quired.
she's on twelvemonth rate. 1t
runs out In September. II you're lucky
an fill up with nitrate soon you may
be 'ome again. If not, I'll 'avasto
whack up special quotation After
that there'll be no insurance. The
Andromeda goes for wot she'll fetch"
Another pause. Then Coke broached
q new phase.
"Meanin' that lose the f2.OOO / put
In 'er to get my berthT" he said hus-
kily.
"An' wot about me? lose eight
times IA much. Just think Of 1t! Six
teen thousand pounds would give me
fair balance to go on WI 4 these
hard times, an your two thou would
make the skipper's Job In my new ship
q certainty"
Coxe's brick red face darkened. He
breathed hard.
"Wot new shipT' he demanded.
Its secret Jimmie. but | must
stretch point for pals sake. Dickey
Bulmer's gOin' TO marry my niece. an
g 'as pledged himself to double the
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 so long
time that the break seemed to impose
test Of endurance. In such a crisis
he who has all at stcse will yield
rather than he who only stakes a part.
"S'pose we talk plainly as man to
man?" said Coke thickly at last.
IL 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." be
grunted. not without a sharp glance
around to make sure no other was
near.
mo. you amt not Il bit surprised.
on'y yoh don't like to 'ear 1t In cold
English. That's wot you're drivin' at
the insurance. Wot are you afraid OF?
take ail the risk an precious little of
the money. Write me letter.
write. Me. Coke. you're loony"
mot me. Wait till I'm through
Write letter sayin' yoh're sorry the
Andromeda must be laid up this fall.
but promisin' me the next vacancy.
'Ow does that 'urt youW
Veritys cigar had gone out He re-
lighted 1t with due deliberation. 1t
could not be denied that his nerve at
least was superb.
"Im willin' to do anything in rea-
son." he said slowly. 81 don't see
where can lay lands on better man
hop 10 do toI 4
nonsense at times"
ell 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. III ave 1t ready"
"An' you won't back out Of them
extry stores? I must sweeten the crew
on this run"
"Ill supply the best Of stuff. 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. know. but 90 is MIR. Philip
Hozier?"
"foungster fillin' In sea service to
get ticket an qualify for the Gu
nard."
Thoroughly reliable sort OF chap.
eh?"
"The best Just the right kind Of
second for the Andromedas last
cruise. Smart as n 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
tight and on Watts. | like an appe-
tizer meself wen I'm Off dooty, so to