The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1916-07-29

|
cargo can be stored on top OF TINT. AS
the water rushes In ut the hole that mas
been made the sponges absorb II. anu
the danger of laundering is thus avoid
ed. 1t Is one of the simplest schemes
IN the world. and It Is II wonder that 1t
was not in use hundred years ago.
Now, then. find fault with 1t II you
can
1t was like all others Of Mr.. Bowsers
schemes. all moonshine, and after
gesture of despair Mrs. Bowser said:
Let us figure little.
.Of whit use to hgureT replied MIR.
Bowser us IL frown came to his face.
IAN schemes have to be figured on.
Our druggist once told me that the
coarsest of sponges cost about a dollar
a pound at wholesale. You propose to
put in fifty tons into the hold OF ship.
What will be the cost Of such cargo?
1t will be 100000. according to my tis.
ures."
| Mr.. Bowser's face turned red and his
jaw fell. but he let her 20 OH.
How much water will fifty tons OF
dry sponges absorb? cannot give you
the figures exactly. but it must be thou
sands of barrels-enough to sink ship
as II her cargo was lead"
"HolG on-hold on, right there!" ex-
claimed Mr.. Bowser. II told you the
sponges were there to absorb the water
| MS It rushed in"
But the water is In the ship. isn't
it?" asked Mrs. Bowser. "What differ
ence does 1t make whether the water is
in the sponges or sloshing around loose.
so to say? The, weight is the same. and
1t will be the weight that will sink her.
You must see the point"
Il don't see anything Of the kind!'
was shouted. II have told you twice
over that the sponges would take up
the water as fast as 1t came in"
so you have. my dear. but it will
make no difference where that water Is
| If 1t is In the hold. Fifty tons of wet
| sponges would at least be equal to
thirty or forty tons of iron. Can't you
see that, Mr.. Bowser?'
~ can see that you want to discour-
age me. as you always do" he NUT
tered. II have dropped upon good
thing. IL great thing, the grentest thing
| I ever ran up against. and you are try
ing to knock it to pieces. If had mar
ried the right woman
But you didn't. Mr.. Bowser. You
married the woman who won't let you
make a donkey of'yourself II she can
help it. You jump to conclusions In
stead of stopping to figure little.
| Why, man. you are thinking Of sinking
the crippled ship instead of saving her!
| The scheme must be to keep the water
out altogether. 1t Is the water that
fills the hold of a ship and carries her
| down"
| Mr.. Bowser sat in silence for n time
and gritted his teeth now and then.
and by and by he spoke.
II still believe in the plan of the
sponges. but how would it do to put in
fifty tons OF cork slabs? Cork will not
it will keep the fluid from rushing in.
Come to think of it, perhaps that is tho
best scheme of the two"
Mrs. Bowser smiled and appeared to
se thinking over the cork plan, and Mr..
Bowser was growing impatient when
she said:
do you think you could find ship
owner who would go to the expense of
buying either cork or the sponges? In
time the sponges would rot and be
worthless and the cork would mildew
and decay"
He'd be q queer man to let his ship
go to the bottom when she might be
saved" sulkily replied the man with
the great idea.
But l have shown you that the
| sponges would only help to sink her.
and, as for the cork, II there was
u great rent In her side the slabs
would surely float out as well as por-
tons of the other cargo You must
see that for yourself, Mr.. Bowser. II
have not made it plain to you. then
consult some man whose common
sense you can trust Men have got
rich through schemes, but they have
been practical schemes. You must
have common sense us the basis"
THAT is to say that l lack common
sense. Mrs. BOwser!
1T is to say that your schemes are
visionary and impracticable. You get
thought and jump instead Of taking
time to think it well over. 1t isn't
late yet. and let's so to the moving
pictures for an hour"
I'VE might see a picture of a ship
loaded with sponges or cork going
down like lump Of lead" was the
reply as Mr.. Bowser walked down the
hall and left the house.
He was full of chagrin and vexatiUn.
and he wanted to work 1t Off. He
therefore walked over to the family
butcher and opened the door and
shouted:
Jones. you are liar and swim
der! Your meat is tougher than an
old rhinoceros, and there Is more bone
than meat! Blast your eyes. l will