Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-02-15
By JOSEPH C. LINCOLN
Copyright By D. Appleton 4 Coz

run alongside in time to give you u
tow, but you was diSmaSted just as |
got there. Here's your dunnage, all
safe and sound"
He extended the travelling bag at
arms length. Mr.. Graves accepted his
property and murmured thanks, not too
cordially.
well" went on his companion,
"here VIZ are! And l for one wanted
to be somewhere else. Caleb" turn
ing to the station master, who came
in at that moment, ANY way Of my
gettin' home t~onight?"
"'Fraid not, cap'n," was the answer
81 don't know Of any. Guess you'll
have to put up at the hotel and wait
till mornin'."
I'm booked for South Denboro. and
that's only seven miles Off. I'd swim
the whole seven rather than put up at
Sim Titcomb's hotel. I've been there
afore, thank you! Look here, Caleb,
can't l hire a team and drive over?"
well, l don't know. S'pose you
might ring up Peter Shattuek and ask
him. He's pretty particular about his
horses, though, and l callate he
"All right. I'll ring him up. Pete
ought to get over some of his partic-
ularness to oblige me. I've helped him
once or twice."
Excuse me, sir" said the lawyer.
did understand you to say you were
going to South DenboroT"
"Yes. l I'm IL the powers and Pete
Shattuck II let me-"
You were going to drive over? May
go with you? I'm very anxious to
get to South Denboro tonight. l have
some very important business there.
and want to complete 1t and get away
tomorrow. l must be back in New
York by the morning following"
"Well, l don't know. Mr.
"Graves is my name"
II don't know, MIR. Graves. This
amt goin' to be a pleasure cruise ex-
actly. You might get pretty wet"
II don't care. | can get dry again
when l get there. or course l shall
share the expense Of the livery. l shall
be greatly obliged If l may 60 with
you. II not. l must try for u rig my
self"
"Oh, II you feel that way about 1t,
| why, come ahead and welcome. l was
only warnin' you, that's all. However,
with me aboard for ballast, I guess we
won't blow away. Wait a jiny till !
get after Pete"
He entered the ticket Office and rails.
ed a big hand to the little crank of the
telephone bell.
Lets see, Caleb" he called, whats
Shattuck's NUMBER
-Four long and two short" answered
the station master.
Graves, wondering vaguely what sort
Of telephone system was in use on
Cape Cod, heard his prospective pilot
ring the instrument for a full two Sec
onds, repeating the ring four times al.
together. This he followed with two
sharp tinkles. Then anne a series of
shouted "HellOs !" and at last fragments
Of one-half Of a dialogue.
"That you, Shattuck? Know who
this Is, don't you? Yes. that's right.
Say, how many folks listen every time
a bell rings on this line? I've heard
no less'n eight receivers come down 80
Car. Two Of EN- went up then. Did
you hear 'em? Sartin. l want to hire
q team to 60 over home with. Tonight
-sartin. don't care, Yes, you will
too. Yes. you will. Send my man
back with it tomorrow. | don't care
what it is, SO it's got four legs and
wheels"
And so on for at least five minutes.
Then the captain hung up the receiver
and came back to the waiting DON
Bargains made, Mr.. Graves" he an.
nounccd. "Petcll have some sort of II
turnout alongside soon's he can get it
harnessed. If you've got any extra
storm buds in that satchel Of yours I'd
advise you to put 'em on. We're goin'
to have a rough passage"
Just how rough 1t was likely to he.
Graves realized when he emerged from
the station TO board the Shattuck bug
gy. Pete himself had driven the
equipage over from the livery stable.
81 wouldn't do this for anybody but
you. cap'n," he vouchsafed in what
might be called a reproachful shout.
wouldn't do what?" replied the cap
tain. looking first at the ancient horse
and then at the battered buggy.
"Let this horse out a night like this"
"Humph! l should think night
would be the only time you would let
him ont. There, there! Never mind.
Get aboard, Mr.. Graves. Put your
satchel on the floor between your feet.
Here, let me hist that boot for you"
The "boOt" was n rubber curtain
buttoned across the front Of the buggy,
extending from the dashboard to lust
below the level of the drivers V
The lawyer clambered in behind it,
The captain followed, the end of the
reins was passed through a slit in the
boot, Mr.. Shuttock. after inquiring If
they were 'all taut." gave the com