Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 31, Number 319, 16 December 1906 — Page 11

The Richmond Palladium, Sunday, December 16, 1906

Page Eleven.

JPAIWKIIIR

CnAriL.II r. "iw JAS you cal'latln' to buy one of them turnovers, bub?" casually inquired Mr. Clark, reusing to gaze at Lis MM steaming boots, which were planted against the bulging center of the station 6tove, aud turning toward the boy at the lunch counter. "Yes, sir," said the boy. He had takeu off one worsted mitten and held a five cent piece clutched tightly in bis red fist. The station agent wrapped the pastry hi a piece of newspaper and banded it to bis customer. Tbe boy, a youngster of about twelve years of age, with a freckled race ana a pair of bright gray eyes, took his "turnover" to the settee In the corner of the waiting room and began to eat. He had on a worn cloth cap with an attachment that could be pulled down to cover..the ears and a shabby overcoat oCmon's,, size, very much too large for fiim. 1 As be munched the greasy crdst and the thin layer of "evaporated" apple he looked around him with interest. The station itself was like the aver age railway building on Cape Cod. I Except for the sign "Harniss" that hung outside it might have been the station at' Wellmouth, which he had Been so often. Battered settees around the walls; lithographs of Fteamers, time tables and year old announcements of excursions and county fairs bung above them; big stove set In a box of sawdust all these were the regulation fixtures. Regula tion also were the "refreshments on the counter at the side "turnovers" ar ranged cobhouse fashion under a glass rover, with a dingy "Washington" pie finder another cover and jars of strlprd stielE candy, with boxes of "Jaw reakers'and similar sweetmeats be tween, ' It was snowing hard, and in the jlusk of the winter evening the flakes rustled against the windows as If un seen old ladies' In starched summer jjowns were shivering In the storm and crowding to get a peep within. The air in the shut waiting room smelled of bot stove, sawdust, wet clothing and Mr. Clark's cigar. To this collection jf perfumes was presently added the xlor of kerosene as the station agent it the big lamps In their brackets on he wall. : From outside came the sounds of freaking wheels and stamping horses, 'he stamping muffled by the snow Which covered the ground. v The door opened, and a big man with m . - . . 1 , x lace or wnicn gray wiugsers auu reu lose were the most prominent features -ame stamping and puffing into the oom. He jerked off a pair of leather cloves, playfully shook the congealed nolsture from them down Mr. Clark's jieck. inside his collar, tossed a long vhip Into the corner and, holding his pread fingers over the stove, began to Ing "Whoa, Emma!" with enthusiasm. Warn !n air tmtni. 4 n lilln Alnffrlnr. jneltlng snow from his neck to open a j Hello. Barney Small! How's the trav'ljo"i Have a rough time drivin over?" f "Oh, mlddlin', middlin," replied the jjrlver of the Orham stage, unbuttoning his overcoat and reaching for his jipe. "but this earth's a vale of tears Lay how, so what's the odds so long's ou're happy. Hello, Dan!" The last a ,houted greeting to the station agent in , he little room, whose answer .was a Vave of the hand and a sidelong nod ;cross the telegraph Instrument. ! "What's doln' over iu Orham, Bar ley?" inquired Mr. Clark. i "Prissy and Tempy's adopted a boy." 1 The agent evidently was interested. "The old maids?" i"Yup, the old maids. I s'pose-they tome to reelize that they needed.a man round the house, but as there wa'n't ;.o bids'Tnfhat'Mh'e they'sort, of- com promised on a boy." i "You don't mean the Allen old maids bat live down on the 'lower road.' do . ,"ou?" asked Mr. Bodkin. j "Sartin. I said the old maids, didn't :? .There's plenty of single women in )rbam, but when you. say 'the old balds' in our town everybody knows iou mean Prissy and Tempy." I "What about the boy, Barney?" said h.e. station agent, coming into the vatting room. I; Why." said Mr. Small, "it's this ay: Seems that Prissy and Tempy's ntuer. old Cap'n D'rius Allen he's jeen dead six years or more now had j niece name of Sophia, that married ap'n Ben Nickerson over to Welliiouth. Cap'n Ben and his wife had iae son. I think the boy's name's radley. Anyhow Cap'n Ben and his fife was drowned oft the Portuguese past two years ago when Ben's bark sas lost. Maybe you remember? Well, ,ie boy was left at home that voyage ylth Ben's ha'f brother, Solon Nicker : son, so s the youngster could go to rhool. When his folks was drownded oat way the boy kept on livin' with yalon till 'bout three weeks ago Solon yas took with pneumony and up and Jed. Prissy and Tempy's the only re- : i lions there was, you see, so it was ft to them to say what should be one with the boy. I cal'late there just !ave been some high old pow-J-'ovi In the old house, but the old "aias are pretty conscientious spite of ' eir bein so everlastln' 'old niaidy,' lid they fin'lly decided 'twas their VL-ity to take the little feller to bring Wo. That's the way I heard the yarn. rhey kept it a secret until yesterday, jreit bow the whole town's talkin' 'bout 9t. You see, it's such .a good joke, for tem two to have a boy in the house. M'hy, Prlssy's been .used to shooin irl-ery stray boy oft the place as if he I fcas a ben.'V - SlMr. Small laughed so heartily at this it the others joined, in.. When the 'larity had subsided the station agent 'ked: .. , ... "When's the Nickerson boy comln' per from Wellmouth?" '"Why, today, come to think of it. e was to. come up on the afternoon :itn from Wellmouth and tro to Orwith me tonight. - You ain't seen thiu' .The station agent interrupted him th a sidelong movement of the head. Huh?" queried Mr. Small. Then he. ?!

J company with Mr. Clark and Mr. bdklr turned toward the corner of fe.witiug room. tXh boy vtio bad feeuxht th.e ,tjei

I "turnover," uavmg nnisnea tne last

j womb of that viand. Lad turned to the window and was looking out through a hole he had scraped In the frost on the pane. He bad shaded bis face with Lid Lands to shut out tbe lamplight, and, though be must have heard the conversation, bis manner , betrayed no interest in It. ' Mr. Small interrogated the station agent by raising his eyebrows. The agent whispered, "Shouldn't wonder," and added, "He came on the up train this afternoon." "Hey, boy," said Mr. Clark, who never let consideration for other people interfere with bis own curiosity, "what's your name?" The boy turned from the window and, blinking a little as the light struck his eyes, faced the group by the stove. His freckled cheeks glistened as the light shone upon them; but, as if be knew this, he pulled the big sleeve of the overcoat across his face and rubbed them dry. "What's jour name, sonny?" said the stage driver kindly. 1 "Nickerson," said the boy in a low tone. 1 - " "I want to know. Your fust name ain't Bradley, is it?" "Yes. sir." "Sho, well, there now! Guess you're goin f ride over with me then. I drive Orham coach. Hum. well, Ij declare!" And Mr. Small pulled his beard In an embarrassed fashion. "Come over to tbe stove and get warm, won't you?" asked the station agent. "I ain't cold," was the reply. The trio by the stove fidgeted in silence for a few moments, and then Mr. Small said uneasily: "Ain't it 'most time for that train to be In? She's a ha'f hour late now." ' "She was twenty-five minutes late at Sandwich," said the station agent, "and she's prob'Iy lost ten minutes or so since. She'll be along in a little while now." But in spite of this cheerful prophecy a full fifteen minutes passed before the train, which bad been started from . " WhaVt your name, sonny 7 " Boston with the vague idea that some time or other it might get to Provincetown, came coughing and panting round the curve and drew up at the station platform. Only one passenger got out at the Harniss station, and he, stopping for a moment to band his trunk check to the station agent, walked briskly into the waiting room and slammed the door behind him. "Hello!" he hailed, pulling off a buckskin glove and holding out a big hand to the stage driver. "Barney, how's sheheadin'?" Mr. Small grinned and took the proffered hand. "Well, for the land's sake, Ez Titcomb!", be . exclaimed. "Where'd you drop frotn J " Thought you was somewheres ofT the coast between New York and Portland jest 'bout now." "Got shore leave for a fortnl't or so," said the newcomer, unbuttoning his overcoat with a smart jerk and throwing it wide open. "Schooner "sprung a leak off Gay head last trip, and she's Iiauled 'up' at East" Boston for repairs. Dirty weather, ain't it? Hello, Lon! How are you, Ike?" Mr. Clark and his friend grinned and responded, "How are you, Cap'n Ez?' in unison. The arrival was a short, thickset man with a sunburned face, sharp eyes, hair that was a 'reddish brown sprinkled with gray and a close clipped mustache of the same color. He wore a blue overcoat over a blue suit and held a cigar firmly in -one corner of his mouth. His movements were quick and sharp and he snapped out his sentences with vigor. "Full cargo tonight?" be asked of Mr. Small, who was buttoning his overcoat and pulling on bis gloves. "x-retiy mgn an empty noid," was the reply. "Only 'bout one and a ha'f goin over. You're the one, and the boy here's the ha'f. All aboard! Come on. Brad. You . and the cap'n git inside, while me and Dan git the dunnage on the rack." The boy picked up the carpetbag and roiioweu .Mr. small out to the rear platform of the station, where the coach, an old fashioned, dingy vehicle. drawn by four sleepy horses, stood waiting. Captain Titcomb followed, his overcoat flapping in the wind. "Here, Barney," he observed, "have a cigar to smoke on the road. Have one. Dan? Here, Lon; here's a couple for you and Ike. Who's the little feller?" he added in a whisper to the station agent. "Ben Nickerson's boy from Wellmouth. He's comln down to Orham to live with the old'maids. They've adopted him." "The old maids? Not the old maids? Not Prissy and Tempy?" "Yup. All right, Barney; I'm comin." - - - The station agent hurried away to help the driver with the captain's sea chest, and its owner, apparently overcome with astonishment, climbed mutely Into tbe coach, where his fellow passenger had preceded him. The old vehicle rocked and groaned as the heavy chest was strapped on the racks behtud. Then it tipped again as Mr. Small climbed chuusilr to the ; driver's seat..

:(0)IF

"All asltre that's goin shore!" snouted Mr. Small. "So long, Dan. Git dap. Two-forty r The whip cracked, the coach reeled on its springs, and the whole equipage disappeared in the snow and black ness. . Tbe boy, Bradley Nickerson, bad never ridden in a stagecoach before, and after ten or fifteen minutes of Jolt and roll be decided that be never wanted to ride in one again. - Suddenly Captain Titcomb, who had been silent so far, spoke. "Heavy sea on tonight," he observed. "'Pears to me Bamey'd better take a reef. She's rollin considerable." Tbe boy laughed and said, "Yes, sir." "Goin' all the way to Orham?" asked the captain. "Yes, sir." "Got folks over there, I presume likely. Friends or nothin but jest relations?" "Relations, I I guess." i "So! Well, I've got a good many relations over there myself. Fact is, I've got relations, seems to me, 'most everywberes. Father used to have so many of 'em that when be went visitin' be used to call it 'goin' cousininV My name's Titcomb. What do they call you when your back ain't turned?" The boy laughed again in a puzzled way be scarcely knew what to make of his questioner and said that his name was F clley Nickerson. "Nickerson, bey? That settles it; you're a Cape Codder. Minute I meet anybody named Nickerson I always know they've got the same kind of sand in their boots that I have. Is it Obed Nickerson's folks you're goin to see?" "No, sir. I'm goin to live with Miss Priscilla Allen. Her and her sister. They was some of mother's people." "Sho. v well I swan!" muttered the captain. "Prissy and Tempy, hey? Then Dan wa'n't foolin. And you're goin' to live with 'em?" "Yes, sir. Do you know, 'em?" "Who me? Oh, yes! I know 'em. I'm a partic'lar friend of theirs that is,": be added cautiously, "I call on 'em once in awhile jest to say 'How are you?' Why? You didn't hear any of them fellers at the depot say anything 'bout me and them did you? No! Well, all right, I jest thought Oh, yes! I know 'em. Nice folks as ever was, but what you might call a little mite 'sot in their ways.' Do you always wipe your feet when you come Into the house?" "Why why yes. sir, if I don't forget it." "All right. It's a good habifc.to.git into, 'specially if you're goin' to walk on Prissy's floors. Sometimes I've wished I could manage to put my feet In my pocket when I've been there. I wonder If I knew your father? What was his name?" Bradley told his father's name and In response to the captain's tactful questioning a good deal more besides. Iu fact., before long Captain Titcomb knew all about the boy. where he came from, how he happened to come and all the rest. And Bradley for his part v

M

learn eU mat ms companion commanoed the coasting schooner Thomas Doane. that he Lad been a sailor ever since he was fourteen, that be had n marvelous fund of sea yarns and knew how to spin them and that he (Bradley) liked him. By and by the captain noticed that the boy's replies to his cheerful observations were growing rather incoherent, and. suspectincr the reason, he ceased to talk. A few minutes later be leaned forward and smiie.l to find his fellow" traveler, who Lad slipped down upon the cushion, fast asleep. When Brad.'ey awoke Captain Titcomb was staudiug on the ground by the opu door of tiie coach. "Good night. Brad," he said. "Here's where I'm bouud for. You've got a five minute ride or so more 'fore you git to the old mai that is, to Prissy and Tempy's. I'll see you tomorrer. You and ine's goin' to be chums, you know." The door was shut. Mr. Small struck up "Camptowu Races," and the stage bumped on again. This time the boy did not sleep, but, holding on to the strap, tried to peer through the snow crusted window. He saw a light here and there, but little else. After a short Interval the coach turned a sharp corner, rolled on for perhaps twice its length and then stopped. Mr. Small opened the door, and Bradley, looking past him, saw the side of a large house and a lighted doorway, with two female figures, one plump and the other slender, standing in It From behind them the lamplight streamed warm and bright and sent their shadows almost to his feet. "Come on, bub," said the stage driver. : "Here's where you git out. r Miss Prissy," he shouted, "here's your new boarder." CHAPTER II. HE plump woman, whom Mr. Small had addressed as "Miss Prissy," was counting into the stage driver's palm a sum in T su ail change from a portentous black wallet that fastened with a strap. "Good night," said the driver, pocketing the money, with a grunt and a jingle. Like the boy, be had been very careful not to step ofl the mat. "Good night, Miss Tempy. Snow's iettin' up a little mite. Guess 'twill be clear by EQornin'. Good night. Brad." The plump lady closed the door behind him just in time to shut out the opening notes of the "Sweet By and By." Then she dropped the hook into the staple, wound the leather strap carefully about the wallet, placed the latter in a compartment of a tall chest of drawers in the corner, turned the key upon it and put the key under the alabaster candlestick on - the mantel. Then she turned to the boy, who, holding his carpet bag with both hands, still stood uneasily on the mat, while the slim lady fidgeted in front of him. '.'Bradley," said the plump lady 6he was aressed in some sort of black material that rustled aad wore a lace collar, jet earrings and a breastpin with a braided lock of hair in the center of it "Bradley, we're real glad to see" you. I'm Miss Priscilla; this is my sister, Miss Temperance." "Y. Bnullev." coincided "Mias

INCK

ost persons in 'these enlightened days of pure food agitation endeavor to know something about the beer they drink.

m

tfs not the price or in any other m othing hinders the

or high grade beer at a moderate price.

autious oeoole do

quality regardless of cost that prompts

eeping informed

the ability to discriminate between the goocymd the bad.

ome Richmond people use a certain breof beer; some others use other brews, put most everybJay uses Mincks.

oasting never gave a beer its popularit. But if has down

right merit, even "knocking'' can't iniure it. very home in Richmond, with but f w exceptions, in which beer is used at all, has a case of Mincks on hand. ven pure beer is riot always whoifesome. Minck's beer combines wholesomenes with puriw and in the highest degree. est assured that when Wou biy Minck's Richmond Export

you are getting

THE MINCK BREWING CO. RICHMOND, INDIANA.

TUmm,

Tempy," "we're real glad to see you." She was the youagcr of the two and was gowned in what the boy learned later was her "brown poplin." Her hair was not worn plain. like her sister's, but had a little bunch of curls over each ear. She also wore a hair breastpin, but her earrings were gold. Bradley shook tbe extended hands. Miss Prissy's red and dimpled and Miss Tempy's tliin and white, with two old fashioned ring oh the lingers. "Won't you won't you set down?" ventered Miss Tempy after a rather awkward pause. "Why. yes. of course." said Miss Prisy. "and take ronr things right off do." Bradley placed the carpetbag on the corner of the mat and pulled oft the shabby overcoat. Tbe jacket and trousers beneath were also shabby, but it was at bis shoes that Miss Prissy glanced, and, oddly enough, their condition served to break the formality. "My goodness me!" she ejaculated. "Jest look at his poor feet, Tempy Allen! Come right over to the stove this minute and take off those shoes. They're soppin wet through." "No, ma'am," protested the boy; "They ' ain't, honest. They only look so." "Don't tell me!" commanded Miss Prissy. "Go right over to the stove this minute." Bradley reluctantly obeyed, stepping gingerly across the spotless oilcloth and taking as long strides as possible. It did not add to his comfort to see Miss Tempy shake the melting snow into the center of the rope mat, fold the latter carefully together and disappear with it Into the kitchen. Miss Prissy piloted him to the chintz covered rocker by tbe big "airtight" stove. Then she proceeded to unlace the patched brogans, commenting in au undertone upon the condition of the stockings iteneath. "I'm 'fraid." said Bradley fearfully, "that I've got some snow water on your floor, ma'am." "Don't sa'y a word. Thank goodness your feet ain't so wet as I thought they was. Tnt 'em right on the rail of the stove there while I go up to the garret and get those slippers of father's. I'll be right back." She hurried out of the room just as her sister entered it by the other door. "Now, set right still," said Miss Tempy, bustling about, with the steaming teakettle In her band. "I'm goin' to make you some pepper tea. There's nothin' In the world like pepper tea when you're likely to catch cold." "Pepper tea" was a new prescription for the boy, and he watched with interest while Miss Tempy turned some milk into a bowl, flooded It with boil-, ing water, added a spoonful of sugar and vigorously shook the pepper box over the mess. "There!" she said. "Now, drink that, every drop. Ain't you hungry?" Bradley, with tears in his eyes, the result of the first swallow of pepper tea, gaspingly protested that be wasn't hungry, not very. The sight and smell of the loaded supper table were so tempting that the denial was rather halfhearted. "Not very! When did you have any

always that insures the best, either in beer

article of food or drink.

selling of low grade not let price regulate

as to scientific methods of brewing insures

the best in matter of

By jJcmc

thing ta cat la-ii" "Mr. Bartlett he's the s'lectman at VumoutQ gave me a sandwich at the dciot 'for I started, ma'am, aud I bought a turnover at Harniss." "My sakes! Pris.sy" to her sister who came rustling iu "be basu't et a thing but a sandwich and a turnover since morning. Now. come right ovei to the table, Bradley, and set down." As tbe Imy ate be looked about th room. It Ww.s a big roam, with a low ceiling, spotlessly whitewashed. Th oiiciotii 0.1 the floor was partially covered with braided rag mats with carpet centers. On the window shades were wonderful tinted pictures of castles and mountains. The table was black walnut, and there were five rush seated chairs, each in its place against the wall and looking as if it were glued there. The sixth of the set be occupied. Then there was the chintz covered rocker and another rocker painted black, with a worn picture of a ship at sea on the back. There was another ship over the face of the, tall wooden clock iu- the confer,. This 'craft was evideutly the. Flying Dutchman, for every timeithe clock ticked it rolled heavily behind a fence -of tin waves, but didn't advance an inch. On the walls, were, several ..works ..of .art, including a spatter work motto, a wreath made of seashells" under a glass and an engraving showing u boat filled with men, women and children rowed by a solemn individual in his shirt sleeves, moving over a placid sheet of water toward an unseen port. "Cap'n Titcomb," remarked Bradley, whose bashfulness was wearing off, "came over in the coach with me tonight." w The effect of this announcement was remarkable. Miss Prisav looked i Miss "lempy, aud the latter returned the look. Strange to say, both colored. Cap'n Titcomb?" faltered - Miss Prissy. "Cap'n Ezra Titcomb?" "Yes. ma'am. He talked to me 'most "rTf beer at a high pri their purchases. It's most of quality.

ijj urns rar rait jiulS. fasyPayments The Starr Piano Co. 931-935 Main Ctrcct. j ,', 1 ' -mmSSBSSSSSmm

MAXIMS

lL&aam

an tie ::y. lica nrst r lf." "Why why. I do declare! I didn't know thi cap'n was expected, did you, Tempy?" "No, I'm sure I didn't!" exclaimed tbe flustered younger sister. "Did be did be tell you why he was comln. Brad ley T "No, ma'am, but I heard him tell the man that drove the roach that he had shore leave for a week 'cause hi echoonor was laid up for repairs. He said be knew you. though, and that be was cotnin round to see uie tomorrer." This remark caused quite as much embarrassment and agitation as that concerning the captain's presence In the coach. The two Indies again glanced hurriedly at each other. "Goodness gracious!" exclaimed Miss Prissy. "And the settln room not swept and tbe windows not washed! I'll have to get up early tomorrer mornin. I'm so glad I fixed that ruffle on my alpaca." she added in an absentminded soliloquy. "And I must finish that tidy for the sofy," said Miss Tempy nervously. "I've only got a little more to do on it, thank goodness! Prissy, I'm goin to put an iron on. I want to press my other collar. Did did the cap'n say anything more about me us. I mean?" she added, looking at the stove. "No, ma'am, he didn't." replied the boy. "He jest asked about me and told stories and talked." Miss Tempy seemed a little disappointed and made no comment. Her sister, too, was silent. Presently Bradley yawned, ne tried to hide it, but Miss Prissy, coming out of be trance, f-aw him. (Continued Next Sunday.) After a heavy meal, take a couplo oi uoan s iteguiets, and give yc stomach, liver and bowels the they will need. Roftulets brini regular passages of tho bowels A D

MIL.

tasy,