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Cap'n Dan's Daughter

Chapter 4 A PICTURE SENT AND A CABLE TESTED

Word Count: 3726    |    Released on: 29/11/2017

swers from the advertisement in the Nuptial Chime. The suspense affected eac

n that individual came down the road, and, as the days passed and nothing more important than the Cape Cod Item and a patent-me

ring why there were no replies, and he even went so far as to suggest writing to the editor of the Chime. He wa

y an impatient bridegroom and administered comfort in large doses by suggesting that, in all probability, t

p nights and worryin' for fear they won't be picked out. Why, say, when you make your ch'ice you'll have to let the r

's laugh was

the post-office that night and brought them home himself. They filled three of his pockets to ov

knew they was on the way. What have you go

ally themselves with "an ex-seafaring man of steady habbits." But most of the applicants were of unsatis

ed to consider seriously. It was postmarked Nantucket, was wr

SKI

ons by return mail. What is your religious belief? Do you drink liquor? Are you a profane man? If you want t

rs t

SNOW. "NANT

she puts it," commented Captain Perez. "She

t," said Captain Eri. "Notice it's us that's got to suit her, not her us. I kind of l

ailed from Nantucket," suggested Pe

more Snows in Nantucket than you can shake a sti

kind we want," said Capt

d Captain Eri. "You're goin' t

rryin'? More 'n likely the next lot of

sgustedly. "Want to put off and put off and put off. And the h

erry," said Captain Eri seriously. "I like that

t got nothin' to say. I'm only the divilish fool that's

asked if you wa

you do. Go ahead and write to her if you want to, only I give you fair warnin', I

gnant candidate for matrimony until he agreed to sign his na

wants your picture. Have

eotype I had took when

rt, sandy-haired youth, whose sunburned face beamed from the depths of an enormous chok

ht do," said Cap'n

tain Eri. "Good land!" he chuckled; "look at that hat! Say,

daguerreotype in a sentimental sort of way, blowing the dust from the glass

hat, jest as well. Took care of it and brushed it-my! my! I don't know but it's somewheres aroun

th a burst o

ry's fallin' in love with his own picture

ndignation. Then he added in a rather crestfallen tone, "But I am a heap older 'n I was when I had that daguerreo

l her how 'twas. Talk her over. A feller that's been mar

of his feeble objections, and the daguerreotype, carefully wrapped, was mailed the next morning, accompanied by a bri

mpatient Captain Perez. "I want to get this thi

itating reply. "On

en were to hold a special meeting to consider the question of allowing Mr. Saunders to continue in business. The last-named gentleman had given what he was pleased to call a "blow-out" to his regular patrons in celebration of the granting of the licens

this assurance, but he determined to keep

e station, the new electrician invariably responded, "First-rate." Gossip, however, in the person of Miss Busteed, reported that the operator

the mainsail of his catboat. These necessary repairs had prevented his taking the usual trip to the fishing grounds. Looking up from his work, he saw, through the ope

id Hazeltine, walking toward the

e don't squabble with the weather folks. The only thing that 'll fetch a squall with a w

nd I've been getting things ready for the repair ship. She was

, lived there all his life, and he's never been up in Bunker Hill monument yit. Fust time I landed in Boston I dug for that monument, and I can tell you how many steps there is in

m going up to the post-office, and when I

You might sing out as you go past. I've got a ha'f-

every winter. The gales tear great holes in its sides, and then, as if in recompense, throw up new shoals and build new promontories. From the cable-station doorway in fair weather may be counted the sails of over one hundred vessels going and coming between Boston and New York. They come and go, and, alas! s

e than two hours had gone by before he called for Captain Eri. During the row to the beach the elect

o get at the company's repair ship. She lies, usually, at Halifax when she isn't busy, and that is where she was this time. We wired her and she left for the spot immediately. It was up to me to get ready the testing apparatus-we generally set u

brought up that way. I think I'd make more money ca

r end of the line is ready by the time the ship reaches the break. If the weather is bad the ship can't work, and s

tle wharf and plodded

t?" said Hazeltine, as he open

his companion. "Your neighbors' hens don't scratch u

e we receive and send.

ts and the little glass tube, half filled with ink, that, when the cable

icky as a watch, ai

hat a little, one way or the other, and the operator on the other side might send unti

om Captain Eri recognized as one of the operators, came in. He starte

aid, "where is

answered the f

Tell me where

is. He went over to t

the rest

't k

tone were unmistakable. Hazeltine hesitated, seemed abo

testing room now." Then he added, apparently as much to himself as to

uietly. As they passed through, Captain Eri noticed that Peter

end of the passage, and this was ajar. Toward it the electrician walked rapid

rns fixes it so we don't hear for a couple of hours, another on

was cut short by Hazeltine'

the testing instruments, exactly like those in the receiving room downstairs. Three men lounged in the chairs, and standing beside the tabl

from the regulating screw, as though the latter were red hot. The Captain recognized the men; they were day operators whom he had met in

p, Captain Eri noticed that his face also was white, but evidently not from fear. He turned sharply and looked at the four operators, w

said, and turned again t

utions when the point of the little glass siphon, that had been tracing a straight black line

id curtly, "ans

nd clicked off a message. After a moment the line on the moving t

regret exceedingly that the ship should have been kept

n at the end of the room glanced at each othe

e stairs and Peters

an's comin

it was built, and he liked the job. He knew cable work, too, from A to Z, and, though he was a strict disciplinarian, would forgive a man's gett

a cigar stump out of the win

he said. Then, stepping to the

hat does this mean? They say they have been calling for tw

the room when the e

s out of adjustment,

told me everything was in perfect

screw was too loose. That would acc

d steadfastly at Hazeltine, then at the oper

explanations you may have to make in my office later o

t to make no comment on the scene just described, and the captain did not feel like offering any. The

he electrician. "Shall I qui

ha

t till Saturday night? I su

's pent-up rag

that way. But I'll tell you this,-you and your sneaking friends. If you try another game like that,-yes, or if y

n' that I like you fust-rate. Me and Perez and Jerry ain't the biggest bugs in town,

. That vigorous handshake was enough of itself to convince Ralp

d made two. For that evening Jack McLo

ieve he'd have DONE it too. Boys, there ain't any more 'con' games played on

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