'Ships & Sharks' A Tale To Unplug At Night - With Ocean SFX

This is a wonderful maritime-style story to fall asleep to. It's equipped with ocean waves and ship sailing sound effects like creaking docks and fluttering sails.
Meet Captain Bardsley, who has sailed the high seas for years. Now he and his wife, Matilda, want to settle down in San Francisco. After all, they have a married daughter and young grandson going to school in the area.
Good thing the captain has been collecting beautiful pearls for the last several years. He goes to sell his collection at a New York jeweler. The jeweler is interested in buying, but he's also interested in other treasures the captain has. Have a listen; it's a good one.
Thanks for listening. I wish you a very prosperous day. Renee

Transcript

Hello Dream Travelers, And welcome to the Story Nexus. Tonight. I've got a story for you that was first published in All Story Weekly magazine on December 20th. In the year 1919. It's called Ships and Sharks by Harold A. Lamb. Skipper Amos Bardsley stood at the foot of the stairs leading up to the elevated trains and paused. He knew exactly where he was going. In the breast pocket of his blue serge suit, Carefully patched and pressed by his wife Matilda, Was a map of New York. With his root marked upon it. Bardsley was a big weathered man of about 200 pounds. His face roughened by 15 years at sea. He had spent most of those years trading through the South Pacific. Buying and selling Cobra. Pearl shell, Shark's teeth. Knives. Clothing. Tobacco, And other goods. He was in New York to sell his pearls. The idea had come to him during long, Solitary hours aboard his schooner. He had collected pearls for three or four years. Trading for them throughout the Samoas, The New Hebrides, Santa Cruz, And the Straits. He had heard that pearls sold in New York could bring far more than the prices paid in Honolulu or San Francisco. A month earlier, He had sold his schooner in Honolulu and gone to San Francisco. Now he had come east with his carefully accumulated collection. He hoped the money would be enough to keep himself and Matilda comfortably ashore. They had a cottage near Oakland. A married daughter, And a grandson in school. Bardsley wanted a little security for them all. He had seen an advertisement. Jewels bought and sold. Highest prices. The address was on Maiden Lane. Eventually, Barsley found the building and was shown into Maddox's office. The jeweler was a smooth-shaven, Quietly dressed man with a thin, Almost lifeless face that became pleasant when he smiled. What can I do for you, Captain Barsley? He asked. I saw your advertisement. I've got some pearls to sell. Came all the way from Frisco. He opened a leather case and placed two chamois bags on the desk. Manic. Glanced at them. Oh, There's no great demand for pearls just now. Too many on the market. Then he saw what was inside. A dozen pearls, All of them very fine specimens. Hmm. . . Where did these come from? Some from the Straits, Three or four from Malaysia. Some from Azor, And two from Samoa. Bardsley picked up one of the smaller pearls. Chief Tenuwana sold me that one for trade worth 20 pounds of sterling. He wanted gin badly. I wouldn't sell it back to him, Of course. He came aboard drunk one night and nearly tore my collarbone out before he got off the deck. Maddox smiled skeptically. Traitor's Tales. Stories Don't Sell Pearls in New York. He added, Bardsley's hand came down over the pearls. If you don't believe me, Mr. Maddox, We won't do business. I'm a man of my word. The jeweler's expression changed. Ah, No offense, Captain. We hear plenty of exaggerated stories about the South Seas. I don't doubt you. He examined the pearls through his jeweler's glass. What are you asking for this pair? That was familiar territory to Barsley. He had bargained for 15 years with men who were often far more dangerous than a New York jeweler. He had learned every trick in the trade. But Madoc seemed respectable. After all, He was an American in a big American city, Paying with American money. Surely, This would be an honest transaction. But they haggled for more than an hour. At last, Maddock agreed to Bardley's price for the entire collection. $4, 600. I'll take cash. Bardsley said. Certainly. Wait outside while I send a message to the bank. We don't keep that much cash here. Bartley went into the outer office. Manik closed the partition door, Stepped into a closet, And picked up the telephone. Give me Dorgan's Cafe. The connection came quickly. Jim Honey there? This is Matic. I've got a customer here with some good pearls. I'm handing him 4, 600 in cash. What kind of guy? Ripe. A South Seas trader. Thinks he knows more than everybody in New York. Wants to retire. Yeah, I getcha. You'll get half. What, If I get it? Do I ever fail? Marek hung up with a satisfied smile. 25 minutes later, He handed Bardsley the money and wished him good luck. Outside, Bardsley encountered a slender young man in a summer suit and straw hat. Nice day, Captain. The stranger said. Sparsely looked at him curiously. How'd you know I was a captain? The men love. Ha ha ha. Easy enough. I work in ship construction at one of the big Jersey yards. He told Bardsley about the enormous ships being built there and urged him to come see them. Bardsley had intended to spend his remaining time differently, But the prospect interested him. An hour later, They were inside one of the country's largest shipbuilding plants. Bardsley stared at the vast steel structures. The cranes, The machinery. And the huge battleships taking shape on the ways. His companions seemed to know the place well. Later, Over dinner, The man finally introduced himself. His card read. James B. Mahoney. New York Shipyard Company, Sales department. Mighty fine plant, Isn't it, Captain Bardsley? Mahoney said. I ought to know. I sell at stock. He ordered a steak and leaned closer. The stock pays 30% a year. It's about the safest investment a man could make. Thousands of people are drawn in fine income from it. Sparsely thought about the great ships he had just seen. He had once bought his schooner, A share at a time, Until he owned the whole vessel. But the idea of owning even a small piece of a shipyard like this appealed to him. Mahoney produced a newspaper. New York shipyard stock is selling at 42 today. Dirt cheap. Bardsley studied the figures. 30% on $4, 000 would mean more than $1, 000 a year. That would help Matilda. A man who's worked hard to make a pile has a right to get a good living from it. Mahoney said. Bartley nodded. Could you get me some of this stock? Mahoney hesitated. I might be able to get you a hundred shares. Meet me tomorrow at the National Bank. At 10 the next morning, Mahoney met Bardsley in the marble lobby of the bank. Fifteen minutes later, He produced a formal-looking stock certificate made out in Bardsley's name. Bardsley examined it carefully. It looked legitimate. He counted out $4, 200. Mahoney gave him a receipt. You've got a good thing here, Captain. Hang on to it. Don't let any swindler talk you into selling. Birdly smiled. New York had treated him well. He had sold his pearls for a good price and invested his money in what he believed was a solid company. Before leaving, However, He decided to visit the shipyard again. He wanted to see his investment with his own eyes. At the yard, He wandered among the buildings and machinery. Eventually stopping at the forge shop. I'd like to look inside. He told an attendant. You need a pass from the manager's office. Bardsley went to the office. I'm a stockholder. He explained. I'd like a pass. A clerk summoned a brisk young man who examined Bardsley's certificate. A stockholder. Parsley proudly handed it over. The young man studied it more carefully. That we've here. A few minutes later, Bardsley was shown into the office of Henderson, The assistant manager. Henderson looked at the certificate. Where did you get this? One of your salesmen sold it to me. I've got his receipt. Let me see that. Henderson's face hardened. This isn't our stock. Bardsley stared at him. It says New York Shipyard Company. We're the New York Ship Construction Company. And we don't employ salesmen. Never have. The meaning of what Henderson just said slowly landed on Bardsley. But I bought your stock. It was in the newspaper. The initials were NYSC. Our stock is quoted under those initials. Somebody has used them to create a bogus company. Henderson softened when he saw Bardsley's expression. I'm sorry, Captain. You've been swindled. Bardsley sat heavily. Mahoney showed me this plant. I paid him a lot of money. I've heard of this scheme. He probably used our plant to make the stock look legitimate. Can't you do anything? Not unless you can prove he was representing us. You'd have a hard time taking Maddox to court too. Bardsley nodded slowly. I'll have the law on Mahoney. Henderson shook his head. Find him first and get proof that he was the man who brought you here. If you can do that, We'll help you. But Barsley left without another word. That evening, He returned to his small waterfront hotel. He sat by the window in the dark, Thinking. He had enough money to get back to California. But he had lost $4, 000. More than the money, It was the betrayal that troubled him. In the South Pacific, He knew how to deal with men who cheated him. He had a revolver. And 15 years of experience. Here, The law protected the swindler. He had no proof. No weapon. No way to recover his money. But Bardsley was not a man who surrendered easily. Eventually, He made a decision. And then he went to bed. The next morning, He returned to Maddock. The jeweler looked up in surprise. Captain Bardsley! Glad to see you again. Anything I can do for you? I reckon there is. Barsley Sat Down. You gave me a good price for those other pearls. I've got something else. He opened his case. Maddox stared. Bardsley had produced a magnificent black pearl, Large as a good-sized cherry. Mattock examined it under a strong light. It's a beauty. I've had it four years. Came from the Batu Luvvum bed. MADEC turned it over carefully. What do you want for it? $12, 000. The jeweler laughed. Twelve thousand. I might give you five. I said twelve. Five and a half. $6, 000 then. Bardsley put the pearl away. I need 12, 000 because I want to buy more of some stock I already own. Maddox became interested. Would stop. The New York Shipyard Company pays 30%. I saw the plant. Who sold it to ya? A fellow named Mahoney. Friendly sort of fellow. Maddox's eyes sharpened. How much of the 12, 000 are you putting into it? Every cent. MADDOX suddenly understood. Mahoney had already told him about Bardsley. The sailor had walked straight into their trap. I'll buy the pearl. Maddox said. I'll need to get the money from the bank, But I'll meet your price. He disappeared into his office and telephoned. An hour later, Mahoney walked in carrying the bogus stock certificate. Glad to see you again, Captain Bardsley. Bardsley looked from Mahoney to Matic. You gentlemen don't know each other? They shook hands. Bardsley smiled. Manic placed the cash on the table. Sparsely counted it. Maddox took the black pearl and locked it in his safe. Mahoney handed Bardsley the stock certificate. Ardley examined it. Then he laid it down. This isn't what I want. Maddox's hand shot toward the money. A large fist stopped him. Bardsley calmly picked up the cash. And put it in his coat. But you said. . . I said I was going to buy stock in the shipyard. He crumpled the bogus certificate. And I am. I'm going to buy stock in the real New York Ship Construction Company from the company itself. This isn't it. He tossed the worthless paper onto the floor. Mahoney stared at him. Bardsley turned toward Maddock. Fifteen years I traded with every kind of scoundrel in the South Seas. I thought, When I came home to my own country, I'd get a square deal. I was wrong. Mahoney's hand moved toward his coat pocket. Sparsely sought. He moved faster. He caught Mahoney's wrist and, With one powerful jerk, Sent the younger man crashing into the desk. Mahoney staggered and dropped to the floor. Maddox sat frozen behind his desk. Finally, He found his voice. I'll get the law on you, Assaulter my friend. Your friend? Barnsley. Laugh. Mahoney is a stranger. You didn't even know he was a stock swindler, Did you? And with that. . . Captain Amos Bardsley walked out laughing. His laughter followed him all the way down the corridor. The end. Sweet dreams, Travelers. Let it be so.