"I'm awful glad to see you, Cap'n," she said. "I've been wantin' to talk to some sane person; the one I've been talkin' to ain't sane, not now.

Come into the dinin'-room. Imogene, you needn't finish clearin' away till I tell you to. You stay in the kitchen here."

When she and Captain Obed were in the dining-room alone, and with both doors closed, Thankful told of the morning's happenings.

"They're bad enough, too," she declared. "Almost as bad as that silly business last night--or worse, if such a thing's possible. To begin with, Mr. John Kendrick's gone."

"Yes, Imogene said he'd gone. But what made him go so early?"

"You don't understand, Cap'n. I mean he's gone--gone for good. He isn't goin' to board or room here any more."

Captain Obed whistled. "Whew!" he exclaimed. "You don't mean it?"

"I wish I didn't, but I do. I didn't see him this mornin', he went too early for that, but he took his suitcase and his trunk is all packed and locked. He left a note for me with a check for his room rent and board in it. The note said that under the circ.u.mstances he presumed I would agree 'twas best for him to go somewheres else at once. He thanked me for my kindness, and said some real nice things--but he's gone."

"Tut! tut! Dear, dear! Where's he gone to? Did he say?"

"No, I've told you all he said. I suppose likely I ought to have expected it, and perhaps, if he is goin' to work for that cousin of his and against me, it's best that he shouldn't stay here; but I'll miss him awful--a good deal more'n I miss the money he's paid me, and the land knows I need that. I can't understand why he acted the way he did last night. It don't seem like him at all."

"Humph! I should say it didn't. And it ain't like him either. There's a n.i.g.g.e.r in the woodpile somewheres; I wish I could smoke the critter out.

What's Emily say about his goin'?"

"She don't say anything. She won't talk about him at all, and she won't let me mention his name. The poor girl looks as if she'd had a hard night of it, but she looks, too, as if her mind was made up so fur's he was concerned."

Captain Obed pulled at his beard.

"She didn't give him much of a chance last evenin', seemed to me," he said. "If she'd only come back when he called after her that time, I cal'late he was goin' to say somethin'; but she didn't come. Wouldn't answer him at all."

"Did he call after her? I didn't hear him and I don't think she did.

When she slammed out of that livin'-room she went right up the back stairs to her bedroom and I chased after her. She was cryin', or next door to it, and I wanted to comfort her. But she wouldn't let me."

"I see. Probably she didn't hear him call at all. He did, though; and he called her by her first name. Matters between 'em must have gone further'n we thought they had."

"Yes, I guess that's so. Do you know, Cap'n, I wouldn't wonder if Mr.

Daniels knew that and that was why he was so--so nasty to Mr. Kendrick last night. Well, I'm afraid it's all off now. Emily's awful proud and she's got a will of her own."

"Um, so I should judge. And John's will ain't all mush and mola.s.ses either. That's the worst of young folks. I wonder how many good matches have been broke off just by two young idiots lettin' their pride interfere with their common-sense. I wish you and me had a dime for every one that had; you wouldn't have to keep boarders, and I wouldn't have to run sailin' parties with codfish pa.s.sengers."

"That's so. But, Cap'n Bangs, DO you think Mr. Kendrick is goin' to try and force me into sellin' out just 'cause his boss says so? It don't seem as if he could. Why, he--he's seemed so grateful for what I've done for him. He said once I couldn't be kinder if I was his own mother. It don't seem as if he could treat me so, just for the money there was in it. But, Oh dear!" as the thought of Mr. Solomon Cobb crossed her mind, "seems as if some folks would do anything for money."

"John wouldn't. I've known of his turnin' down more'n one case there was money in account of its bein' more fishy than honest. No, if he does work for that--that half Holliday cousin of his on this job, it'll be because he's took the man's money and feels he can't decently say no.

But I don't believe he will. No, sir-ee! I tell you there's a darky in this kindlin' pile. I'm goin' right down to see John this minute."

He went, but, instead of helping the situation, he merely made it worse.

He found John seated at his office desk apparently engaged in his old occupation, that of looking out of the window. The young man's face was pale and drawn, but his manner was perfectly calm.

"h.e.l.lo, Captain," he observed, as his caller entered. "I trust you've taken the necessary precautions, fumigated and all that sort of thing."

"Fumigated?"

"Why, yes. Unless I'm greatly mistaken, this office is destined to become the den of the moral leper. As soon as my respected fellow-townsmen, the majority of them, learn that I am to battle with Heman the Great, and in such a cause, I shall be shunned and, so to speak, spat upon. You're taking big chances by coming here."

The captain grunted. "Umph!" he sniffed. "They don't know it yet; neither do I."

"Ah yes, but they will shortly. Daniels will take care that they do."

"John, for thunder sakes--"

"Better escape contagion while you can, Captain. Unclean! Unclean!"

"Aw, belay, John! I don't feel like jokin'. What you've got to tell me now is that it ain't so. You ain't goin' to--to try to--to--"

His friend interrupted. "Captain Bangs," he said, sharply, "this is a practical world we live in. You and I have had that preached to us; at least I have and you were present during the sermon. I don't know how you feel, of course; but henceforth I propose to be the most practical man you ever saw."

"Consarn your practicality! Are you goin' to help that--that gold-dust twin--that cussed relation of yours, grab Thankful Barnes' house and land from her?"

"Look here, Bangs; when the--gold-dust twin isn't bad--when the twin offered me the position of his attorney and the blanket retainer along with it, who was it that hesitated concerning my acceptance? You? I don't remember that you did. Neither did--others. But I did accept because--well, because. Now the complications are here, and what then?"

"John--John Kendrick, if you dast to set there and tell me you're cal'latin' to--you can't do it! You can't be goin' to try such a--"

"Oh, yes, I can. I may not succeed, but I can try."

Captain Obed seldom lost his temper, but he lost it now.

"By the everlastin'!" he roared. "And this is the young feller that I've been holdin' up and backin' up as all that's fair and above board! John Kendrick, do you realize--"

"Easy, Captain, easy. Perhaps I realize what I'm doing better than you do."

"You don't neither. Emily Howes--"

John's interruption was sharper now.

"That'll do, Bangs," he said. "Suppose we omit names."

"No, we won't omit 'em. I tell you you don't realize. You're drivin'

that girl right straight to Heman Daniels, that's what you're doin'."

Kendrick smiled. "I should say there was no driving necessary," he observed. "Daniels seems to be already the chosen guardian and adviser.

I do realize what I'm doing, Captain, and," deliberately, "I shall do it."

"John, Emily--"

"Hush! I like you, Captain Obed. I don't wish to quarrel with you. Take my advice and omit that young lady's name."

Captain Obed made one last appeal.

"John," he pleaded, desperately, "don't! I know you're sort of--sort of tied up to Holliday Kendrick; I know you feel that you are. But this ain't a question of professional honor and that kind of stuff. It's right and wrong."

"Is it? I think not. I was quite willing to discuss the rights and wrongs, but I had no--however, that is past. I was informed last night, and in your hearing, that the question was to be purely a matter of legal skill--of law--between Daniels and myself. Very well; I am a lawyer. Good morning, Captain Bangs."