"Yaws, but--uh--I don't understand what yuh am drivin' at."

"Ye don't understand anything in this wurruld and by yer looks niver will."

"He means, Jim," interposed Nora, "that he will bring in the things to-night for us, but you must come round in the morning and set them out again. That's plain enough, isn't it?"

"Yaws--but what did he give me so much money fur? I hain't done nothin'

to earn it; I don't understand it."

"We all know that. Come wid me, James."

As Mike spoke, he slipped his arm under that of Jim and walked to the door, not pausing until they stood on the porch.

"Now, James, tell me where ye live."

"Yaws, what fur?"

"'Cause I asked ye; out wid it!"

The lad pointed a crooked finger down the street to the left.

"Now, see how quick ye can git thar. Don't look back, and whin ye tumbles over the doorsill, tell yer mither ye won't have any wurruk to do here until to-morrer mornin'."

"Oh, yaws, I understand--why didn't ye say so afore?"

"'Cause ye wouldn't have understood if I did. Off wid ye!"

And to make sure of being obeyed, Mike gave him a push which caused his dilapidated straw hat to fall off. He s.n.a.t.c.hed it up and broke into a lope, as if afraid of harm if he lingered longer in the neighborhood of such strange doings.

"Now, Miss Nora, if ye'll tell me where ye want these things placed, I shall be honored by carrying 'em in fur ye."

Mike stood in the front door and looked down the big store to Nora, at the rear, who called:

"Set them in the back part of the room right here where I'm standing."

"How can I put 'em there, if ye stand there?" asked Mike.

"I expect to get out of your way."

"Oh, yaws," remarked the youth, mimicking Jim, who had shown so much mental bewilderment.

The task was easy. There were picks, shovels, rakes, hoes, spades, pails, ice cream freezers, toy wagons with gilt letters, coils of rope and the various articles displayed by most village or country stores to attract custom. These were carried in by the l.u.s.ty Mike, a half dozen at a time, and set down somewhat loosely at the rear, Nora making a few suggestions that were hardly needed.

While this was going on, the mother employed herself in locking the safe for the night. It will be remembered that in addition to the stamps and money belonging to the government and to herself, a liberal amount was already there, the property of one of the leading citizens of Beartown, who was glad to entrust it to the keeping of the honest widow.

"I think," said the daughter when Mike had completed his work, which took only a few minutes, "you have earned your supper."

"Ah, now what reward can equal the light of yer blue eyes and the swate smile that shows the purtiest teeth in the State of Maine?" was the instant inquiry in return.

The mother had just finished locking the safe, and, standing up, she laughed in her gentle way and said:

"Surely you have kissed the blarney stone, Mike."

"I would have done the same had the chance been mine, which it wasn't. Is there any more play that ye call wurruk which I can do fur the likes of ye?"

"Nothing more, thank you. Nora and I will now close the store and attend to preparing supper."

"And I'll bring me frinds to enj'y the same."

So Mike bade them good night for a brief while, and strode down the road to find Alvin and Chester, whom, as you know, he met on their way to look for him. The three lingered and chatted, with the view of giving mother and daughter time in which to make ready the evening meal.

Following a common fashion of the times, the veteran Carter Friestone, in building his store and home, made the second story the living room of the family. It could be reached by the stairs at the back of the regular entrance, being through a narrow hall where visitors rang a bell when they called.

The upper front apartment served for parlor and sitting room, and was neatly furnished, one of the princ.i.p.al articles being a piano. This was a birthday present to Nora, who was gifted with a naturally sweet voice and received instruction from the schoolmistress of Beartown. At the rear was the kitchen and dining room, with two bedrooms between that and the parlor, facing each other across the hall.

Nora answered the tinkle of the bell, and Alvin and Chester were introduced to her under the light of the hanging lamp overhead. The little party found the mother awaiting them at the head of the stairs.

"Supper will be ready in a few minutes," she said. "Nora will entertain you in the parlor until I call you."

The girl escorted them to the front room, where all sat down and chatted with the cheery good nature proper in such a party of young folks. Mike was at his best, and kept all laughing by his drollery. Nora's merriment filled the room with music. Michael had given his name soon after his entrance into the store, but insisted that the way to p.r.o.nounce it was "Mike," not "Michael."

"I never knew such a funny person," said Nora, after one of his quaint remarks. "Mother and I took to him from the first."

"I find it's a common wakeness whereiver I go," said Mike gravely.

"We find him fairly good company," said Alvin. "He seems to have been born that way and we can hardly blame him."

"He tries our patience very much," added Chester, "but we have learned to bear the affliction."

"I wish you all lived in Beartown," said Nora impulsively, "and that Mike would call to see us every day."

"Whisht, now," said he, lowering his voice. "Whin I strolled through the town on me arrival, I was so chaarmed I began hunting fur a house and property to buy fur me home. I sthruck the right spot and made an offer to the owner of the same. I think we'll come to tarms, being there's only a difference of a thrifle of five or six thousand dollars in the price."

Mrs. Friestone now appeared with word that supper was waiting, and all pa.s.sed into the kitchen and dining room. Of course she presided, Nora acting as waitress whenever necessary. Alvin and Chester complimented their hostess on the excellence of the meal, while Mike was so extravagant in his praise that they protested. Alvin told the particulars of their trip in the launch from home to Wisca.s.set and return, omitting of course all reference to Stockham Calvert that would give a hint of his profession and his purpose in making what looked like an aimless ramble through this portion of Maine. The Captain was a.s.sured that his boat would not be disturbed where it lay moored under the bank, and he and Chester gave no further thought to it.

The group lingered long at the table, and at the close of the meal Nora preceded them to the parlor, were she excused herself in order to help her mother in washing the dishes and clearing away things. The work was finished sooner than the friends expected, and the happy party gathered in the parlor.

The presence of the musical instrument made its own suggestion, and the lads insisted that Nora should favor them with a song or two. She had the good taste to comply after a modest protest, and gave them a treat. Her voice, as I have said, was of fine quality though rather weak, and she sang several of the popular songs of the day with exquisite expression.

She was so warmly applauded that she blushed and sang again until it was evident to all she was tired.

"Now," said she as she rose from the stool and looked at Mike, "you must sing for us, for I know you can."

"Certainly, Mike, show them what you can do in that line," joined Alvin, and Chester was equally urgent.

He objected and held back, but when Mrs. Friestone joined in the request he rose reluctantly and went to the instrument.

And straightway came the surprise of the evening.