Cap'n Abe, Storekeeper

burst out Loui

d on which the man's hat still perched. "I never saw the beat! Why,

ean?" the amaz

I saw this letter, sealed and directed to me, on the dresser there. 'Humph!' says I, 'Who's writin' billy-doos to

o? Not Ca

lf. But I thought 'twas Cap'n Abe's step I heard. He says: 'Oh! you'

se," Louise reminded her, much amused

etter then-and there he warn't! Instead-of all the lookin' critters! There! you go take a peek at him and see what you think yourself. I'll put the breakfast on the table. He's mad

she saw Cap'n Amazon from the rear. The red bandana swathing his bead, below which was a lank fringe of black hair, was the only bizarre t

m the girl's lips, for

and Betty Gal

ced him. His dark complexion, the long mustache, as black and glossy as a crow's wing, the gold rings in his ears, with the red ha

of his shirt the girl gained a glimpse of other tattooing. There was a faint scar traced alo

s twinkled at her kindly-almost like Cap'n Abe'

ce, Louise, is it? Well, to be sure! Abe didn

on the day before, her hand was lost in a warm, firm clasp

d eyes on. I don't scarcely see how Abe could go away and leave you. Dunno's he's got

, Uncle Amazon?" s

h. "I never could decide betwixt and between 'em. No, sir! They are a

wisdom, Uncle Amazon

en you gr

sailors' snug harbors

to worry about th

look younger than C

s life. It's the feel of a heavin' deck under his feet that keeps the spring in a man's wishbone. Yes

dn't we? I left that woman Abe has pokin' around here, to dish u

aid the girl; and she hurried to the kitchen

of him?" she wh

he girl replied scarcel

a char

le, I got to say right now he ain't a man

s a great deal l

ng, we've knowed Cap'n Abe around here for twenty year and more. Course, he ain't Cardhaven born; but we k

e had sat opposite to Cap'n Abe the evening before. She thought, for a moment, that Cap'n Amazon was going

to attract his attention; but she was comparatively a stranger to turn. The cat we

ap'n Amazon. "Seems qui

e of the captain. Louise could see the cat actually stiffen with surprise. Th

that?" gasped Cap'n Amazo

," she said. "He thought you were Cap'n Abe-till he look

"You got your bearin's correct, Louise, I do believe. I must hav

t over it," said

denly, looking around at the cage hanging

er

trust nobody else, he said, to feed and water him." He rose from t

ediately, with an answering chirp, the canary hopped along his perch with a queer side

on, with boyish relief. "

s revealed now as a woman approaching seventy, her iron-gray hair twisted into a "bob" so that it coul

ound to look at her, demanding:

rd's pretty ne

ed Louise, pi

the captain, hastily f

as that foolish about the old bird. Jerry's used to Cap'n Abe chirping to him and putting hi

p'n Amazon came slowly back to his chair. "Blind!" he repeate

to care for an

n brought the substitute s

pe, or the seizings of a pair of shoes," he growled. "

ill feminine voice greeted him as "Cap'n Abe." Vastly

g out and found them pesky young 'uns of Myra Stout's had got holt o' my pin bag and fouled the p

other. You'll have to pick out the needle you want. I can f

Abe gone away? Do

me to pass just the same," the substitute storekeeper made answer, wit

he bonnet back upon her narrow shoulders with an impatient jerk, the better to see the needles, it was revealed

of hairdressing might have been attractive. She possessed a thin and aquili

een talkin' of goin' away-the longest spell! But so

ly, and went on counting the pin

actress?" asked the young woman with added sharp

even his momentary silence was impressive.

ne o' my business.

ss. Me and my niece'll get along pretty average well, I shouldn't wonder. Anything else

be. I ain't got no money with me

zon drew from the cash drawer a long and evidently fully

ker-she 'twas

all right. Your bill

', ma'am. C

sslike manner and speech that impressed Mrs. Baker-as it had Lawford Tapp-that here was a very different person fr

caught sight of Louise's

you strike on to a sword-fish you are likely to want to back water 'bout as often as shove ahead. I cal'late this here Mandy Baker is some spry in her maneuvers. And I bet she's

way from the point of contact, so the news of Cap'n Abe's secret departure and th

ng in women's eyes at his own valuation, was up in arms. A pretty girl, and an actress at that!-for until recent years that was a

k at Cap'n Amazon Silt. Women left their housework at "slack ends" to run over to the store for something considered suddenly essential to their work. Some of the clam-diggers lost

anybody in Cardhaven. There had been some little friction between him and the storekeeper on the p

Joab Beecher, of the old Sally Noble. I knowed the bark well, though I never happened to clap eyes on you, sir. Abe give me a letter for you. He

out the note Cap'n Abe had addressed to him slowl

'pose your brother had a puffict right to go away.

e," said Ca

one to

g to-day-out

d it. Always 'peared to be afraid of gettin' his paws wet-sam

e page containing the shipping news. His glance dropped to the

p'n Ripley," and he pointed to the very first line of the sailing

the mast?" exp

ou were skipper about where would you expect

b. "But it's goin' to be hard lines for

emingly less disturbed by his brother's plight than other pe

er's old neighbors and friends desired to know altogether too much a

to pieces by a lot of busybodies the way I be, I'd never agreed to stay by the ship

nimble as Cap'n Abe's had been. On the day of her arrival, Lou Grayling had believed she would be amus