Twould have been pretty reckless, wouldnt it?
Father used always to have it hung overthe sofa there.
There appeared to be something onhis
mind.
You leave that beetle-head to me, Capn, he said. It
was not untilthey came opposite the Higgins front gate that the captain cameout of
his reverie. And he wanted more than thebeetle-heads, didnt he?
I mean that I dont want to use your building
without paying youfor it in some way. At any rate she seemed to have no idea of
droppingthe subject.
I didnt think anyone but me would come along here
on a Sunday morning. Well, as a matter of fact, Carey, I didnt know anythingabout
it.
Carey was out, as usual, but George was there
andhis wife also. Another hour passed and, after that, stillanother.
Now listen;this is what I wanted to talk to you
about. We-ll, he drawled, there was a spell when she used to call
meTootsy.
And it never willamount to a great deal, anyway.
The clock over the mantel was a ships clock. Taint any use to me,and I should think
it might be considerble use to you.
It is easy enough to catch emwhen you know how.
Well, he said, I am almostashamed to tell you. When I got part of it done I
askedPhoebe out to give me her opinion of it.
There appeared to be something onhis mind. Youll
have wind and tide against you, Carey, and mykeel will be scrapin sand all the
way.
Carey was out, as usual, but George was there
andhis wife also. Captain Higgins hastened to replace the bones with something
moreedible. After a moment Higgins ventured anencouraging Um-hum. A feller that
keeps light isalways glad to see ANYBODY. The disinheriting had not troubled him
inthe least.
He doesnt want the constable tobe out with a bell
and a lantern huntin for him.
George Judson looked at his wife and she returned
the look. Now listen;this is what I wanted to talk to you about. Carey, still
laughing, released his hold.
Thenwe can arrange about that percentage; but you
try it as you arefust and see how you make out. Illforgive myself for sayin that if
you will. Even then Careys curiosity was only mildly excited. Now she calls me
mostanything she happens to lay her tongue to.
Judson, whose own cigar had been considerate enough
to go out,laughed.