f of that horbul
habbut."

Mamise laughed tolerantly. "You were cooking cabbage when I was at
your house. Why can't I cook this vegetable?"

"But I wa'n't cooking the cabbage in my face."

"You were cooking it in mine. But let's not argue about botany or
ethics."

Abbie was not aware of mentioning either of those things, but she had
other matters to discuss. She dropped into a chair, sighing:

"Jake's went out to telephone, and I thought I'd just run over for a
few words. You see, I--"

"Where was Jake telephoning?"

"I d'know. He's always long-distancin' somebody. But what I come
for--"

"Doesn't it ever occur to you to wonder?"

"Long as it ain't some woman--or if it is, as long as it's long
distance--why should I worry my head about it? The thing I wanted to
speak of is--"

"Didn't it rather make your blood run cold to hear Jake speak as he
did of the lost ship?"

"Oh, I'm so used to his rantin' it goes in one ear and out the
other."

"You'd better keep a little of it in your brain. I'm worried about
your husband, even if you're not, Abbie dear."

"What call you got to worry?"

"I have a ghastly feeling that my brother-in-law is mixed up in the
sinking of the _Clara_."

"Don't be foolish!"

"I'm trying not to be. But do you remember the night I told you both
that the _Clara_ was going to Norfolk to take on her cargo? Well, he
went out to get cigars, though he had a lot, and he let it slip that
he had been talking on the long-distance telephone. When the _Clara_
is sunk, he is not surprised. He says, 'We--they have ways.' He
prophesies the sinking of all the ships Mr. Davidge--"

Abbie seized this name as a weapon of self-defense and mate-defense.

"Oh, you're speakin' for Mr. Davidge now."

"Perhaps. He's my employer, and Jake's, too. I feel under some
obligations to him, even though Jake doesn't. I feel some obligations
to the United States, and Jake doesn't. I distrust and abhor Germany,
and Jake likes her as well as he does us. The background is perfect.
When such crimes are being done as Germany keeps doing, condoning them
is as bad as committing them."

"Big words!" sniffed Abbie. "Can't you talk United States?"

"All right, my dear. I say that since Jake is glad the _Clara_ was
sunk and hopes that more ships will be sunk, he is as bad as the men
that sank her. And what's more, I have made up my mind that Jake
helped to sink her, and that he works in this yard simply for a chance
t