nsible for what I say. Let me have your boat,
will you? I'll pay you well for it."

The captain eyed the young man critically from head to foot, especially
his soft white hands. Then he shook his head in a doubtful manner.

"What's the matter?" the young man impatiently asked. "Is there
anything wrong with me ?"

"That's what I'm jist tryin' to figger out. I s'pose it's really me
duty to take ye home to yer ma, but I ain't got time this mornin'.
Does she knew where ye are?"

"What do you mean, you ignorant clodhopper? Do you take me for a baby?"

"Not exactly, as yer too big fer one. But accordin' to yer togs one
would imagine that ye've jist come from the nursery. No, it wouldn't
be right to let ye have me boat, fer ye'd be sure to spile yer pretty
white hands an' soil yer bib an' pinny. An' besides, if anything
happened to ye, I'd be held responsible. No, ye'd better trot along
home to yer mamma before she comes after ye with a strap."

The young man was now very angry, and he was about to give vent to his
feelings in a furious outburst. But the stopping of an auto on the
road near by suddenly arrested his attention, causing him to stare hard
at the driver who had just alighted. Glad of this timely diversion,
the captain moved away and made toward the store. In passing the car,
he did not recognise the driver, who, with his back toward him, was
examining the engine, and seemed to be heeding nothing else. But no
sooner had the captain passed than he straightened himself up, cast one
swift glance toward the man down on the wharf, and at once followed the
captain into the store, where he stood quietly at one side without
speaking to anybody.

The captain was already at the counter, fumbling with the list which
had been given him. He was well acquainted with the storekeeper, a
middle-aged man of genial countenance.

"Here's a list of things I want, Ezry," he explained, as he handed over
the paper. "Guess ye kin make out the writin'."

The storekeeper adjusted his spectacles and studied the paper for a few
minutes. Then he looked keenly at his customer, while his eyes
twinkled.

"Are yer wife an' daughter with ye on this trip, Captain?" he asked.
"They seem to be out of 'most everything women need. It's a wonder ye
didn't get them outfitted in the city. D'ye think this is a department
store? Guess they must have been studying Eaton's catalogue."

Captain Samuel coughed and shuffled uneasily