'"

"_I_ 'presume likely,'" with mocking impatience. "What about that
private matter?"

Captain Elisha did not appear to hear him. His eyes were fixed on
several photographs stuck in the rail of Mr. Dunn's desk. The photos
were those of young ladies.

"Friends of yours?" inquired the captain, nodding toward the
photographs.

"No." Dunn took the photos from the rack and threw them into a pigeon
hole. "Look here," he said, pointedly, "I wouldn't hurry you for the
world, but--"

He paused. Captain Elisha did not take the hint. His mind was evidently
still busy with the vanished photographs.

"Just fancy pictures, I s'pose, hey?" he commented.

"Doubtless. Any other little points I can give you?"

"I guess not. I thought they was fancy; looked so to me. Well, about
that private matter. Mr. Dunn, I come to see you about an automobile."

"An automobile!" The young man was so astonished that he actually
removed his feet from the desk. Then he burst into a laugh. "An
automobile?" he repeated. "Captain, has the influence of the metropolis
made you a sport already? Do you want to buy a car?"

"Buy one?" It was Captain Elisha's turn to show irritation. "Buy one
of them things? Me? I wouldn't buy one of 'em, or run one of 'em, for
somethin', _I_ tell you! No, I don't want to buy one."

"Why not? Sell you mine for a price."

"Not if I see you fust, thank you. No, Mr. Dunn, 'tain't that. But
one of the hired help up to our place--Caroline's place, I mean--is in
trouble on account of one of the dratted machines. They're poor folks,
of course, and they need money to help 'em through the doctorin' and
nursin' and while the old man's out of work. Caroline was for givin' it
to 'em right off, she's a good-hearted girl; but I said--that is, I kind
of coaxed her out of it. I thought I'd ask some questions first."

"So you came to me to ask them?" Malcolm smiled contentedly. Evidently
the cares and complications of guardianship were already proving too
intricate for the unsophisticated countryman. He wished advice, and
had come to him for it, possibly at Caroline's suggestion. Affairs
were shaping themselves well. Here was an opportunity to act the
disinterested friend, as per maternal instructions.

"So you wanted to ask questions, did you, Captain?" he repeated. "Well,
fire away. Anything I can do to help you or Caroline will be a pleasure,
of course. Smoke?"

He offered the cigarette case. The captain eyed it dubiously a