owled, pettishly, "how much will it take to square things
with the gang? How much damages do they want?"

"Damages? Oh, there won't be any claim for damages, I guess. That is, no
lawsuit, or anything of that kind. The Moriartys don't know you did it,
and there's no reason why they should. I thought maybe I'd see to 'em
and do whatever was necessary; then you could settle with me, and the
whole business would be just between us two. Outside the doctor's bills
and food and nursin' and such, all the extry will be just the old man's
wages for the time he's away from the factory. 'Twon't be very heavy."

More reflection and finger tattoo by his companion. Then:

"All right! I'm in it, I can see that; and it's up to me to get out as
easy as I can. I don't want any newspaper publicity. Go ahead! I'll pay
the freight."

Captain Elisha arose and picked up his hat.

"That's fust-rate," he said, with emphasis. "I felt sure you'd see it
just as I did. There's one thing I would like to say," he added: "that
is, that you mustn't think I was stingy about helpin' 'em myself. But it
wa'n't really my affair; and when Caroline spoke of spendin' her money
and Steve's, I didn't feel I'd ought to let her. You see, I don't know
as you know it yet, Mr. Dunn, but my brother 'Bije left me in charge of
his whole estate, and, now that I've decided to take the responsibility,
I've got a sort of pride in not wastin' any of his children's
inheritance. Good day, Mr. Dunn. I'm much obliged to you."

He opened the office door. Malcolm, frowning heavily, suddenly asked a
final question.

"Say!" he demanded, "you'll not tell Caroline or Steve a word of this,
mind!"

The captain seemed surprised.

"I guess you didn't catch what I said, Mr. Dunn," he observed, mildly.
"I told you this whole business would be just between you and me."

CHAPTER IX

Captain Elisha was very far from considering himself a Solomon. As he
would have said he had lived long enough with himself to know what a lot
he didn't know. Nevertheless, deep down in his inner consciousness, he
cherished a belief in his judgment of human nature. This judgment was
not of the snap variety; he took his time in forming it. People and
their habits, their opinions and characters, were to him interesting
problems. He liked to study them and to reach conclusions founded upon
reason, observation, and common sense. Having reached such a conclusion,
it disturbed him when the subjects o