now he will be back
to-day?" he asked.

His grandmother shook her head. "That's the mysterious part about it,"
she whispered. "It makes a person think there may be somethin' in the
sympathetic notion she talks so much about. She don't see him at all and
yet we can always tell when he's comin' back to work by her spirits. If
he ain't back to-day he will be to-morrow, you'll see. She never misses
by more than a day. _I_ think it's real sort of mysterious, but Zelotes
laughs at me."

Captain Lote's lip twitched. "Yes, Mother," he said, "it's about as
mysterious as the clock's strikin' twelve when it's noon. _I_ know it's
morally sartin that Labe'll be back aboard to-day or to-morrow because
his sprees don't ever last more than five days. I can't swear to how
she knows, but that's how _I_ know--and I'm darned sure there's no
'sympathy' about my part." Then, as if realizing that he had talked more
than usual, he called, brusquely: "Come on, Al, come on. Time we were on
the job, boy."

Sure enough, as they passed the window of the office, there, seated on
the stool behind the tall desk, Albert saw the diminutive figure of the
man who had been his driver on the night of his arrival. He was curious
to see how the delinquent would apologize for or explain his absence.
But Mr. Keeler did neither, nor did Captain Snow ask a question. Instead
the pair greeted each other as if they had parted in that office at the
close of business on the previous day.

"Mornin', Cap'n Lote," said Laban, quietly.

"Mornin', Labe," replied the captain, just as calmly.

He went on and opened his own desk, leaving his grandson standing by
the door, not knowing whether to speak or offer to shake hands. The
situation was a little difficult, particularly as Mr. Keeler gave no
sign of recognition, but, after a glance at his employer's companion,
went on making entries in the ledger.

Captain Zelotes looked up a moment later. His gray eyes inspected
the pair and the expression on Albert's face caused them to twinkle
slightly. "Labe," he said, "this is my grandson, Albert, the one I told
you was comin' to live with us."

Laban turned on the stool, regarded Albert over his spectacles, and
extended a hand.

"Pleased to meet you," he said. "Yes, yes . . . Yes, yes, yes. . .
Pleased to meet you. Cap'n Lote said you was comin'--er--er--Alfred.
Howdy do."

They shook hands. Mr. Keeler's hand trembled a little, but that was
the only symptom of his rec