o get acquainted with you. I hope, whatever comes of the other
thing, that our acquaintanceship will continue."

"Same here, same here. Go right out the side door, Mr. Fosdick, saves
goin' through the office. Good day, sir."

He watched the bulky figure of the New York banker tramping across the
yard between the piles of lumber. A moment later he entered the
outer office. Albert and Keeler were at their desks. Captain Zelotes
approached the little bookkeeper.

"Labe," he queried, "there isn't anything particular you want me to talk
about just now, is there?"

Lahan looked up in surprise from his figuring.

"Why--why, no, Cap'n Lote, don't know's there is," he said. "Don't
know's there is, not now, no, no, no."

His employer nodded. "Good!" he exclaimed. "Then I'm goin' back inside
there and sit down and rest my chin for an hour, anyhow. I've talked so
much to-day that my jaws squeak. Don't disturb me for anything short of
a fire or a mutiny."

CHAPTER XII

He was not disturbed and that evening, after supper was over, he
was ready to talk again. He and Albert sat together in the sitting
room--Mrs. Snow and Rachel were in the kitchen washing dishes--and
Captain Zelotes told his grandson as much as he thought advisable to
tell of his conversation with the Honorable Fletcher Fosdick. At first
Albert was inclined to rebel at the idea of permitting his letters to
Madeline to be read by the latter's parents, but at length he agreed.

"I'll do it because it may make it easier for her," he said. "She'll
have a dreadful time, I suppose, with that unreasonable mother of
hers. But, by George, Grandfather," he exclaimed, "isn't she splendid,
though!"

"Who? Mrs. Fosdick?"

"No, of course not," indignantly. "Madeline. Isn't she splendid and fine
and loyal! I want you to know her, Grandfather, you and Grandmother."

"Um-hm. Well, we'll hope to, some day. Now, son, I'm goin' to ask for
another promise. It may seem a hard one to make, but I'm askin' you to
make it. I want you to give me your word that, no matter what happens
or how long you have to wait, you and Madeline won't get married without
tellin' her folks and yours beforehand. You won't run away and marry.
Will you promise me that?"

Albert looked at him. This WAS a hard promise to make. In their talks
beneath the rainbows, whenever he and Madeline had referred to the
future and its doubts, they had always pushed those doubts aside with
vague hints of an