you're growing younger
every day."

"Who? Me? Go on, John! How you talk! I'm so old my timbers creak every
time I go up a flight of stairs. They'll be sendin' me to the junk pile
pretty soon."

"I guess not. You're as young as I am, every bit. Not in years, perhaps,
but in spirit and energy. And you surprise me, too. I didn't know you
were such a lady's man."

"Me? A lady's man? Tut, tut! Don't talk foolish. If I've cruised alone
all these years I cal'late that's proof enough of how much a lady's man
I am."

"That's no proof. You haven't happened upon the right sort of consort,
that's all. Look at Brother Daniels; he is a bachelor, too, but everyone
knows what a lady's man he is."

"Humph! You ain't comparin' me to Heman Daniels, are you?"

"No. No, of course not. I shouldn't dare. Comparing any mortal with
Daniels would be heresy, wouldn't it? But you certainly are popular with
the fair sex. Why, even Imogene has fallen under the influence. She says
Mrs. Barnes thinks you are the finest man in the world."

"She does, hey? Well," tartly, "she better mind her own affairs. I
thought she rated Kenelm Parker about as high as anybody these days. He
spends more time in that kitchen of hers--"

"There, there, Captain! Don't sidestep. The fair Imogene may be
susceptible to Mr. Parker's charms, but that is probably because you
haven't smiled upon her. If you--"

"Say, look here, John Kendrick! If you keep on talkin' loony in this way
I'll begin to heave out a few hints myself. I may be as popular as you
say, with Imogene and--and the help, but I know somebody else that is
catchin' the same disease."

"Meaning Mr. Daniels, I suppose? He is popular, I admit."

"Is he? Well, you ought to know best. Seems to me I can call to mind
somebody else that is fairly popular--in some latitudes. By the way,
John, you don't seem to be as popular with Heman as you was at first."

"I'm sorry. My accepting my cousin's retainer may--"

"Oh, I didn't mean that. What was you and Emily doin' at Chris Badger's
store yesterday afternoon?"

"Doing? Yesterday? Oh, yes! I did meet Miss Howes while I was on my way
to the office and I waited while she did a little marketing. What in the
world--"

"Nothin'. Fur's that goes I don't think either of you knew you was IN
the world. I passed right by and you didn't see me. Heman saw you, too.
What was your marketin'--vegetables?"

"I believe so. Captain, you're sidestepping again. It was of yo