h my
premises free gratis for nothin'."

"Why?" I asked. "What harm does it do?"

"I don't know as it does any. But because a tramp sleepin' on my front
piazza might not harm the piazza, that's no reason why I'd let him sleep
there."

I laughed. "The two cases aren't exactly alike, are they?" I said. "The
land is of no value to us at present. Mother and I are glad to have the
Lane used, if it is a convenience, as I suppose it is."

"It's that, sartin. Ros, who owns that land the Lane runs through--you
or your mother?"

"It is in my name," I said.

"Um-hm. Well, would you sell it?"

"Sell it! Sell that strip of sand and beach grass! Who would buy it?"

"I don't know as anybody would. I just asked if you'd sell it, that's
all."

"Perhaps I would. I presume I should, if I had the chance."

"Ain't had any chance yet, have you?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Oh, nothin', nothin'! Well, you just think it over. If you decide you
would sell it and get so fur as fixin' a price on it, let me know, will
you?"

"Captain, what in the world do you want of that land? See here! you
don't want to shut off the Shore Lane, do you?"

"What in time would I want to shut it off for? I use it as much as
anybody, don't I?"

"Then I don't see--"

"Maybe there ain't nothin' TO see. Only, if you decide to sell, let me
know. Yes, and don't sell WITHOUT lettin' me know. Understand?"

"No, I don't."

"Well, you understand enough, I cal'late. All I want you to do is to
promise not to sell that land the Lane's on without speakin' to me fust.
Will you promise that?"

I considered for a moment. "Yes," I said, "I'll promise that. Though I
can't imagine what you're driving at."

"You don't need to. Maybe I'm just drivin' blind; I hope I am. That's
all I wanted to talk about," rising from the settee. "Oh, by the way,"
he added, "your neighborhood's honored just now, ain't it? The King of
New York's arrived, they tell me."

"King of New York? Oh! I see; you mean the Coltons."

"Sartin. Who else? Met his Majesty yet?"

"No. Have you?"

"I met him when he was down a month ago. Sim Eldredge introduced me
right here in the store. 'Mr. Colton,' says Sim, proud but humble, so
to speak, 'let me make you acquainted with one of our selectmen, Cap'n
Dean. Cap'n, shake hands with Mr. Colton of New York.' We shook, and I
cal'late I'd ought to have kept that hand in a glass case ever since.
But, somehow or other, I ain't."

"What sort