ave of business. And where are you going to work?"

"Well," and Lawford smiled a little whimsically, serious though the
discussion was, "I've always felt a leaning toward the candy business.
I believe I have a natural adaptability for that. Couldn't I find a
job in one of your factories, dad?"

"You'll get no leg-up from me, unless you show you're worthy of it."

"But you'll give me a job?"

"I won't interfere if the superintendent of any of the factories takes
you on," growled I. Tapp. "But mind you, he'll hire you on his own
responsibility--he'll understand that from me. But I tell you right
now this is no time to apply for a job in a candy factory. We're
discharging men--not hiring them."

"I will apply for the first opening," announced the son.

I. Tapp stamped away along the graveled walk, leaving the young man
alone. Lawford's calmness was as irritating to him as sea water to a
raw wound.

CHAPTER XXIV

GRAY DAYS

Those days were dark for Louise Grayling; on her shoulders she bore
double trouble. Anxiety for her father's safety made her sufficiently
unhappy; but in addition her mind must cope with the mystery of Cap'n
Amazon's identity and Cap'n Abe's whereabouts.

For she was not at all satisfied in her heart that the storekeeper had
sailed from the port of Boston on the _Curlew_; and the status of the
piratical looking Amazon Silt was by no means decided to her
satisfaction. Her discoveries in his bedroom had quite convinced the
young woman that Cap'n Amazon was in masquerade.

His comforting words and his thoughtfulness touched her so deeply,
however, that she could not quarrel with the old man; and his
insistence that Cap'n Abe had sailed on the Curlew and would be at hand
to assist Professor Grayling if the schooner had been wrecked was
kindly meant, she knew. He scoffed at the return of Cap'n Abe's chest
as being of moment; he refused to discuss his brother's reason for
stuffing the old chest with such useless lumber as it contained.

"Leave Abe for knowing his own business, Niece Louise. 'Tain't any of
our consarn," was the most he would say about that puzzling
circumstance.

Louise watched the piratical figure of Cap'n Amazon shuffling around
the store or puttering about certain duties of housekeeping that he
insisted upon doing himself, with a wonder that never waned.

His household habits were those which she supposed Cap'n Abe to have
had. She wondered if all sailors w