d the master said you was to
be made perfectly comf'table, and--'

"'Yes,' says Sim, dry, 'I heard him say it. And we can't be comf'table
with you shut up in the house this nice evenin'. Go and take a walk, and
take the cook and stewardess with you. Don't argue about it. I'm skipper
here till the boss gets back. Go, the three of you, and go NOW. D'ye
hear?'

"There was a little more talk, but not much. In five minutes or so the
downstairs front door banged, and there was gigglin' outside.

"'There,' says Simeon, peelin' off HIS coat and throwin' himself back in
one chair with his feet on another one. 'Now, by Judas, I'm goin' to be
homey and happy like poor folks. I don't wonder that Harriet woman's got
nerves. Darn style, anyhow! Pass over that cigar box, Hiram.'

"'Twas half an hour later or so when Margaret, the nursemaid, came
downstairs. I'd almost forgot her. We was tame and toler'ble contented
by that time. Phinney called to her as she went by the door.

"'Is that young one asleep?' he asked.

"'Yes, sir,' says she, 'he is. Is there anything I can do? Did you want
anything?'

"Simeon looks at me. 'I swan to man, it's catchin'!' he says. 'They've
all got it. No, we don't want anything, except--What's the matter? YOU
don't need fresh air, do you?'

"The girl looked as if she'd lost her last friend. Her pretty face was
pale and her eyes was wet, as if she'd been cryin'.

"'No, sir,' says she, puzzled. 'No, sir, thank you, sir.'

"'She's tired out, that's all,' says I. I swan, I pitied the poor thing.
'You go somewheres and take a nap,' I told her. 'Me and my friend won't
tell.'

"Oh, no, she couldn't do that. It wa'n't that she was tired--no more
tired than usual--but she'd been that troubled in her mind lately,
askin' our pardon, that she was near to crazy.

"We was sorry for that, but it didn't seem to be none of our business,
and she was turnin' away, when all at once she stops and turns back
again.

"'Might I ask you gintlemen a question?' she says, sort of pleadin'.
'Sure I mane no harm by it. Do aither of you know a man be the name of
Michael O'Shaughnessy?'

"Me and Sim looked at each other. 'Which?' says I. 'Mike O' who?' says
Simeon.

"'Aw, don't you know him?' she begs. 'DON'T you know him? Sure I hoped
you might. If you'd only tell me where he is I'd git on me knees and
pray for you. O Mike, Mike! why did you leave me like this? What'll
become of me?'

"And she walks off down the hal