it could be carried out. Captain Eri seemed to
think it better to let events take their own course. However, they both
agreed to help if the chance offered.

So, when Mr. Hazeltine called to spend the evening, Captain Jerry
would rise from his chair and, with an elaborate cough and several
surreptitious winks to his messmates, would announce that he guessed
he would "take a little walk," or "go out to the barn," or something
similar. Captain Perez would, more than likely, go also. As for Captain
Eri, he usually "cal'lated" he would step upstairs, and see how John was
getting along.

But in spite of this loyal support, the results obtained from Captain
Jerry's wonderful plan had not been so startlingly successful as to
warrant his feeling much elated. Ralph and Elsie were good friends and
seemed to enjoy each other's society, but that was all that might be
truthfully said, so far.

Captain Jerry, therefore, was a little discouraged as he sat in the
sunshine and smoked and pondered. He hid his discouragement, however,
and in response to Captain Eri's question concerning the progress of the
matchmaking, said cheerfully:

"Oh, it's comin' along, comin' along. Kind of slow, of course, but you
can't expect nothin' diff'rent. I s'pose you noticed he was here four
times last week?"

"Why, no," said Captain Eri, "I don't know's I did."

"Well, he was, and week a fore that 'twas only three. So that's a gain,
ain't it?"

"Sartin."

"I didn't count the time he stopped after a drink of water neither. That
wasn't a real call, but--"

"Oh, it ought to count for somethin'! Call it a ha'f a time. That would
make four times and a ha'f he was here."

Captain Jerry looked suspiciously at his friend's face, but its
soberness was irreproachable, so he said:

"Well, it's kind of slow work, but, as I said afore, it's comin' along,
and I have the satisfaction of knowin' it's all for their good."

"Yes, like the feller that ate all the apple-dumplin's so's his children
wouldn't have the stomach-ache. But say, Jerry, I come out to ask if
you'd mind bein' housekeeper to-day. Luther Davis has been after me
sence I don't know when to come down to the life-savin' station and stay
to dinner. His sister Pashy--the old maid one--is down there, and it's
such a fine day I thought I'd take Perez and Elsie and Mrs. Snow and,
maybe, Hazeltine along. Somebody's got to stay with John, and I thought
p'raps you would. I'd stay myself only Luther