Mary-'Gusta

it down and make yourselves comfortable. I shall have a

us Hall had been laid to rest in the Ostable cemetery, and his two friends and former partners had, on their return from tha

ing that, although Zoeth had seated himself in the rocker

he armchair and regarded the lawyer with a ve

. You spoke of a surprise, didn't you? I've had one surprise this afternoon that's liable to stay with me for a spell. I'm an unsu

e said, as soon as he could speak. "No

ouldn't stand many such shocks. Whew! Don't talk to ME! When that devilish jig tune started up underneath me I'll bet I hopped up three foot straight.

hadrach!" he pleaded. "Don't be so profane. R

at room and hide somewheres where folks couldn't look at me. I give you my word I could feel myself heatin' up like an airtight stove.

adr

ll of cusswords I was there one spell you wouldn't find fault; you'd thank me for

ou, Judge," he said, apologetically. "He don't mean nothin' wicked,

art of my life and that a feller has to talk strong aboard ship. Common language may do for keepin' store, but it don't get a vessel nowheres; the salt

he opened his desk and took fr

because there is an important matter, a very important matter,

looked at each other. The

thin' to do with Marce

es

somethin' to do w

folded papers, "is Captain Hall's will. I drew it for

upposed likely he w

ter man," added Sha

of two hundred dollars for his housekeeper, Mrs. Hobbs, and a few other personal g

ly," said the Captain. "It's what he'd ought to have done

berly. "That is a part of the surprise which I mentioned at f

was now a reality was manif

mean that, Judg

n-" he hesitated, glanced at Zoeth, and continued, "when the firm give up business back in '79; but he went to sea again a

mentally as well as physically, since his wife's death and his own serious illness. You, yourselves, must have noticed the change in his habits. From being an active man, a man of affairs, he became almost a hermit. He s

he said, "we noticed he ne

finished Captain Shadrach. "Yes, we noticed that. But I say,

ood for nothing mining shares. At any rate it has gone, all except a few thousands. The house and land where he lived is mortgaged up to the handle, and I imagine ther

h you, I presume likely," he observed. "Well, as

r men. I rather think he was ri

cted. He expected exclamations and protests. Instead his vi

Hamilton. "I didn't exactly seem

r turned to

didn't you, Captai

shook h

have stopped goin'; maybe the shock I had a spell ago broke the mainspring. All I seem

itors are satisfied, to his stepdaughter. He has left it in trust until she becomes of

ecies of paralysis of the vocal organs. Zoeth turned pale and leaned back in hi

l-that she live with you and that you use whatever money comes to her from her stepfather's estate in educating and clothing her. Also, of course, that a certain sum each week be

hadrach i

es! Do you mean to say that me and Zoeth are asked to take that young-one home with

nt in his excitemen

, as I say, you are not obliged to do it; there is no l

, what was the matter with Marcellus?

as perfec

t, pale and speechless, in his chair; "Zoeth," he demanded, "did you

His silence appeared to add

u?" he

to the effect that he d

n't sit there like a ship's figgerhead, starin' at nothin'. You kno

n talked-to

" he faltered. "

Judas! I-I-" Language-even his language-failed to express his feeling

s no relations anywhere, so far as we know. If you decline the trust a guardian will have to be appointed by the courts, I suppose. Who that gua

h inter

outed. "Well, t

e time he made his will. It is addressed to both of you. Here it

I don't cal'late Shadrach nor me are capable of readin' much of anythin

a hand. "Be still, Shadrach," repeated Z

I'll keep my batch closed long

e, covering several shee

Zoeth Hamilton, my ol

HAD AN

n you pretty much all my life and you are th

; "but he considered you two, and always spoke of you, as his oldest and nearest

zed his health was no longer good, that he was li

must stick to the ship as long as I can. I have not been the right kind of father to her. I have tried, but I don't seem to know how and I guess likely I was too old to learn. When I go she won't have a relation to look out for her. That has troubled me a lot and I have tho

roke in Shadrach,

ontinued Mr. Hamilt

desire that it might be used, when turned into money, for her education. There were two pages of rambling references to stocks and investments, the

iled mate with me for a good many voyages and was my partner ashore. I know him from truck to keelson. He is honest and able and can handle any craft. He will keep the girl on the course she ought to sail in her schooling and such and see she does not get on the rocks or take to cruising in bad company. Zoeth has had the land training. He is a pious man and as good outside the church as he is in, which is not always

your being men of different training and habits of thought made the combination ideal. Between you, so he se

gger than mine, he kept me from breaking under it. I have not seen as much of you lately as I used to see, but that was my fault. Not my fault exactly, maybe, but my misfortune. I have not been the man I was and seeing you made me realize it. That is why I have not been to South Harniss and why I acted so queer when you came here. I was sort of ashamed, I guess. You remember when the old Hall and Company firm started business there were four of

CEL

laid them on the table. Then he took off his

en?" he said,

ld drew a l

think it's about as sick as it can be, and

ot answer. He neit

robably wish a few days to think the matter over in and then you can let me know what you decide. You h

shook h

hing I wouldn't do for Marcellus. And I would have done anything in reason. But this ain't rea

you de

his life, and t'other one a-a widower for twenty years, for us to take a child to bring up! My soul a

, Mr. Ha

to hesitate.

t of a gi

r years, and a little-well, peculiar. That isn't strange, considering the life she has led since

etery, wasn't it? She wa

es

o years ago. I thought the one at the graveyard was her. Poor

is, I suppo

te we could see her i

m sure yo

th

drach," he sa

ain star

ed. "Where? Hom

ver to Marcellus's to

u want to make it harder for her and for us and for all hands? What good is se

it wouldn't be right Marcellus ask

to say you're thinkin' of doin' what h

charge of his girl. I feel as you do that we can't do

ain't a

e can do is go and se

and more sneaky when we HAVE to

l. You can wait here fo

oeth! Hold

and did not turn back. Judge Baxt

id. "Make yourself as comfortabl

hen he, too, sprang to his feet. He overtook the

exclaimed Baxter,

d I know it, but he ain't goin' to be a fool ALL by h

do you

n grunted

anything else," he said. "One idiot's a risky proposition, but two or t