\"Victor！\"cautionedMissColton。
\"Hush，Mabel！Thisisridiculous。YouandIsawtwoboatsgostraightoutfromthebeachthismorning。Wewentoutthatwayourselves。Hereyou——Paine，orwhateveryournameis——we’vehadenoughofthis。I’vehiredyoutotakeusashore，andIwanttogothereandnotahalfmileinanotherdirection。WillyoudoasI
tellyou？\"
Whenthedingyandtheotherboatscrossedtheflatthetidehadbeenhourshigher，ofcourse；butIwasinnomoodtoexplain——tohim。
\"No，\"Isaid，shortly。
\"Youwon’t？ThenyougivemeanoarandI’llrowtherestofthewaymyself。\"
Therewereonlytwooarsintheskiff，butIcouldgetonperfectlywellwithone。Anditwouldservehimbeautifullyrighttolethimgo。Buttherewasthegirl。Ihesitated。
\"Givemethatoar，\"herepeated，angrily。\"Youwon’t？Then，byJove，I’lldowithoutit。Stop！Stopwhereyouare！doyouunderstand。Wedon’trequireyourservicesanylonger。\"
Heturnedandbeganuntyingthetowline。Istoppedrowing。
MissColtonlookedtroubled。
\"Victor！\"shecried。\"Whatareyoudoing？\"
\"IknowwhatI’mdoing。Can’tyouseethisfellow’sgame？Thelongertherowthehigherhisprice，that’sall。Hecan’tworkme。
I’veseenhiskindbefore。Don’tbefrightened。Ifwecan’tdoanythingelsewecananchorandwaituntiltheyseeusfromthehouse。\"
Idiot！Atthatpointthechannelwasdeepandthebottomsoftmud。
Idoubtedifhisanchorwouldtouchand，ifitdid，Iknewitwouldnothold。Ibackedwaterandbroughttheskiffalongsidethedingy，therailofwhichIseizedandheld。
\"Keepoff！\"orderedVictor，stillfumblingwiththerope。\"Wedon’twantyourhelp。\"
Iwastednobreathonhim。Iaddressedmyremarkstothegirl。
\"MissColton，\"Isaid，\"willyoulistentome，please。Youcan’tanchorherebecauseyouranchorwillnothold。Andyoucan’tcrossthatflatatthisstageofthetide。Icangiveyouanoar，ofcourse，butitwon’tdoanygood。Myoarsaretoolightandsmallforyourboat。Unlessyouwishtodriftbackwhereyouwere，orbeyond，youmustletmetowyouaroundtheheadofthisflat。\"
Idon’tknowwhatanswershemighthavemade。None，perhaps；
althoughIamsureshewaslistening。ButVictor，whohadsucceededinuntyingthetowline，cutinaheadofher。
\"Mabel，\"hewarned，\"don’tpayanyattentiontohim。Didn’tyourfathertelluswhathewas？There！\"throwingtheendoftheropeoverboardandaddressingme；\"now，youmayclearout。We’vedonewithyou。Understand？\"
IlookedatMissColton。ButImightaswellhavelookedataniceberg。Islidoneofmyoarsoverintothedingy。
\"Thereyouare，\"Isaid，grimly。\"ButIwarnyouthatyou’reinfortrouble。\"
Iletgooftherailandtheboatsfellapart。Victorseizedtheborrowedoarwithatriumphantlaugh。
\"Yourbluffwouldn’twork，wouldit，Reuben，\"hesneered。\"I’llsendyoutheoarandyourpaylater。Now，Mabel，sittight。I’llhaveyouashoreinfifteenminutes。\"
Hebeganrowingtowardtheweed—coveredflat。Isaidnothing。I
wasfuriouslyangryanditwassomemomentsbeforeIrecoveredself—possessionsufficientlytogetmyremainingoarovertheskiff’ssternand，bysculling，holdheragainstthetide。ThenI
watchedandwaited。
Itwasnotalongwait。Victorwasindifficultiesalmostfromthebeginning。TheoarbelongingtothedingywasafootlongerthantheoneIhadgivenhimandhezig—zaggedwildly。Soonhewasintheedgeoftheeelgrassand\"catchingcrabs，\"firstononeside，thenontheother。Thedingy’sbowsliduponthemud。Hestooduptopushitoff，andthesternswungaround。Gettingclear，hetookafreshstartandsucceededonlyinfoulingagain。Thistimehegotfurtherintothetanglebeforehegrounded。Thebowroseandthesternsettled。Therewasamightysplashing，asVictorpushedandtugged，butthedingystuckfast。AndthereshewouldcontinuetostickforfourhoursunlessI，orsomeoneelse，helpedheroff。
Ididnotwanttohelp。Infact，IlookedallupanddownthebaybeforeImadeamove。Butitwasdinnertimeandtherewasnotanothersoulafloat。Morethanthat，Inoticed，asIhadnotnoticedbefore，thatbrownclouds——windclouds——werepilingupinthewest，and，ifIwasanythingofaprophet，wewouldhavesquallsanddirtyweatherlongbeforethosefourhourswereover。
Andthedingy，inthatposition，wasnotsafetofaceablow。No，asthesmallboyssay，itwas\"uptome。\"Iwisheditwasnot，butitwas。
SoagainIwenttotherescue，butthistimeinanentirelydifferentframeofmind。Myangerandresentmenthadsettledtoacolddetermination，andthistripwaspurelybusiness。Iwasnotatadisadvantagenow，asIhadbeenwhenIfirstmetthatgirlandherfriend，in\"BigJim\"Colton’slibrary。IwasmasterofthissituationandmasterIintendedtobe。
Isculledtheskiffstraightintotheedgeoftheflat，atapointwherethebankslopedsharplytodeepwater。Ithrewovermyanchor，shortenedtheropeandmadeitfast。ThenIsteppedoutintowaterabovemyshoetopsandwadedtowardthedingy。Thewaterwasicycold，butIdidnotknowitatthetime。
Isplashedthroughtheeelgrass。Victorsawmecomingandroaredanangryprotest。Hewasstilltryingtopushtheboatoffwithanoar。
\"Here！\"heshouted。\"Youkeepaway。Wedon’twantyou。\"
Ididnotcarewhathewanted。Isplashedalongsidethedingyandlookedatherandthepositionshewasin。Mymindwasmadeupinstantly。
\"You’llnevergetheroffifyoubothstayaboard，\"Isaid。\"Lettheladymoveamidshipsandyougetoutandwade。\"
HeglaredatmeasifIwereascrazyasColtonorLutehaddeclaredmetobe。Thenhelaughedcontemptuously。
\"Yougobackwhereyoucamefrom，\"heordered。\"I’mrunningthis。\"
\"Yes，I’venoticedthat。NowI’llstatethefactsasplainlyasI
can。Thisboatisfastagroundinthemud，thetideisstillgoingout，andtherearesquallscoming。Shemustbegotoffortheremaybedanger。Youcan’tgetheroffuntilsheislightened。Willyougetoutandwade？\"
Hedidnotanswer；insteadhecontinuedtopushwiththeoar。I
turnedtothegirl。
\"MissColton，\"Isaid，\"Imustaskyoutostandup。Becarefulwhenyourise。\"
Shemadenomove，nordidshereply。Thelookshegavemewasenough。
\"Youmuststandup，\"Irepeated，firmly。\"Eitheryour——thisgentleman——mustgetout，asItellhimto，orIshallhavetocarryyoutomyskiff。Wehaven’tanytimetospare。\"
Shegazedatmeinblankastonishment。Thenthecolorflamedinhercheeksandhereyesflashed。
\"Wedon’twishyourhelp，\"shesaid，icily。
\"I’msorry，butthatmakesnodifference。I——\"
Victorwhirledonme，theoarinhishands。Ithoughtforaninstanthewasgoingtostrikemewithit。
\"Youblackguard！\"heshouted。\"Willyougoaway？\"
Ilookedathimandthenather。Ithadtobedone，andmymindwasmadeuptodoit。Iwadedinuntilthewaterwasalmosttomyknees，andIwasabreastthesternofthestrandedboat。
\"MissColton，\"Isaid，\"Iamgoingtocarryyoutomyskiff。Areyouready？\"
\"You——Why！——\"shebreathed。
Istooped，liftedherinmyarms，andploughedthroughtheweedsandwater。Themudwassoftandmyfeetsankintoit。Shestruggled。
\"Youmustkeepstill，\"Isaid，sharply，\"orIshalldropyou。\"
Shegasped，butshestoppedstruggling。FrombehindmeIheardaroarofragefromVictor。
Icarriedhertotheanchoredskiffand，plunginginstilldeeper，seatedheronthesternthwart。
\"Sitthere，please，anddon’tmove，\"Isaid。\"IshallbebackassoonasI’vegotyourboatafloat。\"
Iwadedbacktothedingy。Victorwasfrantic，buthedidnotdisturbme。Theworstofmyunpleasantjobwasover。
\"Nowsitdown，\"Iordered。\"Doyouhearme？Sitdownandsitstill。\"
\"You——you——\"hestammered。
\"Becauseifyoudon’tsitdown，\"Icontinuedserenely，\"you’relikelytotumbleoverboard。I’mgoingtopushthisboatoff。\"
Thefirstpushhelpedtomakeuphismind。Hesat，involuntarily。
Ipushedwithallmymightand，slowlyandjerkily，thedingyslidofftheshoal。Buttherewereothersallabout。WithonehandonthebowIguidedherbetweenthemandtotheedgeofthechannel。
Then，wadingalongtheslipperybank，Ibroughthertotheskiff。
Mypassengerhadbeenmakingremarksintransit，butIpaidnoattentiontothem。
Imadetheropefastfortowing，tookmyoarfromthedingy，pulleduptheskiff’sanchorandclimbedaboard。
\"Sitwhereyouare，\"IsaidtoVictor。\"MissColton，pleasekeepasstillaspossible。\"
IventuredtolookatherasIsaidthis，butIlookedbutonce。
AllthewayhomeIkeptmygazefixedonthebottomboardsoftheskiff。
Imadethelandingjustintime。Infact，thesquallstruckbeforeIwasabreasttheColtonplace。Thechannelbeyondtheflat，whichwehadsolatelyleft，waswhippedtowhitecapsinamomentandminiaturebreakerswerebeatingagainstthemudbankwherethedingyhadgrounded。
Underthehighbluffitwascalmenough。Thetidewastoolowtomakeuseofthelittlewharf，soIbeachedtheskiffanddrewthetowedboatinbytheline。IofferedtoassistMissColtonashore，butshe，apparently，didnotseemyprofferedhand。Victorscrambledoutbyhimself。Noonesaidanything。Iuntiedtheropeandpulleditin。ThenIpreparedtopushoff。
\"Here！\"growledVictor。\"Waitaminute。\"
Ilookedup。Hewasstandingattheedgeofthewater，withonehandinhispocket。MissColtonwasbehindhim。
\"Well？\"Iasked。
\"Ihaven’tpaidyouyet，\"hesaid，sullenly。\"Howmuch？\"
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"Iasked。Iknew，ofcourse，butitpleasedmetomakehimsayit。
\"Why，howmuchfortowingusin？What’syourprice？Come，hurryup。\"
\"Ihaven’tanyprice。I’mnotinthesalvagebusiness。\"
\"Not——Say，don’tbargain。What’syourprice，Iaskyou？\"
\"Nothing，ofcourse。Verygladtohavebeenofassistance。\"
Itookupmyoars。
\"Here！\"heshouted。\"Stop！holdon！Confoundyou！doyousupposewedon’tintendtopayyouforthis？\"
Ishookmyhead。\"Ithasbeenapleasure，\"Isaid，sweetly。\"Goodday。\"
Irowedoff，butallthewaydowntomyboathouseIsmiledcontentedly。IhadseenthelookonMabelColton’sface。IratherthoughtIhadevenedtheaccountbetweenus；atleastIhadreducedthebalanceatrifle。ThistimeitwasnotIwhoappearedridiculous。
DorindasawmewhenIenteredthekitchen。Herhandswereupraised。
\"Mysoulandbody！\"sheexclaimed。\"LOOKatthempants！LOOKat’em！AndIain’thadtimetoputaneedletoyourotheronesyet！\"
CHAPTERVI
Therain，whichIexpectedwouldfollowthesquall，didnotcomeuntillatethatnight，anditwasstillfallingheavilythenextmorning。Itwasawarmrain，however，and，afterbreakfast，I
walkeduptothevillage。Isaidnothing，eventoMother，aboutthehappeningsinthebay，andDorinda，whohadaskedmanysarcasticquestionsconcerningthestateofmybluetrousers——ifI
had\"mistook’emforabathin’suit\"andthelike——seemedsatisfiedwithmyhurriedexplanationthatIhadgottenoverboard。\"Thoughhowyoufellinfeetfust，\"sheobserved，\"Idon’tsee。\"Shehadmendedmybrownpair，sittingupuntilaftertwotodoso。
Luteinformedmethathehadbeenuptothepost—office。
\"Everybody’stalkin’aboutthemColtons，\"hedeclared。\"Iseetheirautomobilelastnight，myself。TheColtongirl，shecomeintothestore。My！she’sastunner，ain’tshe！Simwaitedonher，himself，andgaveherthemail。Shewantedtobuysomecheese——forarabbit，shesaid。Ineverheardoffeedingarabbitoncheese，didyou，Ros？\"
\"No，\"Ireplied，laughing。Itwasnotworthwhiletoexplain。
\"Nornobodyelse，buther！Iguess，\"continuedLute，\"likelyshewasjustjokin’。Anyhow，Simwasalloutofcheese，buthehadsomeniceprintbutter，justin。Shedidn’twantnobutter，though。\"
\"Humph！\"sniffedDorinda。\"DidSimEldredgecal’lateshewantedtofeedtherabbitbutter？WastheColtongirlalone？\"
\"No。Therewasayoungfellerwithher；theonethat’svisitin’
’em。Carverhisnameis——VictorCarver。Didyoueverhearsuchanameinyourlife？AforeI’dnameachildofmineVictor！\"
\"Um—hm。Well，Iwouldn’twastetimeworryin’aboutthat，ifIwasyou。Lookhere，LuteRogers，youdidn’tsayanythingaboutRoscoe’stalkwithMr。Colton，didyou？\"
\"No，no！no，no！CourseIdidn’t。\"
\"Yousure？\"
\"Yes。’TaintlikelyIwould，wouldI？Cap’nJedwasonhand，asusual，andhewasfullofquestions，buthedidn’tgetanythingoutofme。’WhatdidColtonsaytoRos？’hesays。’HowdoIknowwhathesaid？’saysI。’Iwan’tthere，wasI？’’Wherewasyouthatforenoon？’hesays。’Forenoon！’saysI，’thatshowshowmuchyouknowaboutit。’Twasthreeo’clockintheafternoon。’Oh，Ihadthelaughonhim！\"
Dorindalookedatmeandshookherhead。
\"It’stoobad，Roscoe，\"shesaid。\"ButIwasafraidofitassoonasIfoundhe’dsneakedofftothepost—office。Ical’lateit’sallovertownbynow。\"
\"Whatdoyoumeanbythat？\"Lute’sdignitywasoutraged。\"Allovertown！Inevertoldhimnothin’。\"
\"No。OnlythatRosandMr。Coltonweretogetherand’twasthreeo’clockintheafternoon。Andgoodnessknowshowmuchmore！DObequiet！SeemssometimesasifIshouldlosepatiencewithyoualtogether。IsthisCarvertheColtongirl’syoungman？Aretheyengaged？\"
\"Idon’tknow。Iguesshe’skeepin’companywithher，bythelooks。Igotasnighto’emasIcould，butIdidn’thearmuchtheysaid。Only，justastheywasgoin’out，hesaidsomethin’
aboutgoin’foralittlespininthecar。Shesaidno，herfatherwouldwanthisletters。Carver，hesaid，whynotsendOscarhome——
that’sthechauffeur，youknow——withtheletters，andhe’drunthecarhimself。Shekindoflaughed，andsaidsheguessednot，she’dtakenonetripwithhimalreadythatdayandshedidn’tbelieveshecaredforanother。Heseemedkindofputoutaboutit，Ithought。\"
IhadbeenfeelingratherprovokedatLuteforgivingCaptainJedtheinformationconcerningmyinterviewwithColton；but，somehow，thisotherbitofnewsrestoredmygoodhumor。WhenIstartedforthevillageIdidnottaketheshortcutacrossthefields，butfollowedmyregularroute，thepathbythebluffandtheShoreLane。Iwasnolongerfearfulofmeetingmynewneighbors。Thememoryofthehappeningsinthebaywasadelightfulsolacetomywoundedself—respect。IchuckledoveritasIwalkedthroughthedrippingpinesofthelittlegrove。Nomatterhowcontemptuouslyindifferentthatgirlmightpretendtobeshewouldnotforgetwhathadtakenplace；thatshehadbeenobligedtoobeymyorders；thatIhadcarriedhertothatskiff；thatIhadsavedherfromadanger——notagreatdanger，andagainstherwill，ofcourse——butsavedhernevertheless。Shewasunderanobligationtome；shecouldnothelpherself。Howthatmustgallher。IrememberedthelookonherfaceasIrowedaway。Sweetwasrevenge。AndVictor——
Victorwasajoke。
WhenIreachedtheLaneIlookedoverattheColtonmansion。Therainhadgiventhecarpentersandpaintersanenforcedholiday，and，exceptforthechauffeur，whomIcouldseethroughtheopendoorofthegarage，therewasnooneinsight。IthinkIwasalittledisappointed。If\"BigJim\"hadappearedandhailedmewithanotherofferforthelandIshouldnothavedodged。Iwasreadyforhim。Butneitherhe，oranyoneelse，appearedandIwalkedon。
AttheCorners，SimEldredgeshoutedtomefromtheplatformofhisstore。
\"Hi，Ros！\"heshouted。\"You！RosPaine！comehereaminute，willyou？\"
Ididnotwanttoseehim。Ihadintendedavoidingthepost—officealtogether。ButIcrossedtotheplatform。
\"Say，Ros，\"heaskedeagerly，\"what’sthisaboutyouandMr。Colton？\"
Iwasannoyed。
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"Iasked。
\"Why，youknow，don’tyou？Hecometoseeyouandyouwenttoseehimovertohishouse。Youhadareg’larargument，Iunderstand。
AbouttheShoreLane，wan’tit？\"
\"Whotoldyouthat？\"Iinquired，sharply。
\"Why，nobodytoldme，exactly。LuteRogersandCap’nJedwasherelastnightandtheygota—goin’asusual。TheCap’ndoeslovetostirupLute，andhecommencedhintin’aboutsomethin’ofthekind。
Idon’tknowastheywashints，either，butLutethoughttheywas。\"
Hegrinned。Iunderstood。
\"Isee，\"Isaid。\"Well，whatdidLutesay？\"
\"Isupposehe’dsayheneversaidaword，butafterhe’dgonetherewasakindofgeneralsentimentthatColtonwantedtobuytheShoreLanelandoffyou，andthatyouandhehadsomewordsaboutit。
Anyhow，youdidn’tselltheland，didyou？\"
\"SupposeIdid，ordidn’t；whatofit？\"
\"Why，nothin’，nothin’。Only，Itellyou，Ros——\"helookedcarefullyabouttomakesurenoonewaslistening；\"Itellyou；
it’sjustthisway。Icanunderstandhowyoufeelaboutit。YouknowDeanandsomeoftheothersaresoreonMr。Colton’causehe’sgotmoremoneythantheyhave，andtheywanttomakeallthetroubleforhimtheycan。Jed’sgotanideathathe’safterthatLane，tocloseitoff，andhe’sstirrin’upsentimentagainstitsbein’closed。He’stalkin’aboutthetownbuyin’it。NowofcourseIknowyourposition。Youwanttogetjustashighapriceasyoucanaforeyousell。\"
\"That’smyposition，isit？\"
\"Itwouldbethepositionofanysensibleman，wouldn’tit？I
don’tblameyou。Now，whatIwantedtosaywasthis。\"Hebentforwardandloweredhisvoicetoawhisper。\"Whydon’tyouletmehandlethisthingforyou？Icandoitbetter’nyou。IseeCap’nJedeverynight，youmightsay。AndIseeconsider’bleofMr。
Colton。HeknowsI’mpostmasterinthistownandsortofprominent。Allthesmartfolksain’tintheBoardofSelectmen。
I’llkeepyouposted；see？Youjustsetbackandpretendyoudon’twanttosellatall。Colton，he’llbidandJedandhisgang’llbid。I’lltelleachwhattheotherbids，andwe’llkeepherjumpin’。Whenwegettothelastjump，we’llsell——andnotafore。
OfcourseMr。Colton’llgetit，intheend。\"
\"Oh，hewill！Whatmakesyouthinkso？\"
\"Whatmakesmethinkso？Don’tbefoolish。Ain’theamillionaire？
HowcanDenborostandupagainstamillionaire？Itellyou，Ros，it’smoneycountsinthisworld，anditpaystostandinwiththemthat’sgotit。I’mgoin’tostandinwithMr。Colton。ButI’llpretendtostandinwithDeanjustasmuch。Icanhelpawholelot。
Why，Ishouldn’twonderif，betweenus，wecouldget——er——er——I
don’tknowhowmuch，forthatland。Whatdoyousay？\"
Ismiled。\"It’sverykindofyou，Sim，tobewillingtogotosomuchtroubleonmyaccount，\"Iobserved。\"Ididn’tknowtherewassuchdisinterestedkindnessinDenboro。\"
Simseemedabitputout。\"Why，\"hestammered，\"I——I——ofcourseI
presumedlikelyyou’dbewillin’topaymealittlecommission——or——
or——somethin’。IthoughtImightbeasortof——er——agentforyou。
I’vehandledconsider’blerealestateinmytime——and——youseewhatImean，don’tyou？\"
\"Yes，\"Isaid，drily；\"Isee。Well，Sim，ifIdecidetoengageanagentI’llletyouknow。Goodmorning。\"
\"But，holdon，Ros！I——\"
Ididnot\"holdon。\"Iwalkedacrosstheroadandenteredthebank。AlvinBakermetmeinthevestibule。Heseizedmyhandandshookitviolently。
\"Ideclare，\"heexclaimed，\"itdoesmegoodtoshakehandswithafellerthat’sgotthegrityouhave。Itdoesso！We’reallproudofyou。\"
\"Muchobliged，Alvin，I’msure。Butwhy？\"
Hewinkedandnudgedmewithhiselbow。
\"Youknowwhy，allright，\"hewhispered。\"Wouldn’tsellhimtheland，wouldyou？Tellme：Didhemakeyouarealbidforit？
Luteasmuchassaidhedid。\"
Forapersonwhohadtoldnothing，Luteseemedtohave\"asmuchassaid\"agoodmanythings。Ishookmyhead。
\"SoyouthinkIshouldn’tselltheland？\"Iasked。
\"Courseyoushouldn’t——nottohim。Ain’ttheresuchthingsaspublicspiritandindependence？ButI’lltellyousomethin’more，Ros，\"mysteriously。\"Youmayhaveachancetosellitsomewhereelse。\"
\"Indeed？\"
\"Yes，sir—ee！indeed！There’sotherpublic—spiritedfolksinDenboroaswellasyou。IknowwhotheybeandIstandinwith’emprettyclose，too。I’mgoin’tohelpyouallIcan。\"
\"That’sverykindofyou，Alvin。\"
\"No，no。I’mgladtodoit。Shan’tchargeyounothin’，neither。\"
\"That’skinderstill。\"
\"No，’tain’t……Holdonaminute，Ros。Don’tgo。AsIsay，I’mgoin’toworktoothandnailtogetthetowntobuythatLanepropertyofyours。I’llstickoutforyou’regettin’agoodpriceforit。I’lluseallmyinfluence。\"
\"Thankyou。\"
\"Youneedn’tthankme。It’samatterofprinciple。We’llshowthesecityfolkstheyain’tthewholeship，cargoandall……
Holdonasecondmore。Ros，I——er——Iwonderifyou’ddoalittlefavorforme。\"
\"Whatisit，Alvin？\"
\"Why，it’sthisway。I’vegotanotehereinthebank；putittherewhenIboughtthepowerengineformycat—boat。Hundredandfiftydollars，’tis。You’reaprettygoodfriendofGeorgeTaylor，cashierhere，andIwaswonderin’ifyou’dmindputtin’inawordwithhimaboutmygettin’itrenewedwhenitcomesdue。JusttellhimyouthinkI’mallright，andagoodrisk，orsomethin’likethat。\"
Icouldnothelpsmiling。Alvinseemedtofindencouragementinthesmile。
\"Georgethinksconsider’bleofyou，\"hesaid。\"AndCaptainJed——
he’soneofthedirectors——hewill，too，nowthatyou’vestooduptoColton。Justputinawordforme，willyou？Anddon’tforgetI’mafriendofyours，andI’mstrongforyourgettin’agood，fairpricefromthetown。Rememberthat，won’tyou？\"
\"Iwon’tforget，Alvin。Good—by。\"
Ilefthimandwentintothebank。HenrySmall，thebookkeeper，wasathisdesk。Iwalkedovertospeaktohim，buthe，lookingupfromhisfigures，spokefirst。Therewas，orsoitseemedtome，adifferentnoteinhisgreeting。Itwasmorehearty，Ithought。
Certainlyheregardedmewithanewandcuriousinterest。
\"Morning，Ros，\"hesaid。\"Well，howareyouthesedays？\"
IansweredthatIwaswell，andwasmovingonbuthedetainedme。
\"Livelytimesahead，hey，\"hewhispered。
\"Whatsortoftimes？\"Iasked。
Hewinked。\"Iguessyouknow，ifanybodydoes，\"heobserved。\"Allright，you’llhavegoodfriendsonyourside。Iain’tsayinganything，ofcourse，butI’mon，allright。\"
Hewinkedagain。Iwalkedbacktothecashier’swindow。Taylorhad，evidently，seenmetalkingwiththebookkeeper，forhewasstandingbythelittlegate，waitingforme。
\"Hello，Ros，\"hesaid。\"Gladtoseeyou。Comein。\"
GeorgeTaylorwasatypeofsmartcountryboygrowntomanhoodinthecountry。Histone，likehismanner，wassharpandquickandbusinesslike，buthespokewiththeDown—EasttwangandusedtheCapephrasesandmetaphors。HewasyoungerthanI，buthelookedolder，and，oflate，ithadseemedtomethathewasgrowingmorenervous。Weshookhands。
\"Gladtoseeyou，\"besaidagain。\"Iwashopingyou’ddriftin。I
presumedlikelyyoumight。Sitdown。\"
Itooktheprofferedchair。HelookedatmewithmuchthesamecuriousinterestthatSmallhadshown。
\"We’vebeenhearingaboutyou，\"hesaid。\"You’vebeengettingyourselftalkedabout。\"
ImentallycussedLuteoncemoreforhisloquacity。
\"I’llbreakthefellow’sneck，\"Ideclared，withemphasis。
Helaughed。\"Don’tdothatyetawhile，\"hesaid。\"Themarketisinbadenoughshapeasitis。IfhisneckwasbrokethewholeofWallStreetwouldgotopot。\"
\"WallStreet？WhatintheworldhasLutegottodowithWallStreet？\"
\"Lute！Oh，Isee！Yes，Lute’sbeendoingconsiderabletalking，butitain’thisneckImean。Say，Ros，whatdidyoudotohim，anyway？Youstirredhimupsome，judgingbywhathesaidtome。\"
\"Whosaid？What？\"