His was the only car in public service at the Paulmouth railroad station and Willy Peebles seldom had a fare to Cardhaven. Noah Coffin's ark was good enough for most Cardhaven folk if they did not own equipages of their own.
When Willy reached around and snapped open the door of the covered car a lady stepped out and, like a Newfoundland after a plunge into the sea, shook herself. The car was a cramped vehicle and the ride had been dusty. Her clothing was plentifully powdered; but her face was not. That was heated, perspiring, and expressed a mixture of indignation and disapproval.
"Are you sure this is the place, young man?" she demanded.
"This is Cap'n Abe Silt's," repeated Willy.
"Why—it doesn't look———"
"Want your suitcase, ma'am?" asked Willy.
"Wait. I am not sure. I—I must see if I——. I may not stay.
Wait," she repeated, still staring about the neighborhood.
As a usual thing, she was not a person given to uncertainty, in either manner or speech. Her somewhat haughty glance, her high-arched nose, her thin lips, all showed decision and a scorn of other people's opinions and wishes. But at this moment she was plainly nonplused.
"There—there doesn't seem to be anybody about," she faltered.
"Oh, go right into the store, ma'am. Cap'n Abe's somewheres around.
He always is."