“Just fancy pictures, I s’pose, hey?” he commented.
“Doubtless. Any other little points I can give you?”
“I guess not. I thought they was fancy; looked so to me. Well, about that private matter. Mr. Dunn, I come to see you about an automobile.”
“An automobile!” The young man was so astonished that he actually removed his feet from the desk. Then he burst into a laugh. “An automobile?” he repeated. “Captain, has the influence of the metropolis made you a sport already? Do you want to buy a car?”
“Buy one?” It was Captain Elisha’s turn to show irritation. “Buy one of them things? Me? I wouldn’t buy one of ’em, or run one of ’em, for somethin’, I tell you! No, I don’t want to buy one.”
“Why not? Sell you mine for a price.”
“Not if I see you fust, thank you. No, Mr. Dunn, ’tain’t that. But one of the hired help up to our place—Caroline’s place, I mean—is in trouble on account of one of the dratted machines. They’re poor folks, of course, and they need money to help ’em through the doctorin’ and nursin’ and while the old man’s out of work. Caroline was for givin’ it to ’em right off, she’s a good-hearted girl; but I said—that is, I kind of coaxed her out of it. I thought I’d ask some questions first.”
“So you came to me to ask them?” Malcolm smiled contentedly. Evidently the cares and complications of guardianship were already proving too intricate for the unsophisticated countryman. He wished advice, and had come to him for it, possibly at Caroline’s suggestion. Affairs were shaping themselves well. Here was an opportunity to act the disinterested friend, as per maternal instructions.
“So you wanted to ask questions, did you, Captain?” he repeated. “Well, fire away. Anything I can do to help you or Caroline will be a pleasure, of course. Smoke?”
He offered the cigarette case. The captain eyed it dubiously and shook his head.