The foyer had its usual animated crowd, and among them Pearson recognized a critic of his acquaintance. He offered to introduce the captain, but the latter declined the honor, saying that he cal’lated he wouldn’t shove his bows in this time. “You heave ahead and see your friend, Jim,” he added. “I’ll come to anchor by this pillar and watch the fleet go by. I’ll have to write Abbie about all this; she’ll want to know how the female craft was rigged.”
Left alone, he leaned against the pillar and watched the people pass and repass just behind him. Two young men paused just behind him. He could not help overhearing their conversation.
“I presume you’ve heard the news?” asked one, casually.
“Yes,” replied the other, “I have. That is, if you mean the news concerning Mal Dunn. The mater learned it this afternoon and sprung it at dinner. No one was greatly surprised. Formal announcement made, and all that sort of thing, I believe. Mal’s to be congratulated.”
“His mother is, you mean. She managed the campaign. The old lady is some strategist, and I’d back her to win under ordinary circumstances. But I understand these were not ordinary; wise owl of a guardian to be circumvented, or something of that sort.”
“From what I hear the Dunns haven’t won so much after all. There was a big shrinkage when papa died, so they say. Instead of three or four millions it panned out to be a good deal less than one. I don’t know much about it, because our family and theirs have drifted apart since they moved.”
“Humph! I imagine whatever the pan-out it will be welcome. The Dunns are dangerously close to the ragged edge; everybody has been on to that for some time. And it takes a few ducats to keep Mal going. He’s no Uncle Russell when it comes to putting by for the rainy day.”
“Well, on the whole, I’m rather sorry for—the other party. Mal is a good enough fellow, and he certainly is a game sport; but—”
They moved on, and Captain Elisha heard no more. But what he had heard was quite sufficient. He sat through the remainder of the opera in silence and answered all his friend’s questions and remarks curtly and absently.
As they stepped into the trolley Pearson bought an evening paper, not the Planet, but a dignified sheet which shunned sensationalism and devoted much space to the doings of the safe, sane, and ultra-respectable element. Perceiving that his companion, for some reason, did not care to talk, he read as the car moved downtown. Suddenly Captain Elisha was awakened from his reverie by hearing his friend utter an exclamation. Looking up, the captain saw that he was leaning back in the seat, the paper lying unheeded in his lap.