Captain Elisha scarcely left his room, except for meals, during the remainder of that day and for two days thereafter. He was unusually silent at table and avoided conversation even with Pearson, who was depressed and gloomy and made no attempt to force his society upon his friend. Once, passing the door of the latter’s room, he heard the captain pacing back and forth as if he were walking the quarter-deck of one of his old ships. As Pearson stood listening the footsteps ceased; silence, then a deep sigh, and they began again. The young man sighed in sympathy and wearily climbed to his den. The prospect of chimneys and roofs across the way was never more desolate or more pregnant with discouragement.
Several times Captain Elisha descended to the closet where the telephone was fastened to the wall and held long conversations with someone. Mrs. Hepton, who knew that her newest boarder was anxious and disturbed, and was very curious to learn the reason, made it a point to be busy near that closet while these conversations took place; but, as the captain was always careful to close the door, she was disappointed. Once the mysterious Mr. Sylvester called up and asked for “Captain Warren,” and the landlady hastened with the summons.
“I hope it’s nothing serious,” she observed, feelingly.
“Yes, ma’am,” replied the captain, on his way to the stairs. “Much obliged.”
“It is the same person who was so very anxious to get you the other night,” she continued, making desperate efforts not to be left behind in the descent. “I declare he quite frightened me! And—you’ll excuse me, Captain Warren, but I take such a real friendly interest in my boarders—you have seemed to me rather—rather upset lately, and I do hope it isn’t bad news.”
“Well, I tell you, ma’am,” was the unsatisfactory answer, given just before the closet door closed; “we’ll do the way the poor relation did when he got word his uncle had willed him one of his suits of clothes—we’ll hope for the best.”
Sylvester had a report to make.
“The other party has been here,” he said. “He has just gone.”
“The other party? Why—you don’t mean—him?”