He paused and asked for water. The captain put the glass to his lips. He swallowed once or twice and then impatiently jerked his head aside.
"There are two things you've got to promise me, Kendrick," he whispered, earnestly. "One is that, so long as you can fight, that condemned Egbert Phillips shan't have a cent of the Fair Harbor property, endowment fund, land or anything else. Will you fight the scamp for me, Kendrick?"
"Of course. The best I know how."
"You know more than most men in this town. I shouldn't have picked you for your job if you didn't. That's one thing—spike Egbert's guns. Here's the other: Look out for Elizabeth Berry."
The captain was not expecting this. He leaned back so suddenly that his chair squeaked. The sick man did not notice, or, if he did, paid no attention.
"She's Isaac Berry's daughter," he went on, "and Ike Berry was my best friend. More than that, she's a good girl, a fine girl. Her mother is more or less of a fool, but that isn't the girl's fault. Keep an eye on her, will you, Kendrick?"
"Why—why, I'll do what I can, of course."
"Like her, don't you?"
"Yes. Very much."
"You couldn't help it. She is pretty thick with that young Kent, I believe. He's a bright boy."