The captain leaned back in his chair.
"Why pick on me?" he asked, drily.
"Why? Because I've got to pick on somebody and do it while I have the strength to pick. You and I have never been close friends, Kendrick, but I've watched you and kept track of you for years, in a general sort of way. Your sister and I have had a long acquaintanceship. There's another woman who made a mistake.... Eh?"
Sears nodded.
"I'm afraid so," he admitted. "Joel is a good enough fellow, in his way, but——"
"But—that's it. Well, he's got a good wife and she's your sister. I know you can handle this Fair Harbor job if you will and if you take it on I shall go to—well, to that graveyard we were talking about, with an easier mind. Look here—why——"
"Hold on a minute, Judge. Heave to and let me say a word. If there wasn't any other reason why I shouldn't feel like takin' the wheel of an old woman's home there would be this one: You need a business man there and I'm no business man."
"How do you know you're not?"
"Because I've just proved it. You heard somethin' of how my voyage in business ashore turned out. I'll tell you the truth about it."
He did, briefly, giving the facts of his disastrous sojourn in ship-chandlery.