“I hope I wasn't too short and brisk at the beginnin'. You see, I'd just read your wife's letter, and—er—well, of course, I didn't know—just—you see, you and I had never met, and so—”
“Certainly, certainly. I quite understand. And, fool's errand or not, I'm very glad I came here. If you'll pardon my saying so, it was worth the trip to get acquainted with you. I hope, whatever comes of the other thing, that our acquaintanceship will continue.”
“Same here, same here. Go right out the side door, Mr. Fosdick, saves goin' through the office. Good day, sir.”
He watched the bulky figure of the New York banker tramping across the yard between the piles of lumber. A moment later he entered the outer office. Albert and Keeler were at their desks. Captain Zelotes approached the little bookkeeper.
“Labe,” he queried, “there isn't anything particular you want me to talk about just now, is there?”
Lahan looked up in surprise from his figuring.
“Why—why, no, Cap'n Lote, don't know's there is,” he said. “Don't know's there is, not now, no, no, no.”
His employer nodded. “Good!” he exclaimed. “Then I'm goin' back inside there and sit down and rest my chin for an hour, anyhow. I've talked so much to-day that my jaws squeak. Don't disturb me for anything short of a fire or a mutiny.”