“No,” he replied slowly. “I know what you mean, though. It’s his eyes that are set too close together. Don’t you never lend a quarter to a feller whose eyes come as near each other as that, Jack, ’cause it’s all New England to a piece o’ cheese that you’ll be twenty-five cents short from that moment on. My guess is that if yon feller isn’t a crook o’ some sort, he’s a mighty good imitation.”
The subject of the stranger was then dropped, but an hour later Jack took especial notice of the man when he came on board the ferry again at the Point, to return to town.
“Nice little boat you’ve got here,” the man observed.
“I like her very well,” replied Jack.
“She would just about suit me. I’ve been looking for a craft of this sort. Would you like to rent her?”
“By the hour, do you mean?” Jack asked.
“Something like that. I only want to potter around.”
“I can’t do that very well,” said the captain. “I’m fairly busy in the day time with the ferry. I could take you out some evening, though.”
“Oh, I can manage her by myself,” replied the man. “You needn’t bother to come.”
“I wouldn’t let her go out unless I was in her. I wouldn’t trust her to any one.”