“Yes, he used to work for me when I had the schooner.”
“I'll tell you, Badeau, I've had some complaints about him. You know I don't want any man that can't do the work.”
“I think he's doing pretty good, sir.”
“Well, I'll count on you to keep an eye on him. If you catch him loafing, don't waste any time on him.”
Hunch went over the conversation in the evening with Bruce. It frightened Bruce, and he made promises which he kept for the rest of the week.
They did not talk about Mamie until Saturday night, after they had been sitting by the stove for a long time in silence. Bruce was nervous.
“Say, Hunch,” he said, “would you go down if you was me?”
“Where?”
“You know—down to Marne's to-morrow.”
“Would I go? What you talking about?”