“Cap’n!” called out Bush–beard.
“What say?”
“Could I see you ’bout my patrollin’ to–night, one minute?”
“Why, father,” said Walter, in a low voice to Mr. Plympton, “that is the man that fixed the vane on the steeple!”
The man of the steeple had recognized them, and was now saying, “How d’ye do?” at the same time he advanced, and held out a broad, brown hand to the visiting party.
“Glad to see you,” said Mr. Plympton.
“You know Tom Walker?” asked the station–keeper.
“Guess I do,” replied Walter, readily gripping Tom Walker’s brown hand.
“I s’pose, Tom, you want to see me about your beat. Let me see. You are on watch from eight till twelve?”