“You shut that trap of yours!” roared Caleb, turning upon the old man in a fury. “Don’t ye dare open it ag’in w’ile ye’re here, or there’ll be an assault case in court, too.”
Old Arad dodged back out of range of the sailor’s brawny fist with great celerity.
“Do——don’t ye let him tetch me, officer,” he implored, jerking his bandanna from the pocket of his shiny old black coat, and wiping his face nervously.
With the handkerchief came forth a letter which fell at Mr. Pepper’s feet; but for the moment nobody but the merchant himself saw it.
Brandon, who was directly behind the seaman, leaned forward and whispered something in Caleb’s ear. The old seaman’s face lit up in an instant, and he changed his position so that his burly form completely blocked the doorway leading into the outer office.
“So you won’t settle this thing out o’ court, eh?” he demanded.
The officer shook his head.
“It’s gone too far,” he said.
“It has, hey?” Caleb exclaimed in wrath. “Well, so’ve you gone too far.” Then he exclaimed, turning to Don: “Leg it, lad! We’ll outwit the landlubber yet.”
“Hi! stop him! stop him!” shrieked Uncle Arad, for at the instant Caleb had spoken, Don had darted back to the street door and thrown it open.