F THE BREACH

"So," piped Janoah, "that's what you're doin', is it, Willie Spence?
Well, you needn't 'a' been so all-fired still about it. I guessed as
much all the time." There was an acid flavor in the words. "Yes, I
knowed it from the beginnin' well as if I'd been here, even if you did
shut me out an' take this city feller in to help you in place of me.
Mebbe he has studied 'bout boats; but how do you know what he's up to?
How do you know, anyhow, who he is or where he came from? He says, of
course, that he's Tiny's nephew, an' he may be, fur all I can tell; but
what proof have you he ain't somebody else who's come here to steal
your ideas an' get money for 'em?"

There was a moment of stunned silence, as the barbs from his tongue
pierced the stillness.

Then Delight stepped in front of the interloper.

"How dare you, Janoah Eldridge!" she cried. "How dare you insult
Willie's friend and--and--mine! You've no right to speak so about Mr.
Morton."

Before her indignation Janoah quailed. In all his life he had never
before seen Delight Hathaway angry, and something in her flashing eyes
and flaming cheeks startled him.

"I--I--warn't meanin' to say 'twas actually so," mumbled he
apologetically. "Like as not the young man's 'xactly what he claims to
be. Still, Willie's awful gullible, an' there's times when a word of
warnin' ain't such a bad thing. I'm sorry if you didn't like it."

"I didn't like it, not at all," the girl returned, only slightly
mollified by his conciliatory tone. "If you are anything of a
gentleman you will apologize to Mr. Morton immediately."

"Ain't I just said I was sorry?" hedged the sheepish Janoah.

"Indeed, there is no need for anything further," Robert Morton
protested. "Perhaps, knowing me so little, it was only natural that he
should distrust me."

"It was neither natural nor courteous," came hotly from Delight, "and I
for one am mortified that any visitor to the village should receive
such treatment."

Then as if clearing her skirts of the offending Mr. Eldridge, she drew
herself to her full height and swept magnificently out the door. An
awkward silence followed her departure.

Robert Morton hesitated, glancing uneasily from Willie to Janoah,
scented a storm and, slipping softly from the shop, went in pursuit of
the retreating figure.

"For goodness sake, Janoah, whatever set you makin' a speech like
that?" Willie demanded, when the two were alone. "Have you go