like a ship's dog shut up in the
hold. Why, yes, Heman, I see you've come. Much obliged to you."

This politeness was still more encouraging. Atkins leaned back in his
chair and crossed his legs.

"I presume," he said, "that you wish to ask concerning the
appropriation. I regret--"

"You needn't. I guess we'll get the appropriation."

Heman's condescension vanished. He leaned forward and uncrossed his
legs.

"Indeed?" he said slowly, his eyes fixed on the captain's placid face.

"Yes--indeed."

"Whittaker, what are you talking about? Do you suppose that I have been
the representative of my people in Congress all these years without
knowing whereof I speak? They left the matter in my hands, and your
interference--"

"I ain't goin' to interfere. I'M goin' to leave it in your hands, too.
And I cal'late you'll be able to find a way to get it. Um--hum, I guess
likely you will."

The visitor rose to his feet. The time had come for another blast from
Olympus. He raised the mighty right arm. But Captain Cy spoke first.

"Sit down, Heman," said the captain quietly. "Sit down. This ain't town
meetin'. Never mind the appropriation now. There's other matters to be
talked about first. Sit down, I tell you."

Mr. Atkins was purple in the face, but he sat down. The captain coughed
again.

"Heman," he began when the spasm was over, "I asked you to come here
to-night for--well, blessed if I know exactly. It didn't make much
difference to me whether you came or not."

"Then, sir, I must say that, of all the impudent--"

"S-s-h-h! for the land sakes! Speechmakin' must be as bad as the rum
habit, when a feller's got it chronic as you have. No, it didn't make
much difference to me whether you came or not. But, honest, you've got
to be a kind of Bunker Hill monument to the folks back home. They kneel
down at your foundations and look up at you, and tell each other how
many foot high you are, and what it cost to build you, and how you stand
for patriotism and purity, till--well, _I_ couldn't see you tumble down
without givin' you a chance. I couldn't; 'twould be like blowin' up a
church."

The purple had left the Atkins face, but the speechmaking habit is not
likely to be broken.

"Cyrus Whittaker," he stammered, "have you been drinking? Your language
to me is abominable. Why I permit myself to remain here and listen to
such--"

"If you'll keep still I'll tell you why. And, if I was you, I wouldn't
be too anxious to f