ent merely bowed.

"No, no," he said deprecatingly. "No, no! not for me, my friends, much
as I appreciate your gratitude. My days of public service are nearly
at an end. As I have intimated to some of you already, I am seriously
considering retiring from political life in the near future. But that
is irrelevant; it is not material at present. To-day we meet, not to say
farewell to the setting, but to greet the rising sun. _I_ call for three
cheers for our committee of one--Captain Cyrus Whittaker."

When the uproar had at last subsided, there were demands for a speech
from Captain Cy. But the captain, facing them, his arms about the
delighted Bos'n, positively declined to orate.

"I--I'm ever so much obliged to you, folks," he stammered. "I am so. But
you'll have to excuse me from speechmaking. They--they didn't teach it
afore the mast, where I went to college. Thank you, just the same. And
do come and see me, everybody. Me and this little girl," drawing Emily
nearer to him, "will be real glad to have you."

After the handshaking and congratulating were over, the crowd dispersed.
It was a great occasion; all agreed to that, but the majority considered
it a divided triumph. The captain had done a lot for the town, of
course, but the Honorable Atkins had made another splendid impression by
his address of welcome. Most people thought it as fine as his memorable
effort at town meeting. Unlike that one, however, in this instance it
is safe to say that none, not even the adoring and praise-chanting Miss
Phinney, derived quite the enjoyment from the congressman's speech that
Captain Cy did. It tickled his sense of humor.

"Ase," he observed irrelevantly when the five--Tidditt, Georgianna,
Bailey, Bos'n, and himself were at last alone again in the sitting room,
"it DON'T pay to tip over a monument, does it--not out in public, I
mean. You wouldn't want to see me blow up Bunker Hill, would you?"

"Blow up Bunker Hill!" repeated Asaph in alarmed amazement. "Godfrey
scissors! I believe you're goin' loony. This day's been too much for
you. What are you talkin' about?"

"Oh, nothin'," with a quiet chuckle. "I was thinkin' out loud, that's
all. Did you ever notice them imitation stone pillars on Heman's house?
They're holler inside, but you'd never guess it. And, long as you do
know they're holler, you can keep a watch on 'em. And there's one thing
sure," he added, "they ARE ornamental."

CHAPTER XXI

CAPTAIN CY'S "PICTU