to read. He nearly tumbled from his chair as the truth it
conveyed concerning the past life of Jim Fox flashed into his mind.

"Holy mackerel!"

The entrance of the minister prevented further comment, except for the
Captain to whisper:

"Thanks, Clemmie. 'Twill help, I cal'late. You're a good woman," he
finished, taking her hand between both of his. "You're smart, too.
You've helped me more than you know, and God bless you!"

CHAPTER XII

That evening the Captain dropped the brass knocker to the Elder's front
door with a heavy thud. A servant opened the door.

"I want to see Mr. Fox."

"He's not in, sir. Will you leave any----"

"Who is it, Debbs?" called a voice from the top of the stair.

"Captain Pott, sir. I thought you was to see no one to-night, sir."

"That's all right. Send him right up to my room."

The Elder's den was across the hall from his daughter's room, in the
most quiet part of the house.

"Right in here, Josiah. We shall be more private here than down-stairs."

The Captain entered, and took the chair indicated by the Elder.

"I was very busy, and told Debbs I was not to be disturbed, but I
recognized your voice, and--er--wanted to see you. It has been quite a
long while since we have had a friendly chat, Josiah. I wish you would
come more often. I get very lonesome in this big place. Have a cigar?
No? I shall, if you don't mind."

"We ain't been none too neighborly, as you might say."

"Why don't you come up once in a while?"

"Cal'late for the same reason you don't get over to the other end of the
road. For one thing, I'm too busy paying off debts."

The Elder looked questioningly at the seaman as he touched the lighted
end of a match to his cigar. "That is true. We--er--are busy, too busy
for our own good. We ought to be more sociable here in Little River. We
need something to stir us up."

"We're too damn selfish, if you ask me. As far as stirring goes, I
cal'late we've got as much of that as any town along this coast. About
all a feller can do is to set his teeth against the hurricane and
grin."

The Elder laughed without restraint, and his visitor began to show signs
of uneasiness.

"You'd best be careful with them delicate blood-vessels," mildly
suggested the Captain.

"True, Josiah. But that was a good joke, a very good joke. One can take
it in two ways."

"Not the way I mean it. There's enough gossip----"

"Yes, we are too selfish," broke in the Elder, "a