you?"

"You! Humph! Try me and see, that's all I'd ask."

"All right. I'll be on hand in the morning."

He stopped, looked at me, and then seized me by the arm.

"See here!" he cried, "I'm lost in the fog, I guess likely. What do you
mean by that? Is it time to laugh--or what?"

"It may be; I don't know. But I take the bookkeeper's position in your
bank. Now, good-by. Don't talk to me. I don't feel like talking."

"But--but, Ros."

"Good-by."

I walked on. I had taken but a few steps when he overtook me.

"Ros," he said, "I ain't going to say but just one thing. If you meant
what you said I'm the most tickled man on the Cape. But you ain't asked
a word about the salary."

"I know it. I haven't asked because I don't care. I'll be on hand in the
morning."

I left him standing there, and hurried down the Lower Road. As I had
said to him, I did not feel like talking. I did not want even to see any
one. I wanted to be let alone. But it was fated that I should not be,
not yet. Sim Eldredge was waiting for me around the corner. He stepped
out from behind the fence where he had been hidden.

"Ros!" he whispered. "Ros Paine! Wait. It's me, Sim. I want to ask you
somethin'. Wan't that George Taylor you was speakin' to just now?"

"Yes," I answered, impatiently. "What of it?"

"Say, Ros, you and me ain't pulled that Colton trade off, but it ain't
my fault. You ain't got no hard feelin's against me, I know. And I want
you to do a little mite of favor for me. Will you?"

"What is it? If it has anything to do with the Lane, I tell you now
that--"

"It ain't--it ain't. It's about that bookkeepin' job in the bank, Henry
Small's place, the one he's just quit. I've got a third cousin, name of
Josiah Badger, over to South Harniss. He's a smart young chap, and an
A-1 accountant at figgers. He's been keepin' books down at the fish
wharf--see? Now, he'd like that job and, bein' as you and George are
so thick, I cal'lated maybe you'd sort of use your influence along of
George, and--and get it for him. There ain't nothin' in it for me--that
is, nothin' much. But I feel friendly toward Josiah and you know I like
to do little kindnesses for folks. So--"

"There! there!" I interrupted. "It's no use, Sim. I can't help you."

"Why! yes you can."

"No, I can't. I don't know your cousin, and besides--well, you are too
late. The place is filled."

Sim's expression changed. He looked surprised and crestfallen.

"Filled?" he