rture
and came in the nature of a very distinct disturbance. There was a
series of thunderous knocks on the front door, that door was thrown
violently open, and, before the startled maker of mills could do
much more than rise to his feet, the door to the workroom was
pulled open also. Captain Hunniwell's bulk filled the opening.
Captain Sam was red-faced and seemed excited.

"Well, by the gracious king," he roared, "you're here, anyhow!
What else is the matter with you?"

Jed, who, after recognizing his visitor, had seated himself once
more, looked up and nodded.

"Hello, Sam," he observed. "Say, I was just thinkin' about you.
That's kind of funny, ain't it?"

"Funny! Just thinkin' about me! Well, I've been thinkin' about
you, I tell you that: Have you been in this shop all the forenoon?"

"Eh? . . . Why, yes. . . . Sartin. . . . I've been right here."

"You HAVE? Gracious king! Then why in the Old Harry have you got
that sign nailed on your front door out here tellin' all hands
you're out for the day and for 'em to ask for you up at Abijah
Thompson's?"

Jed looked much surprised. His hand moved slowly across his chin.

"Sho!" he drawled. "Sho! Has that sign been hangin' there all
this forenoon?"

"Don't ask me. I guess it has from what I've heard. Anyhow it's
there now. And WHAT'S it there for? That's what I want to know."

Jed's face was very solemn, but there was a faint twinkle in his
eye. "That explains about Seth Wingate," he mused. "Yes, and Gab
Bearse too. . . . Hum. . . . The Lord was better to me than I
deserved. They say He takes care of children and drunken men and--
er--the critters that most folks think belong to my lodge. . . .
Hum. . . . To think I forgot to take that sign down! Sho!"

"Forgot to take it down! What in everlastin' blazes did you ever
put it up for?"

Jed explained why the placard had been prepared and affixed to the
door. "I only meant it for yesterday, though," he added. "I'd
intended takin' it down this mornin'."

Captain Sam put back his head and laughed until the shop echoed.

"Ho, ho, ho!" he roared. "And you mean to tell me that you put it
up there because you was goin' cruisin' to the aviation camp and
you didn't want callers disturbin' Mrs. Armstrong?"

His friend nodded. "Um-hm," he admitted. "I sent 'em to 'Bije's
because he was as far off as anybody I could think of. Pretty good
idea, wasn't it?"

The captain grinned. "Grea