Saturday by a vote of eight to one. The
directors and the cashier and I are the eight and he's the one.
Ho, ho! And who do you suppose comes aboard on the next Monday
mornin' to take over what Lute has left of the job? Eh? Who?
Why, your own candidate, that's who."

Jed started. Again he looked at Mrs. Armstrong and, as if in
answer to that look, she spoke.

"Yes, Mr. Winslow," she said, quickly, "my brother is coming to
Orham and Captain Hunniwell has given him the position. It is
really you to whom he owes it all. You thought of it and spoke to
the captain and to me."

"But why in time," demanded Captain Sam, "didn't you tell me right
out that 'twas Mrs. Armstrong's brother you had in mind? Gracious
king! if I'd known that I'd have had Lute out a fortni't sooner."

Jed made no reply to this. He was still staring at the lady.

"But--but--" he faltered, "did you--have you--"

He stopped in the middle of a word. Ruth was standing behind the
captain and he saw the frightened look in her eyes and the swift
movement of her finger to her lips.

"Oh, yes," she said. "I--I have. I told Captain Hunniwell of
Charlie's experience in the bank in Wisconsin. He has written
there and the answer is quite satisfactory, or so he seems to
think."

"Couldn't be better," declared Captain Sam. "Here's the letter
from the man that used to be the bank president out there. Read
it, Jed, if you want to."

Jed took the letter and, with a hand which shook a little, adjusted
his glasses and read. It was merely a note, brief and to the
point. It stated simply that while Charles Phillips had been in
the employ of their institution as messenger, bookkeeper and
assistant teller, he had been found honest, competent, ambitious
and thoroughly satisfactory.

"And what more do I want than that?" demanded the captain.
"Anybody who can climb up that way afore he's twenty-five will do
well enough for yours truly. Course he and I haven't met yet, but
his sister and I've met, and I'm not worryin' but what I'll like
the rest of the family. Besides," he added, with a combination
laugh and groan, "it's a case of desperation with us up at the
bank. We've got to have somebody to plug that leak you was talkin'
about, Jed, and we've got to have 'em immediate, right off quick,
at once, or a little sooner. It's a providence, your brother is to
us, Mrs. Armstrong," he declared; "a special providence and no
mistake."

He hurried off