evada. His father, who was not at all well,
asked him to do so. He had written Sam once or twice from out there.
So I was surprised enough to see him in Boston. I met him in the South
Station and we chatted for a few moments. He told me that his father was
dead."

From behind the end of the counter where Zoeth sat came an odd sound, a
sort of gasp. Shadrach leaned forward quickly.

"What's the matter, Zoeth?" he asked. Before Zoeth could answer Mary
spoke:

"Dead!" she repeated. "Mr. Keith, I--did--did you say Crawford Smith's
father was DEAD?"

Her tone was so strange that even Mr. Keith could not help noticing it.
He looked at her, seemed about to ask a question, and then answered hers
instead.

"Why, yes," he said; "he is dead. He had been in poor health for some
time, so his son told me, and about two weeks ago he died. Crawford did
not tell me any particulars, nor did he say what had brought him East.
In fact, he didn't seem anxious to talk; acted as if he had something
on his mind. Of course I said I was sorry and he thanked me and inquired
regarding Mrs. Keith and Edna and Sam. Then I had to hurry for my train.
. . . Oh, are you going, Mary? Well, then, I must say good-by until next
summer; we leave tomorrow morning."

Mary explained, rather hurriedly, that she must speak with Simeon for
a few minutes, said good-by, shook hands and hastened out. Keith looked
after her.

"I hope I haven't made a blunder," he said, "in speaking of young
Smith. She and he were quite--er--friendly at one time, weren't they.
I understood so from some remarks of Sam's. Didn't put my foot in it by
mentioning the boy's name, did I? I certainly hope not."

Zoeth did not speak. Shadrach hastened to reassure him.

"No, no!" he said. "There was one time when even me and Zoeth figgered
there might be--er--well, we didn't know but what he and she was liable
to be more'n just friends. But it's all off now, seems so. They don't
even write each other, I guess. I cal'late maybe Mary-'Gusta got tired
of him," he explained. "He was a real nice young feller, but he probably
wan't quite good enough for her. Fur's that goes," he added, with the
emphasis of absolute conviction, "I never laid eyes on one that was."

Keith looked relieved. "Well, I'm glad if I didn't make a mistake," he
said. "She seemed so startled when I said that the man was dead and her
manner was so odd. Didn't you notice it yourself, Captain?"

Shadrach nodded.

"I n