d he tagged along at his
employer's heels, proudly calling notice first to one skillful bit of
work and then to another. The house and all that concerned it became
his hobby. It was to him what the _Mollie D._ had been, the primary
interest of his life. He knew every inch of plumbing; where every
shut-off, valve, ventilator, and stopcock was located. Moreover, he
could have told, had not his jaws been clamped together tightly as a
scallop shell, exactly how much every article in the mansion cost.

Later he superintended the grading of the lawns, the laying out of
tennis courts, and the building of garages, boathouses, and
bathhouses. By this time Mr. Crowninshield would willingly have
trusted him with every farthing he possessed so complete was his
confidence in his man Friday.

Jerry, however, was modest. He declared he had only done his duty and
insisted that it go at that. But having set this high standard of
fidelity for himself it followed that he demanded a like faithfulness
in others; and if he were not merciful to those who came under his
dictatorship at least no one of them could deny that he was just.
Hence Walter King did not shrink from the prospect of working with
him, stern though he was reputed to be. One can only do one's best and
that the boy was determined to do. Therefore he smiled up into Jerry's
misty blue eyes and answered:

"I could begin work when school closes toward the end of June."

"Humph! I wish you could make it earlier. Well, we must put up with
that since it is the best you can do. Goodness knows I'd be the last
one to discourage learning in the young. I got all too little of it
when I was a shaver. Not a day goes by that I don't wish I'd had my
chance. I shipped to sea when I was only twelve--would go--nothing
would stop me--and I've been knocking round ever since, picking up
here and there what scraps of knowledge I could get. Don't let
anything tempt you to sea till you're full-grown, sonny, for you'll
live to regret it, sure as my name is Jerry Taylor."

Walter flushed guiltily, wondering as he did so whether Jerry's little
blue eyes had bored their way into his skull and read there his
aspirations.

"Nope!" went on the sailor. "Take it from me, seafaring is a man's
job. You much better stay ashore and----" he stopped as if at a loss
and then smiling broadly added, "play governess to a pack of dogs."

"I figure that is about what I'm going to do," replied His Highness
with a