ds of his kind, and paid her slight attention. When she
turned to Diddimus she had better success. He rolled on his side, stuck
all his claws out and drew them in again luxuriously, purring meanwhile
like a miniature sawmill.

When Cap'n Abe came back the girl asked:

"Wasn't your customer a young man I saw on the porch as I came in?"

"Yep. Lawford Tapp. Said he forgot some matches and a length o'
ropeyarn. I reckon you went to that young man's head. And his top
hamper ain't none too secure, Niece Louise."

"Oh, did I?" laughed the girl, understanding perfectly. "How nice."

"Nice? That's how ye take it. Lawford Tapp ain't a fav'rite o' mine."

"But he seemed very accommodating to-day when I asked him how to reach
your store."

"So you met him up town?"

"Yes, Uncle Abe."

"He's perlite enough," scolded the storekeeper. "But I don't jest fancy
the cut of his jib. Wanted to know if you was goin' to stop here."

"Oh!" exclaimed Louise. "That is what I want to know myself. Am I?"

CHAPTER IV

THE SHADOW OF COMING EVENTS

Cap'n Abe reached for his spectacles and pulled them down upon his nose
to look at his guest through the lenses. Not that they aided his sight
in the least; but the act helped to cover the fact that he was startled.

"Stop here?" he repeated. "Where's your father? Ain't he with you up
to the Inn?"

"No, Cap'n Abe. He is in Boston to-day. But he will sail to-morrow
for a summer cruise with a party for scientific research. I am all
alone. So I came down here to Cape Cod."

Louise said it directly and as simply as the storekeeper himself might
have spoken. Yet it seemed really difficult for Cap'n Abe to get her
meaning into his head.

"You mean you was intendin' to cast anchor here--with _me_?"

"If it is agreeable. Of course I'll pay my board if you'll let me.
You have a room to spare, haven't you?"

"Land sakes, yes!"

"And I am not afraid to use my hands. I might even be of some slight
use," and she smiled at him till his own slow smile responded, troubled
and amazed though he evidently was by her determination. "I've roughed
it a good deal with daddy-prof. I can cook--some things. And I can do
housework----"

"Bet Gallup does that," interposed Cap'n Abe, finally getting his
bearings. "Hi-mighty, ye did take me aback all standin', Niece Louise!
Ye did, for a fac'. But why not? Land sakes, there's room enough,
an' to spare! Ye don't hafter put