the sick room into the connecting chamber.

"Can't say. He has had a stroke of paralysis, and there seem to be
other complications. If he regains consciousness I shall think he has a
chance, but not a very good one. His pulse is a little stronger. I don't
think he'll die to-night, but if he lives he will need a good nurse, and
I don't know of one in town."

"Nor me neither," said Captain Perez.

"Well, A'nt Zuby might come," suggested Jerry, "but I should hate to
have her nuss me, and as for bein' WELL in a house where she was--whew!"

"A'nt Zuby!" sneered his messmate. "If Lorenzo had a fit and they called
A'nt Zuby he'd have another one and die. A'nt Zuby! I'd 'bout as soon
have M'lissy and be done with it."

"Yes, I don't doubt YOU WOULD," was the anything but gentle retort.

What Perez would have said to this thrust must be surmised, for just
then the dining-room door opened and closed again.

"There's Eri," said Captain Jerry. Then he added in an alarmed whisper,
"Who on airth has he got with him?"

They heard their friend's voice warning someone to be careful of the top
step, and then the chamber door opened and Captain Eri appeared. There
were beads of perspiration on his forehead, and he was carrying a shabby
canvas extension-case. Captain Jerry gazed at the extension-case with
bulging eyes.

Captain Eri put down the extension-case and opened the door wide. A
woman came in; a stout woman dressed in black "alpaca" and wearing
brass-rimmed spectacles. Captain Jerry gasped audibly.

"Dr. Palmer," said Captain Eri, "let me make you acquainted with Mrs.
Snow of Nantucket. Mrs. Snow, this is Dr. Palmer."

The Doctor and the lady from Nantucket shook hands, the former with a
puzzled expression on his face.

"Perez," continued the Captain, "let me make you known to Mrs.
Snow--Mrs. Marthy B. Snow,"--this with especial emphasis,--"of
Nantucket. Mrs. Snow, this is Cap'n Perez Ryder."

They shook hands; Captain Perez managed to say that he was glad to meet
Mrs. Snow. Captain Jerry said nothing, but he looked like a criminal
awaiting the fall of the drop.

"Doctor," continued the Captain, paying no attention to the signals of
distress displayed by his friend, "I heard you say a spell ago that
John here needed somebody to take care of him. Well, Mrs. Snow--she's
a--a--sort of relation of Jerry's"--just a suspicion of a smile
accompanied this assertion--"and she's done consid'rable nussin' in her
time. I've b