o "square up in a day or so" was
accepted, under protest, and the customer departed.

At half-past eleven the man of business was dozing in a chair by the
stove, and the "watchdog," having found it chilly outside and venturing
in, was dozing near him. The bell attached to the door rang vigorously,
and both dog and man awoke with a start. The visitor was Captain Eri.

Now, the Captain was perhaps the last person whom the proprietor of the
billiard room expected to see, but a stranger never would have guessed
it. In fact, the stranger might reasonably have supposed that the
visitor was Mr. Saunders' dearest friend, and that his call was a
pleasure long looked forward to.

"Why, Cap'n!" exclaimed "Web," "how are you? Put her there! I'm glad
to see you lookin' so well. I said to 'Squealer' the other day, s'I,
'Squealer, I never see a man hold his age like Cap'n Hedge. I'll be
blessed if he looks a day over forty,' I says. Take off your coat, won't
you?"

Somehow or other, the Captain must have lost sight of "Web's" extended
hand. Certainly, the hand was large enough to be seen, but he did not
take it. He did, however, accept the invitation to remove his coat, and,
slipping out of the faded brown pea jacket, threw it on a settee at the
side of the room. His face was stern and his manner quiet, and in spite
Of Mr. Saunders' flattering reference to his youthful appearance, this
morning he looked at least more than a day past forty.

But, if Captain Eri was more than usually quiet and reserved, "Web"
was unchanged, and, if he noticed that the handshake was declined, said
nothing about it. His smile was sweetness itself, as he observed, "Well,
Cap'n, mighty mod'rate weather we're having for this time of year, ain't
it? What's new down your way? That's right, have a chair."

The Captain had no doubt anticipated this cordial invitation, for he
seated himself before it was given, and, crossing his legs, extended his
dripping rubber boots toward the fire. The rain was still falling, and
it beat against the windows of the saloon in gusts.

"Web," said Captain Eri, "set down a minute. I want to talk to you."

"Why, sure!" exclaimed the genial man of business, pulling up another
chair. "Have a cigar, won't you? You don't come to see me very often,
and I feel's though we ought to celebrate. Ha! ha! ha!"

"No, I guess not, thank you," was the answer. "I'll smoke my pipe, if
it's all the same to you."

Mr. Saunders didn't mind