id the electrician contritely.

"YOU apologize? For what?"

"For my stupidity in believing that Captain Jerry was to be accepted
seriously."

"You were excusable, certainly. And now I must apologize; also for
taking the Captain too seriously."

"Suppose we pair the apologies as they do the votes in the Senate. Then
one will offset the other."

"I'm afraid that isn't fair, for the blunder was all on my part."

"Well, if we can't pair apologies, suppose we pair blunders. I don't
accept your statement of guilt, mind, but since you are determined to
shoulder it, we might put it on one side and on the other we'll put--"

"What?"

"'Gusty' Black."

And then they both laughed.

A little later Captain Eri knocked at the door.

"Is it safe for a feller to come in?" he asked.

"Well," said Elsie severely, "I don't know whether talebearers should
be admitted or not, but if they do come they must beg pardon for
interfering in other people's affairs."

"Ma'am," and the Captain made a profound bow, "I hope you'll be so 'kind
and condescendin', and stoop so low, and be so bendin'' as to forgive
me. And, while I'm 'bout it, I'll apologize for Jerry, too."

"No, sir," said the young lady decidedly. "Captain Jerry must apologize
for himself. Captain Jeremiah Burgess," she called up the stairway,
"come into court, and answer for your sins."

And Captain Jerry tremblingly came.

CHAPTER XIX

A "NO'THEASTER" BLOWS

It had begun to snow early in the evening, a light fall at first,
but growing heavier every minute, and, as the flakes fell thicker and
faster, the wind began to blow, and its force increased steadily. Ralph,
hearing the gusts as they swooped about the corners of the house, and
the "swish" of the snow as it was thrown against the window panes,
several times rose to go, but Captain Eri in each instance urged him to
stay a little longer. Finally, the electrician rebelled.

"I should like to stay, Captain," he said, "but how do you think I am
going to get over to the station if this storm grows worse, as it seems
to be doing?"

"I don't think," was the calm reply. "You're goin' to stay here."

"Well, I guess not."

"I guess yes. S'pose we're goin' to let you try to row over to the beach
a night like this? It's darker 'n a nigger's pocket, and blowin' and
snowin' great guns besides. Jest you look out here."

He rose, beckoned to Ralph, and then opened the outer door. He had to
use considerable str