oom to discuss it. Some of the men, notably "Cy" Warner
and "Rufe" Smith, local representatives of the big Boston dailies,
hurried off to the life-saving station to get the facts at first hand.
Others came down to talk with Captain Jerry and Elsie. Melissa Busteed's
shawl was on her shoulders and her "cloud" was tied about her head in
less than two minutes after her next-door neighbor shouted the story
across the back yards. She had just left the house, and Captain Jerry
was delivering a sarcastic speech concerning "talkin' machines," when
Daniel plodded through the gate, drawing the buggy containing Josiah,
Mrs. Snow, and Captain Eri.

For a man who had been described as "half-dead," Captain Eri looked very
well, indeed. Jerry ran to help him from the carriage, but he jumped out
himself and then assisted the housekeeper to alight with an air of proud
proprietorship. He was welcomed to the house like a returned prodigal,
and Captain Jerry shook his well hand until the arm belonging to it
seemed likely to become as stiff and sore as the other. While this
handshaking was going on Captain Eri was embarrassed. He did not look
his friend in the face, and most of his conversation was addressed to
Elsie.

As soon as he had warmed his hands and told the story of the wreck and
rescue, he said, "Jerry, come up to my room a minute, won't you? I've
got somethin' I want to say."

Vaguely wondering what the private conversation might be, Jerry followed
his friend upstairs. When they were in the room, Captain Eri closed the
door and faced his companion. He was confused, and stammered a little,
as he said, "Jerry, I've--I've got somethin' to say to you 'bout Mrs.
Snow."

Then it was Captain Jerry's turn to be confused.

"Now, Eri," he protested, "'tain't fair to keep pesterin' me like this.
I know I ain't said nothin' to her yit, but I'm goin' to. I had a week,
anyhow, and it ain't ha'f over. Land sake!" he burst forth, "d'you
s'pose I ain't been thinkin' 'bout it? I ain't thought of nothin' else,
hardly. I bet you I've been over the whole thing every night sence we
had that talk. I go over it and GO over it. I've thought of more 'n a
million ways to ask her, but there ain't one of 'em that suits me. If I
was goin' to be hung 'twouldn't be no worse, and now you've got to keep
a-naggin'. Let me alone till my time is up, can't you?"

"I wa'n't naggin'. I was jest goin' to tell you that you won't have to
ask. I've been talkin' to h