Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-12-05

| or manner MS reJOluuer was W tue
effect that ''ile was bound to rise, but
| that didn't mean there want dirty
water underneath" On the way home
he asked Hazeltine concerning the trou'
BILE ut the cable station and how Mr..
Langley had treated the matter.
Ralph replied that Mr.. Langley had
said nothing to him about 1t. 1t was
his opinion that the old gentleman un-
derstood the affair pretty well and was
not disposed to blame him. AS for the
men, they had been as dOcile as lambs,
and he thought the feeling toward him
self was not as bitter as it had been,
all of which his companion said he
was glad to hear.
They separated at the gate, and the
captain entered the house to find Mrs.
Snow welding broom and surround
ed by a cloud Of dust. Perez was up
stairs with the patient, and Captain
Jerry. whose habits had been consid-
erably upset by the sweeping, was out
In the barn.
That evening the situation was ex'
planned to Mrs. Snow by Captain Fri
in accordance with the talk ut the
breakfast table. The lady from NAH
tucket understood and respected Cap
tain Jerry's unwillingness to discuss
the marriage question while John BaX-
ter's condition continued critical, and
she agreed to act as nurse ami house
keeper for awhile at least for the sum
Of Sc n week. This price was fixed on
ly after considerable discussion by the
three mariners, for Captain Fri was
inclined to offer So and Captain Jerry
but 81.
When Ralph Hazeltine called late In
the afternoon of the following day the
dining room was so transformed that
he scarcely knew it. The dust had dis
appeared, the chronometer was polish
ed till il shone, the fable was covered
with cloth that was snow white.
and everything movable had the ap-
pearance Of being in its place. Alto
gether there was an evidence Of order
that was almost startling.
Captain Fri came to the door In re-
sponse to his knock and grinncd ap-
preciatively at his callers look of won
der.
81 don't wonder you're s'prised." he
said, with chuckle. 81 amt begun to
git over it yit myself, and Lorenzo's so
shook up he amt been in the house
sence breakfast time. He's out in the
barn keepin' Dan'l cOmp'ny and wait
in for the end of the world to strike.
l carlate."
Ralph laughed. "Mrs. Snow?' he in
quired.
"Alrs. Snow answered the captain.
ut beats all what woman can do
when she's that kind of wohlan.
She's done more swabbin' decks and
overhaulin' runnin' riggin' than a new
mate on clipper. The place is so all
fired clean that feel like brushin' my
self every time go to set down."
Flows Captain Baxter?" asked Ha'
zeltine.
"Secms to be some better. He come
to little this mornin' and seemed to
know some Of us. but he amt sensed
where he Is yit. nor I don't b'lieve he
will fur a spell. Set down and keep
the comp'ny. It's my watch jest now.
Perez. he's over to Barry's, Jerry's up
to the schoolhouse, and Mrs. Shows
run up ID the postoffice to mail Il let
ter. Johns asleep. so can stay down
stairs a little while, longs the doors
open. What's the news uptown! WEB
changed his mind ag'in bout the fire!
1t appeared that Mr.. Saunders had
not changed his mind, ut least so cur
rent gossip reported. And it may be
remarked here that, curiously enough.
the opinion that the fire caught Itself
came at last to be generally accepted
I'm the village. For some weeks cap
tain Fri was troubled with thoughts
concerning the missing coat. but as
time passed and the accusing garment
did not turn up he came to believe that
some boy must have found it and that
it had in all probability been destroy
cd. There were of course some persons
who still suspected John Baxter AZ the
incendiary. but the old mans serious
illness and respect for his former
standing in the community kept these
few silent. The Baxter house had
been locked up. and the captain had
the key.