Part 70 (1/2)

When they rose to go Charlie laid a hand on Jed's shoulder.

”I can't tell you,” he said, ”what a brick you've been through all this. If it hadn't been for you, old man, I don't know how it might have ended. We owe you about everything, Maud and I. You've been a wonder, Jed.”

Jed waved a deprecating hand. ”Don't talk so, Charlie,” he said, gruffly.

”But, I tell you, I--”

”Don't. . . . You see,” with a twist of the lip, ”it don't do to tell a--a screech owl he's a canary. He's liable to believe it by and by and start singin' in public. . . . Then he finds out he's just a fool owl, and has been all along. Humph! Me a wonder! . . .

A blunder, you mean.”

Neither of the young people had ever heard him use that tone before.

They both cried out in protest.

”Look here, Jed--” began Phillips.

Maud interrupted. ”Just a moment, Charlie,” she said. ”Let me tell him what Father said last night. When he went out he left me crying and so miserable that I wanted to die. He had found Charlie's letter and we--we had had a dreadful scene and he had spoken to me as I had never heard him speak before. And, later, after he came back I was almost afraid to have him come into the room where I was. But he was just as different as could be. He told me he had been thinking the matter over and had decided that, perhaps, he had been unreasonable and silly and cross. Then he said some nice things about Charlie, quite different from what he said at first. And when we had made it all up and I asked him what had changed his mind so he told me it was you, Jed. He said he came to you and you put a flea in his ear. He wouldn't tell me what he meant, but he simply smiled and said you had put a flea in his ear.”

Jed, himself, could not help smiling faintly.

”W-e-e-ll,” he drawled, ”I didn't use any sweet ile on the job, that's sartin. If he said I pounded it in with a club 'twouldn't have been much exaggeration.”

”So we owe you that, too,” continued Maud. ”And, afterwards, when Daddy and I were talking we agreed that you were probably the best man in Orham. There!”

And she stooped impulsively and kissed him.

Jed, very much embarra.s.sed, shook his head. ”That--er--insect I put in your pa's ear must have touched both your brains, I cal'late,” he drawled. But he was pleased, nevertheless. If he was a fool it was something to have people think him a good sort of fool.

It was almost four o'clock when Jed's next visitor came. He was the one man whom he most dreaded to meet just then. Yet he hid his feelings and rose with hand outstretched.

”Why, good afternoon, Major!” he exclaimed. ”Real glad to see you.

Sit down.”

Grover sat. ”Jed,” he said, ”Ruth tells me that you know of my good fortune. Will you congratulate me?”

Jed's reply was calm and deliberate and he did his best to make it sound whole-hearted and sincere.

”I sartin do,” he declared. ”Anybody that wouldn't congratulate you on that could swap his head for a billiard ball and make money on the d.i.c.ker; the ivory he'd get would be better than the bone he gave away. . . . Yes, Major Grover, you're a lucky man.”

To save his life he could not entirely keep the shake from his voice as he said it. If Grover noticed it he put it down to the sincerity of the speaker.

”Thank you,” he said. ”I realize my luck, I a.s.sure you. And now, Jed, first of all, let me thank you. Ruth has told me what a loyal friend and counselor you have been to her and she and I both are very, very grateful.”

Jed stirred uneasily. ”Sho, sho!” he protested. ”I haven't done anything. Don't talk about it, please. I--I'd rather you wouldn't.”

”Very well, since you wish it, I won't. But she and I will always think of it, you may be sure of that. I dropped in here now just to tell you this and to thank you personally. And I wanted to tell you, too, that I think we need not fear Babbitt's talking too much.

Of course it would not make so much difference now if he did; Charlie will be away and doing what all decent people will respect him for doing, and you and I can see that Ruth does not suffer.

But I think Babbitt will keep still. I hope I have frightened him; I certainly did my best.”

Jed rubbed his chin.

”I'm kind of sorry for Phin,” he observed.