Part 14 (1/2)
It may be that fifteen hundred won't be enough to be worth your while.
Perhaps I shouldn't venture to offer it if I hadn't heard--hadn't heard----”
Sears interrupted.
”What you heard was probably true,” he said crisply. ”True enough, at any rate. Fifteen hundred a year looks like a lot to me now. But what am I to do to get it, that's the question. I'm a cripple, don't forget that.”
”I should remember it if I thought it necessary. You won't handle this job with your legs. It is your head I want. Cap'n Kendrick, I want you to take charge--take command, if you had rather we used seafaring lingo, of that establishment next door to where you are living now. I want you to act as--well, we'll call it captain of the Fair Harbor.”
Captain Sears's eyes and mouth opened. His chair creaked as he leaned forward and then slowly leaned back again.
”You--you--” he gasped, ”you want me to--to manage that--that _old women's home_?”
”Yes.”
”_Me?_”
”Yes.... Here! where are you going?”
The visitor had risen.
”Stop!” shouted Judge Knowles. ”Where are you going?”
The captain breathed heavily.
”I'm goin' to send for the doctor,” he declared. ”One of us two needs him.”
CHAPTER V
Judge Knowles's answer to his caller's a.s.sertion concerning the need of a physician's services was another chuckle.
”Sit down, Cap'n,” he ordered.
Kendrick shook his head. ”No,” he began, ”I'm----”
”Sit down.”
”Judge, look here: I don't suppose you're serious, but if you are, I tell you----”
”No, I'm going to tell _you_. SIT DOWN.”
This time the invalid's voice was raised to such a pitch that Mrs.
Tidditt came hurrying from the kitchen.
”My soul and body, Judge!” she exclaimed. ”What is it? What _is_ the matter?”
Her employer turned upon her.
”The matter is that that confounded door is open again,” he snapped.