Part 59 (1/2)
Kent ignored the coat. He did not seem to realize that his companion was holding it. ”Yes,” he stammered, eagerly. ”I think if I went to her in that way it would be all right again. I was hasty and--and silly maybe, but perhaps I had some excuse. And, Cap'n Kendrick, I'm sure she does--er--like me, you know. I'm sure of it.... But now--” as reality came once more cras.h.i.+ng through his dream, ”I--I---- Oh, think of me now! I may be put in prison. And then.... Oh, but Cap'n Kendrick, that's why I came to you. I knew you'd stand by me, I knew you would. I treated you d.a.m.nably, but--but you know, it was on account of her, really. I knew you'd understand that. You won't hold a grudge against me? You really will help me? If you don't----”
Kendrick seized his arm. ”Shut up, George,” he commanded brusquely.
”Shut up. I'll get you out of this, I promise it.”
”You will? You promise?”
”Yes. That is, I'll see that you don't go to jail. If we can't get the eight hundred of your sister's from these brokers I'll get it somehow--even if I have to borrow it.”
”Oh, Great Scott, that's great! That's wonderful. I can hardly believe it. I'll make it up to you somehow, you know. You're the best man I ever knew. And--and--if she and I--that is, when she and I are--are as we used to be--well, then I shall tell her and she'll be as grateful as I am, I know she will.”
”All right, George, all right. Run along. The rain's easin' up a little, so now's your time. Don't forget to write to those brokers.... Good night.”
”Good night, Cap'n. I shall tell your sister how good you've been to me.
She told me to come to you. Of course she doesn't know why I came, but----”
”No, and she mustn't know. Don't you tell her or anybody else. Don't you do it.”
”I--why, I won't if you say so, of course. Good night.”
Kendrick closed the door. Then he came back to his seat before the stove. When Judah returned home he found that his lodger had gone to the spare stateroom, but he could hear his footsteps moving back and forth.
”Ahoy, there, Cap'n Sears!” hailed Judah. ”What you doin', up and pacin'
decks this time of night? It's pretty nigh eight bells, didn't you know it?”
The pacing ceased. ”Why, no, is it?” replied the captain's voice. ”Guess I'd better be turnin' in, hadn't I? How's the weather outside?”
”Fairin' off fast. Rain stopped and it's clear as a bell over to the west'ard. Clear day and a fair wind to-morrer, I cal'late.”
Kendrick made no further comment and Judah prepared for bed, singing as he did so. He sang, not a chantey this time, but portions of a revival hymn which he had recently heard and which, because of its nautical nature, had stuck in his memory. The chorus commanded some one or other to
”Pull for the sh.o.r.e, sailor, Pull for the sh.o.r.e.
Leave that poor old stranded wreck And pull for the sh.o.r.e.”
Mr. Cahoon sang the chorus over and over. Then he ventured to tackle one of the verses.
”Light in the darkness, sailor, Day is at hand.”
”Judah!” This from the spare stateroom.
”Aye, aye, Cap'n Sears.”
”Better save the rest of that till the day gets here, hadn't you?”
”Eh? Oh, all right, Cap'n. Just goin' to douse the glim this minute.
Good night.”
Three days after this interview in the Minot kitchen George Kent again came to call. He came after dark, of course, and his visit was brief. He had received from the New York brokers a detailed statement of his and Phillips' joint account. The statement bore out what he had already told Sears. Four hundred shares of Central Midland Common had been purchased at 40. Against this the partners deposited sixteen hundred dollars.
Later they had deposited another sixteen hundred. The New York firm were as confident as ever that the stock was perfectly good and the speculation a good one. They advised waiting and, if possible, buying more at the present low figure.