know. And," turning his head and speaking quietly but firmly, "don't let
anybody ELSE know I asked."

"Course I won't, Sol, you know that. But don't it seem awful mean
turnin' her out so? I wouldn't think Mr. Williams would do such a
thing."

His companion smiled grimly; "I would," he said. "'Business is
business,' that's his motto. That and 'Look out for number one.'"

"Yes, he said somethin' to me about lookin' out for number one."

"Did he? Humph!" The Captain's smile lost a little of its bitterness
and broadened. He seemed to be thinking and to find amusement in the
process.

"What you grinnin' at?" demanded Phinney.

"Oh, I was just rememberin' how he looked out for number one the
first--no, the second time I met him. I don't believe he's forgot it.
Maybe that's why he ain't quite so high and mighty to me as he is to the
rest of you fellers. Ha! ha! He tried to patronize me when I first came
back here and took this depot and I just smiled and asked him what the
market price of johnny-cake was these days. He got red clear up to the
brim of his tall hat. Humph! 'TWAS funny."

"The market price of JOHNNY-CAKE! He must have thought you was loony."

"No. I'm the last man he'd think was loony. You see I met him a fore he
came here to live at all."