第121章

"Smoke, Al?" he asked.Albert declined because of the nearness to dinner time, but the captain, who never permitted meals or anything else to interfere with his smoking, lighted one of the cigars and leaned back in his chair, puffing steadily.

"We-ll, Al," he said slowly, "I'll tell you about that.There was a time--I'll own up that there was a time when the idea you wasn't goin' to turn out a business man and the partner who would take over this concern after I got my clearance papers was a notion Iwouldn't let myself think of for a minute.I wouldn't THINK of it, that's all.But I've changed my mind about that, as I have about some other things." He paused, tugged at his beard, and then added, "And I guess likely I might as well own up to the whole truth while I'm about it: I didn't change it because I wanted to, but because I couldn't help it--'twas changed for me."He made this statement more as if he were thinking aloud than as if he expected a reply.A moment later he continued.

"Yes, sir," he said, "'twas changed for me.And," with a shrug, "I'd rather prided myself that when my mind was made up it stayed that way.But--but, well, consarn it, I've about come to the conclusion that I was a pig-headed old fool, Al, in some ways.""Nonsense, Grandfather.You are the last man to--""Oh, I don't mean a candidate for the feeble-minded school.There ain't been any Snows put there that I can remember, not our branch of 'em, anyhow.But, consarn it, I--I--" he was plainly finding it hard to express his thought, "I--well, I used to think I knew consider'ble, had what I liked to think was good, hard sense.

'Twas hard enough, I cal'late--pretty nigh petrified in spots."Albert laid a hand on his knee.

"Don't talk like that," he replied impulsively."I don't like to hear you.""Don't you? Then I won't.But, you see, Al, it bothers me.Look how I used to talk about makin' up poetry and writin' yarns and all that.Used to call it silliness and a waste of time, I did--worse names than that, generally.And look what you're makin' at it in money, to say nothin' of its shovin' you into Congress, and keepin'

the newspapers busy printin' stuff about you....Well, well,"with a sigh of resignation, "I don't understand it yet, but know it's so, and if I'd had my pig-headed way 'twouldn't have been so.

It's a dreadful belittlin' feelin' to a man at my time of life, a man that's commanded ten-thousand-ton steamers and handled crews and bossed a business like this.It makes him wonder how many other fool things he's done....Why, do you know, Al," he added, in a sudden burst of confidence, "I was consider'ble prejudiced against you when you first came here."He made the statement as if he expected it to come as a stunning surprise.Albert would not have laughed for the world, nor in one way did he feel like it, but it was funny.

"Well, perhaps you were, a little," he said gravely."I don't wonder.""Oh, I don't mean just because you was your father's son.I mean on your own account, in a way.Somehow, you see, I couldn't believe--eh? Oh, come in, Labe! It's all right.Al and I are just talkin' about nothin' in particular and all creation in general."Mr.Keeler entered with a paper in his hand.

"Sorry to bother you, Cap'n Lote," he said, "but this bill of Colby and Sons for that last lot of hardware ain't accordin' to agreement.

The prices on those butts ain't right, and neither's those half-inch screws.Better send it back to em, eh?"Captain Zelotes inspected the bill.

"Humph!" he grunted."You're right, Labe.You generally are, Inotice.Yes, send it back and tell 'em--anything you want to."Laban smiled."I want to, all right," he said."This is the third time they've sent wrong bills inside of two months.Well, Al,"turning toward him, "I cal'late this makes you kind of homesick, don't it, this talk about bills and screws and bolts and such?

Wa'n't teasin' for your old job back again, was you, Al? Cal'late he could have it, couldn't he, Cap'n? We'll need somebody to heave a bucket of water on Issy pretty soon; he's gettin' kind of pert and uppish again.Pretty much so.Yes, yes, yes."He departed, chuckling.Captain Zelotes looked after him.He tugged at his beard.

"Al," he said, "do you know what I've about made up my mind to do?"Albert shook his head.

"I've about made up my mind to take Labe Keeler into the firm of Z.Snow and Co.YOU won't come in, and," with a twinkle, "I need somebody to keep my name from gettin' lonesome on the sign."Albert was delighted.