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wife and housekeeper that the Transcript was likely to be； before
the reading had progressed far； either in the captain's lap or on
the floor。 And when the discussion following the reading was under
way Captain Zelotes' opinions were expressed quite as freely as any
one's else。 Laban Keeler got into the habit of dropping in to
listen。
One fateful evening the reading was interrupted by the arrival of
Mr。 Kendall。 The reverend gentleman had come to make a pastoral
call。 Albert's hero was in the middle of a situation。 The old
clergyman insisted upon the continuation of the reading。 It was
continued and so was the discussion following it； in fact； the
discussion seemed likely to go on indefinitely； for the visitor
showed no inclination of leaving。 At ten…thirty his daughter
appeared to inquire about him and to escort him home。 Then he
went； but under protest。 Albert walked to the parsonage with them。
〃Now we've started somethin'；〃 groaned the captain； as the door
closed。 〃That old critter'll be cruisin' over here six nights out
of five from now on to tell Al just how to spin those yarns of his。
And he'll talkand talkand talk。 Ain't it astonishin' how such
a feeble…lookin' craft as he is can keep blowin' off steam that way
and still be able to navigate。〃
His wife took him to task。 〃The idea；〃 she protested； 〃of your
callin' your own minister a 'critter'！ I should think you'd be
ashamed。 。 。 。 But； oh； dear； I'm afraid he WILL be over here an
awful lot。〃
Her fears were realized。 Mr。 Kendall； although not on hand 〃six
nights out of five；〃 as the captain prophesied； was a frequent
visitor at the Snow place。 As Albert's story…writing progressed
the discussions concerning the growth and development of the hero's
character became more and more involved and spirited。 They were
for the most part confined； when the minister was present； to him
and Mrs。 Snow and Rachel。 Laban； if he happened to be there； sat
well back in the corner； saying little except when appealed to； and
then answering with one of his dry； characteristic observations。
Captain Lote； in the rocker； his legs crossed； his hand stroking
his beard； and with the twinkle in his eyes； listened； and spoke
but seldom。 Occasionally； when he and his grandson exchanged
glances； the captain winked； indicating appreciation of the
situation。
〃Say； Al；〃 he said； one evening； after the old clergyman had
departed； 〃it must be kind of restful to have your work all laid
out for you this way。 Take it to…night； for instance； I don't see
but what everything's planned for this young feller you're writin'
about so you nor he won't have to think for yourselves for a
hundred year or such matter。 Course there's some little difference
in the plans。 Rachel wants him to get wrecked on an island or be
put in jail； and Mother； she wants him to be a soldier and a poet；
and Mr。 Kendall thinks it's high time he joined the church or
signed the pledge or stopped swearin' or chewin' gum。〃
〃Zelotes； how ridiculous you do talk！〃
〃All right； Mother； all right。 What strikes me； Al； is they don't
any of 'em stop to ask you what YOU mean to have him do。 Course I
know 'tain't any of your business； but stillseems 's if you might
be a little mite interested in the boy yourself。〃
Albert laughed。 〃Don't worry； Grandfather；〃 he said。 〃I'm
enjoying it all very much。 And some of the suggestions may be just
what I'm looking for。〃
〃Well； son； we'll hope so。 Say； Labe； I've got a notion for
keepin' the minister from doin' all the talkin。' We'll ask Issy
Price to drop in； eh？〃
Laban shook his head。 〃I don't know； Cap'n Lote；〃 he observed。
〃Sounds to me a good deal like lettin' in a hurricane to blow out a
match with。 。 。 。 Um…hm。 Seems so to me。 Yes； yes。〃
Mr。 Kendall's calls would have been more frequent still had Helen
not interfered。 Very often； when he came she herself dropped in a
little later and insisted upon his making an early start for home。
Occasionally she came with him。 She； too； seemed much interested
in the progress of the stories； but she offered few suggestions。
When directly appealed to； she expressed her views； and they were
worth while。
Albert was resolutely adhering to his determination not to permit
himself to think of her except as a friend。 That is； he hoped he
was； thoughts are hard to control at times。 He saw her often。
They met on the street； at church on Sundayhis grandmother was
so delighted when he accompanied her to 〃meeting〃 that he did so
rather more frequently； perhaps； than he otherwise wouldat the
homes of acquaintances； and； of course； at the Snow place。 When
she walked home with her father after a 〃story evening〃 he usually
went with them as additional escort。
She had not questioned him concerning Madeline since their first
meeting that morning at the parsonage。 He knew； therefore； that
some onehis grandmother； probablyhad told her of the broken
engagement。 When they were alone together they talked of many
things； casual things； the generalities of which； so he told
himself； a conversation between mere friends was composed。 But
occasionally； after doing escort duty； after Mr。 Kendall had gone
into the house to take his 〃throat medicine〃a medicine which
Captain Zelotes declared would have to be double…strength pretty
soon to offset the wear and tear of the story eveningsthey talked
of matters more specific and which more directly concerned
themselves。 She spoke of her hospital work； of her teaching before
the war； and of her plans for the future。 The latter； of course；
were very indefinite now。
〃Father needs me；〃 she said； 〃and I shall not leave him while he
lives。〃
They spoke of Albert's work and plans most of all。 He began to ask
for advice concerning the former。 When those stories were written；
what then？ She hoped he would try the novel he had hinted at。
〃I'm sure you can do it；〃 she said。 〃And you mustn't give up the
poems altogether。 It was the poetry； you know； which was the
beginning。〃
〃YOU were the beginning；〃 he said impulsively。 〃Perhaps I should
never have written at all if you hadn't urged me； shamed me out of
my laziness。〃
〃I was a presuming young person； I'm afraid；〃 she said。 〃I wonder
you didn't tell me to mind my own business。 I believe you did； but
I wouldn't mind。〃
June brought the summer weather and the summer boarders to South
Harniss。 One of the news sensations which came at the same time
was that the new Fosdick cottage had been sold。 The people who had
occupied it the previous season had bought it。 Mrs。 Fosdick； so
rumor said； was not strong and her doctors had decided that the sea
air did not agree with her。
〃Crimustee！〃 exclaimed Issachar； as he imparted the news to Mr。
Keeler； 〃if that ain't the worst。 Spend your money； and a pile of
money； too； buyin' ground； layin' of it out to build a house on to
live in； then buildin' that house and then； by crimus； sellin' it
to somebody else for THEM to live in。 That beats any foolishness
ever come MY way。〃
〃And there's some consider'ble come your way at that； ain't they；
Is？〃 observed Laban； busy with his bookkeeping。
Issachar nodded。 〃You're right there has；〃 he said complacently。
〃I 。 。 。 What do you mean by that？ Tryin' to be funny again；
ain't you？〃
Albert heard the news with a distinct feeling of relief。 While the
feeling on his part toward Madeline was of the kindliest； and
Madeline's was； he felt sure； the same toward him； nevertheless to
meet her day after day； as people must meet in a village no bigger
than South Harniss； would be awkward for both。 And to meet Mrs。
Fosdick might be more awkward still。 He smiled as he surmised that
the realization by the lady of that very awkwardness was probably
responsible for the discovery that sea air was not beneficial。
The story…writing and the story evenings continued。 Over the
fourth story in the series discussion was warm； for there were
marked differences of opinion among the listeners。 One of the
experiences through which Albert had brought his hero was that of
working as general assistant to a sharp； unscrupulous and smooth…
tongued rascal who was proprietor of a circus sideshow and fake
museum。 He was a kind…hearted swindler； but one who never let a
question of honesty interfere with the getting of a dollar。 In
this fourth story； to the town where the hero； now a man of twenty…
five； had established himself in business； came this cheat of other
days； but now he came as a duly ordained clergyman in answer to the
call of the local church。 The hero learned that he had not told
the governing body of that church of his former career。 Had he
done so； they most certainly would not have called him。 The
leading man in that church body was the hero's patron and kindest
friend。 The question： What was the hero's duty in the matter？
Of course the first question asked was whether or not the ex…
sideshow proprietor was sincerely repentant and honestly trying to
walk the straight path and lead others along it。 Albert replied
that his hero had interviewed him and was satisfied that he was；
he had been 〃converted〃 at a revival and