"If he can tell of his adventures as well as you relate them," laughed
Lawford, "Cap'n Amazon should be an addition to the Cardhaven social
whirl."

"You take my advice, young man," Cap'n Abe said, with sternness, "and
belay that sort o' talk afore Cap'n Am'zon when he does come. He's lived
a rough sort o' life. He's nobody's tame cat. Doubt his word and he's
jest as like as not to take ye by the scruff of the neck and duck ye in
the water butt."

There was a general laugh. Almost always the storekeeper managed to turn
the tables in some way upon any doubting Thomas that drifted into his
shop. Because of his ability in this particular he had managed to hold
his audience all these years.

Lawford could think of no reply with which to turn the laugh. His wit
was not of a nimble order. He turned to the door again and suddenly a
low ejaculation parted his lips.

"There's that girl again!"

Milt Baker screwed his neck around for a look. "See who's come!" he
cackled. "I bet it's one o' them moving picture actresses."

Lawford cast on the ribald Milt a somewhat angry glance. Yet he did not
speak again for a moment.

"Tidy craft," grunted Cap'n Joab, eying the young woman who was
approaching the store along the white road.