finally. "In that case, you might do me a little favour, if you will.
The fact is, that I would like very much to make his acquaintance, but
I hesitate to call upon him at random, knowing how busy he is. If he
has a free hour some time, I 'd like to meet him."

"You 'd like to meet him?" the conductor asked shrewdly.

"This is n't politics," Leigh explained, aware of the other's guess,
"and for that reason I want Mr. Emmet to consult his own convenience.
If you 'll give him my card and tell him that we have a common friend
who wishes us to know each other, he may think it worth while to drop
me a postcard and make an appointment. I 'll come to see him any time
he's at liberty."

The conductor stowed the card away in his clothes with a peculiar lurch
of his figure that reminded Leigh once more of his first impression.

"Am I right," he asked, "in guessing that you once followed the sea?"

"Twenty years," the man answered; "and though I 've been ashore as
many, they still call me captain--Captain Tucker. The salt water puts
its stamp on a man for life, don't it? I was reminded of it this
morning when I see in the paper that the Rooshyans had fired on the
Hull fishermen off the Dogger Banks. What a shame that was, wa'n't it?
Why, those fishermen are the most inoffensive fellows in the world.
Many a time when I passed through that sea they 'd throw up a fish on
our deck by way of a present."

Leigh found the conversation which this reminiscence suggested so full
of interest, that he made the complete circuit of the line to pursue it