due to such an event. Captain Eri gave them a detailed account of his
meeting with the new electrician, omitting, however, in consideration
for the feelings of Captain Perez, to mention the fact that it was
the Bartlett boy who started that gentleman upon his walk to the cable
station.

"Well, what did you think of him?" asked Captain Perez, when the recital
was finished.

"Seemed to me like a pretty good feller," answered Captain Eri
deliberately. "He didn't git mad at the joke the gang played on him, for
one thing. He ain't so smooth-tongued as Parker used to be and he didn't
treat Baxter and me as if Cape Codders was a kind of animals, the way
some of the summer folks do. He had the sense not to offer to pay me for
takin' him over to the station, and I liked that. Take it altogether,
he seemed like a pretty decent chap--for a New Yorker," he added, as an
after thought.

"But say," he said a moment later, "I've got some more news and it ain't
good news, either. Web Saunders has got his liquor license."

"I want to know!" exclaimed Captain Perez.

"You don't tell me!" said Captain Jerry.

Then they both said, "What will John Baxter do now?" And Captain Eri
shook his head dubiously.

The cod bit well next morning and Captain Eri did not get in from the
Windward Ledge until afternoon. By the way, it may be well to explain