第18章

Now to be laughed at by an attractive young lady is disturbing and unpleasant.It is particularly so when the laughter is from the provinces and the laughee--so to speak--a dignified and sophisticated city man.Albert summoned the said dignity and sophistication to his rescue, knocked the ashes from his cigarette and said, haughtily:

"I beg your pardon?"

"Is Mr.Keeler here?" repeated the girl.

"No, he is out."

"Will he be back soon, do you think?"

Recollections of Mr.Price's recent remark concerning the missing bookkeeper's "good start" came to Albert's mind and he smiled, slightly."I should say not," he observed, with delicate irony.

"Is Issy--I mean Mr.Price, busy?"

"He's out in the yard there somewhere, I believe.Would you like to have me call him?""Why, yes--if you please--sir."

The "sir" was flattering, if it was sincere.He glanced at her.

The expression of the mouth was as grave as ever, but he was still uncertain about those eyes.However, he was disposed to give her the benefit of the doubt, so, stepping to the side door of the office--that leading to the yards--he opened it and shouted:

"Price!...Hey, Price!"

There was no answer, although he could hear Issachar's voice and another above the rattle of lath bundles.

"Price!" he shouted, again."Pri-i-ce!"

The rattling ceased.Then, in the middle distance, above a pile of "two by fours," appeared Issachar's head, the features agitated and the forehead bedewed with the moisture of honest toil.

"Huh?" yelled Issy."What's the matter? Be you hollerin' to me?""Yes.There's some one here wants to see you.""Hey?"

"I say there's some one here who wants to see you.""What for?"

"I don't know."

"Well, find out, can't ye? I'm busy."

Was that a laugh which Albert heard behind him? He turned around, but the young lady's face wore the same grave, even demure, expression.

"What do you want to see him for?" he asked.

"I wanted to buy something."

"She wants to buy something," repeated Albert, shouting.

"Hey?"

"She wants to--BUY--something." It was humiliating to have to scream in this way.

"Buy? Buy what?"

"What do you want to buy?"

"A hook, that's all.A hook for our kitchen door.Would you mind asking him to hurry? I haven't much time.""She wants a hook."

"Eh? We don't keep books.What kind of a book?""Not book--HOOK.H-O-O-K! Oh, great Scott! Hook! HOOK! Hook for a door! And she wants you to hurry.""Eh? Well, I can't hurry now for nobody.I got to load these laths and that's all there is to it.Can't you wait on him?"Evidently the customer's sex had not yet been made clear to the Price understanding."You can get a hook for him, can't ye? You know where they be, I showed ye.Ain't forgot so soon, 'tain't likely."The head disappeared behind the "two by fours." Its face was red, but no redder than Mr.Speranza's at that moment.

"Fool rube!" he snorted, disgustedly.

"Excuse me, but you've dropped your cigarette," observed the young lady.

Albert savagely slammed down the window and turned away.The dropped cigarette stump lay where it had fallen, smudging and smelling.

His caller looked at it and then at him.

"I'd pick it up, if I were you," she said."Cap'n Snow HATEScigarettes."

Albert, his dignity and indignation forgotten, returned her look with one of anxiety.

"Does he, honest?" he asked.

"Yes.He hates them worse than anything."The cigarette stump was hastily picked up by its owner.

"Where'll I put it?" he asked, hurriedly.

"Why don't you-- Oh, don't put it in your pocket! It will set you on fire.Put it in the stove, quick."Into the stove it went, all but its fragrance, which lingered.

"Do you think you COULD find me that hook?" asked the girl.

"I'll try._I_ don't know anything about the confounded things.""Oh!" innocently."Don't you?"

"No, of course I don't.Why should I?"

"Aren't you working here?"

"Here? Work HERE? ME? Well, I--should--say--NOT!""Oh, excuse me.I thought you must be a new bookkeeper, or--or a new partner, or something."Albert regarded her intently and suspiciously for some seconds before making another remark.She was as demurely grave as ever, but his suspicions were again aroused.However, she WAS pretty, there could be no doubt about that.

"Maybe I can find the hook for you," he said."I can try, anyway.""Oh, thank you ever so much," gratefully."It's VERY kind of you to take so much trouble.""Oh," airily, "that's all right.Come on; perhaps we can find it together."They were still looking when Mr.Price came panting in.

"Whew!" he observed, with emphasis."If anybody tells you heavin'

bundles of laths aboard a truck-wagon ain't hard work you tell him for me he's a liar, will ye.Whew! And I had to do the heft of everything, 'cause Cahoon sent that one-armed nephew of his to drive the team.A healthy lot of good a one-armed man is to help heave lumber! I says to him, says I: 'What in time did--' Eh?

Why, hello, Helen! Good mornin'.Land sakes! you're out airly, ain't ye?"The young lady nodded."Good morning, Issachar," she said."Yes, I am pretty early and I'm in a dreadful hurry.The wind blew our kitchen door back against the house last night and broke the hook.

I promised Father I would run over here and get him a new one and bring it back to him before I went to school.And it's quarter to nine now.""Land sakes, so 'tis! Ain't--er--er--what's-his-name--Albert here, found it for you yet? He ain't no kind of a hand to find things, is he? We'll have to larn him better'n that.Yes indeed!"Albert laughed, sarcastically.He was about to make a satisfyingly crushing reproof to this piece of impertinence when Mr.Price began to sniff the air.

"What in tunket?" he demanded."Sn'f! Sn'f! Who's been smokin'

in here? And cigarettes, too, by crimus! Sn'f! Sn'f! Yes, sir, cigarettes, by crimustee! Who's been smokin' cigarettes in here?