第23章

back to work by her spirits.If he ain't back to-day he will be to-morrow, you'll see.She never misses by more than a day._I_think it's real sort of mysterious, but Zelotes laughs at me."Captain Lote's lip twitched."Yes, Mother," he said, "it's about as mysterious as the clock's strikin' twelve when it's noon._I_know it's morally sartin that Labe'll be back aboard to-day or to-morrow because his sprees don't ever last more than five days.Ican't swear to how she knows, but that's how _I_ know--and I'm darned sure there's no 'sympathy' about my part." Then, as if realizing that he had talked more than usual, he called, brusquely:

"Come on, Al, come on.Time we were on the job, boy."Sure enough, as they passed the window of the office, there, seated on the stool behind the tall desk, Albert saw the diminutive figure of the man who had been his driver on the night of his arrival.

He was curious to see how the delinquent would apologize for or explain his absence.But Mr.Keeler did neither, nor did Captain Snow ask a question.Instead the pair greeted each other as if they had parted in that office at the close of business on the previous day.

"Mornin', Cap'n Lote," said Laban, quietly.

"Mornin', Labe," replied the captain, just as calmly.

He went on and opened his own desk, leaving his grandson standing by the door, not knowing whether to speak or offer to shake hands.

The situation was a little difficult, particularly as Mr.Keeler gave no sign of recognition, but, after a glance at his employer's companion, went on making entries in the ledger.

Captain Zelotes looked up a moment later.His gray eyes inspected the pair and the expression on Albert's face caused them to twinkle slightly."Labe," he said, "this is my grandson, Albert, the one Itold you was comin' to live with us."

Laban turned on the stool, regarded Albert over his spectacles, and extended a hand.

"Pleased to meet you," he said."Yes, yes...Yes, yes, yes...

Pleased to meet you.Cap'n Lote said you was comin'--er--er--Alfred.Howdy do."

They shook hands.Mr.Keeler's hand trembled a little, but that was the only symptom of his recent "vacation" which the youth could notice.Certain vivid remembrances of his father's bad humor on mornings following convivial evenings recurred to him.Was it possible that this odd, precise, dried-up little man had been on a spree for four days? It did not seem possible.He looked more as if he might be expected to rap on the desk and ask the school to come to order.

"Albert's goin' to take hold here with us in the office," went on Captain Lote."You'll remember I spoke to you about that when we talked about his comin'.Al, Labe--Mr.Keeler here--will start you in larnin' to bookkeep.He'll be your first mate from now on.

Don't forget you're a fo'mast hand yet awhile and the way for a fo'mast hand to get ahead is to obey orders.And don't," he added, with a quiet chuckle, "do any play-actin' or poetry-makin' when it's your watch on deck.Laban nor I ain't very strong for play-actin', are we, Labe?"

Laban, to whom the reference was anything but clear, replied rather vaguely that he didn't know as he was, very.Albert's temper flared up again.His grandfather was sneering at him once more; he was always sneering at him.All right, let him sneer--now.Some day he would be shown.He scowled and turned away.And Captain Zelotes, noticing the scowl, was reminded of a scowl he had seen upon the face of a Spanish opera singer some twenty years before.

He did not like to be reminded of that man.

He went out soon afterward and then Laban, turning to Albert, asked a few questions.

"How do you think you're goin' to like South Harniss, Ansel?" he asked.

Albert was tempted to reply that he, Keeler, had asked him that very question before, but he thought it best not to do so.

"I don't know yet," he answered, carelessly."Well enough, Iguess."

"You'll like it fust-rate bimeby.Everybody does when they get used to it.Takes some time to get used to a place, don't you know it does, Ansel?""My name is Albert."

"Eh? Yes, yes, so 'tis.Yes, yes, yes.I don't know why I called you Ansel, 'less 'twas on account of my knowin' an Ansel Olsen once...Hum...Yes, yes.Well, you'll like South Harniss when you get used to it."The boy did not answer.He was of the opinion that he should die long before the getting used process was completed.Mr.Keeler continued.

"Come on yesterday's train, did you?" he asked.

Albert looked at him.Was the fellow joking? He did not look as if he was.

"Why no," he replied."I came last Monday night.Don't you remember?""Eh? Oh, yes...Yes, yes, yes...Last Monday night you come, eh? On the night train, eh?" He hesitated a moment and then asked."Cap'n Lote fetch you down from the depot?"Albert stared at him open-mouthed.

"Why, no!" he retorted."You drove me down yourself."For the first time a slight shade of embarrassment crossed the bookkeeper's features.He drew a long breath.

"Yes," he mused."Yes, yes, yes.I kind of thought I--yes, yes,--I--I thought likely I did...Yes, yes, course I did, course Idid.Well, now maybe we'd better be startin' you in to work--er--Augustus.Know anything about double-entry, do you?"Albert did not, nor had he the slightest desire to learn.But before the first hour was over he foresaw that he was destined to learn, if he remained in that office, whether he wanted to or not.

Laban Keeler might be, and evidently was, peculiar in his ways, but as a bookkeeper he was thoroughness personified.And as a teacher of his profession he was just as thorough.All that forenoon Albert practiced the first principles of "double entry" and, after the blessed hour for dinner, came back to practice the remainder of the working day.