第96章

Gertie Kendrick, with a brand-new ring upon her engagement finger, sniffed as she read that headline to Sam Thatcher, who had purchased the ring."Al Speranza won't talk about himself!"exclaimed Gertie."Well, it's the FIRST time, then.No wonder they put it in the paper."But Albert would not talk, claiming that he had done nothing worth talking about, except to get himself taken prisoner in almost his first engagement."Go and ask some of the other fellows aboard here," he urged."They have been all through it." As he would not talk the newspaper men were obliged to talk for him, which they did by describing his appearance and his manner, and by rehashing the story of the fight in the French village.Also, of course, they republished some of his verses.The Lances of Dawn appeared in a special edition in honor of its author's reappearance on this earth.

"Yes sir," continued Captain Zelotes, "the reception committee was consider'ble disappointed.They'd have met you with the Orham band if they'd had their way.I told 'em you'd heard all the band music you wanted in camp, I guessed likely, and you'd rather come home quiet.There was goin' to be some speeches, too, but I had them put off.""Thanks, Grandfather."

"Um-hm.I had a notion you wouldn't hanker for speeches.If you do Issy'll make one for you 'most any time.Ever since you got into the papers Issy's been swellin' up like a hot pop-over with pride because you and he was what he calls chummies.All last summer Issachar spent his evenin's hangin' around the hotel waitin'

for the next boarder to mention your name.Sure as one did Is was ready for him.'Know him?' he'd sing out.'Did I know Al Speranza? ME? Well, now say!--' And so on, long as the feller would listen.I asked him once if he ever told any of 'em how you ducked him with the bucket of water.He didn't think I knew about that and it kind of surprised him, I judged."Albert smiled."Laban told you about it, I suppose," he said.

"What a kid trick that was, wasn't it?"

The captain turned his head and regarded him for an instant.The old twinkle was in his eye when he spoke.

"Wouldn't do a thing like that now, Al, I presume likely?" he said.

"Feel a good deal older now, eh?"

Albert's answer was seriously given.

"Sometimes I feel at least a hundred and fifty," he replied.

"Humph!...Well, I wouldn't feel like that.If you're a hundred and fifty I must be a little older than Methuselah was in his last years.I'm feelin' younger to-day, younger than I have for quite a spell.Yes, for quite a spell."His grandson put a hand on his knee."Good for you, Grandfather,"he said."Now tell me more about Labe.Do you know I think the old chap's sticking by his pledge is the bulliest thing I've heard since I've been home."So they talked of Laban and of Rachel and of South Harniss happenings until the train drew up at the platform of that station.

And upon that platform stepped Albert to feel his grandmother's arms about him and her voice, tremulous with happiness, at his ear.

And behind her loomed Mrs.Ellis, her ample face a combination of smiles and tears, "all sunshine and fair weather down below but rainin' steady up aloft," as Captain Lote described it afterwards.

And behind her, like a foothill in the shadow of a mountain, was Laban.And behind Laban-- No, that is a mistake--in front of Laban and beside Laban and in front of and beside everyone else when opportunity presented was Issachar.And Issachar's expression and bearings were wonderful to see.A stranger, and there were several strangers amid the group at the station, might have gained the impression that Mr.Price, with of course a very little help from the Almighty, was responsible for everything.

"Why, Issy!" exclaimed Albert, when they shook hands."You're here, too, eh?"Mr.Price's already protuberant chest swelled still further.His reply had the calmness of finality.

"Yes, sir," said Issy, "I'm here.'Who's goin' to look out for Z.

Snow and Co.if all hands walks out and leaves 'em?' Labe says.'Idon't know,' says I, 'and I don't care.I'm goin' to that depot to meet Al Speranzy and if Z.Snow and Co.goes to pot while I'm gone I can't help it.I have sacrificed,' I says, 'and I stand ready to sacrifice pretty nigh everything for my business, but there's limits and this is one of 'em.I'm goin' acrost to that depot to meet him,' says I, 'and don't you try to stop me, Labe Keeler.'""Great stuff, Is!" said Albert, with a laugh."What did Labe say to that?""What was there for him to say? He could see I meant it.Course he hove out some of his cheap talk, but it didn't amount to nothin'.Asked if I wan't goin' to put up a sign sayin' when I'd be back, so's to ease the customers' minds.'I don't know when I'll be back,' I says.'All right,' says he, 'put that on the sign.That'll ease 'em still more.' Just cheap talk 'twas.He thinks he's funny, but I don't pay no attention to him."Others came to shake hands and voice a welcome.The formal reception, that with the band, had been called off at Captain Zelotes's request, but the informal one was, in spite of the rain, which was now much less heavy, quite a sizable gathering.

The Reverend Mr.Kendall held his hand for a long time and talked much, it seemed to Albert that he had aged greatly since they last met.He wandered a bit in his remarks and repeated himself several times.

"The poor old gentleman's failin' a good deal, Albert," said Mrs.