"Yes.And it was true enough, probably.Doubtless I shall derive great benefit from your--words of wisdom."Her patience, evidently, was exhausted.She turned away."Oh, that," she said, indifferently, "is your affair.I told you what Ibelieved to be the truth, that was all.What you do is not likely to be of vast importance to me, one way or the other.Come, Don!"Don cantered down the slope.I watched him and his rider disappear beyond the trees in the distance.Then I picked up my pail and other burdens and followed in their wake.The sun was behind a cloud.It had been a strange day with a miserable ending.I was furiously angry with her, but I was more angry with myself.For what she had told me WAS the truth, and I knew it.
I strode on, head down, through the village.People spoke to me, asking what luck I had had and where I had been, but I scarcely noticed them.As I reached the Corners and was passing the bank someone called my name.I glanced up and saw George Taylor descending the steps.
"Hold on, Ros," he hailed."Wait a minute.What's your rush?
Hold on!"
I halted reluctantly.
"Fishing again, I see," he observed, as he reached my side."Any luck?""Fair," I told him.
"What pond?"
"Seabury's."
"Go alone?"
"Yes." That I had not been alone since was no business of his.
"Humph! You ain't exactly what a fellow'd call talkative this afternoon, seems to me.Anything wrong?""No."
"Tuckered out?"
"I guess so."
"Well, so am I, but I ain't had your fun getting that way.Small and I have been at it night and day getting things in shape so he could leave.He's gone.Went this noon.And that ain't the worst of it; I haven't got anybody yet to take his place.I'll have to be cashier and bookkeeper too for a spell.There's applicants enough; but they don't suit.Guess likely you'll have to help me out, after all, Ros.The job is yours if you say the word."He laughed as he said it.Even to him the idea of my working was a joke.
But the joke did not seem funny to me, just then.I walked on for some distance without a word.Then I asked a question.
"What is expected of a man in that position?" I asked.
"Expected? Why, plain bank bookkeeping--not much else at first.
Yet there's a good chance for a likely fellow to be considerable more, in time.I need help in my part of the work.That's why Ihaven't hired any of the dozen or so who are after the place.What makes you ask? You don't know of a good man for me, do you, Ros?""When do you want him to begin?"
"To-morrow morning, if he satisfies me."
"Would I satisfy you?"
"You! Humph! Try me and see, that's all I'd ask.""All right.I'll be on hand in the morning."He stopped, looked at me, and then seized me by the arm.
"See here!" he cried, "I'm lost in the fog, I guess likely.What do you mean by that? Is it time to laugh--or what?""It may be; I don't know.But I take the bookkeeper's position in your bank.Now, good-by.Don't talk to me.I don't feel like talking.""But--but, Ros."
"Good-by."
I walked on.I had taken but a few steps when he overtook me.
"Ros," he said, "I ain't going to say but just one thing.If you meant what you said I'm the most tickled man on the Cape.But you ain't asked a word about the salary.""I know it.I haven't asked because I don't care.I'll be on hand in the morning."I left him standing there, and hurried down the Lower Road.As Ihad said to him, I did not feel like talking.I did not want even to see any one.I wanted to be let alone.But it was fated that Ishould not be, not yet.Sim Eldredge was waiting for me around the corner.He stepped out from behind the fence where he had been hidden.
"Ros!" he whispered."Ros Paine! Wait.It's me, Sim.I want to ask you somethin'.Wan't that George Taylor you was speakin' to just now?""Yes," I answered, impatiently."What of it?""Say, Ros, you and me ain't pulled that Colton trade off, but it ain't my fault.You ain't got no hard feelin's against me, I know.
And I want you to do a little mite of favor for me.Will you?""What is it? If it has anything to do with the Lane, I tell you now that--""It ain't--it ain't.It's about that bookkeepin' job in the bank, Henry Small's place, the one he's just quit.I've got a third cousin, name of Josiah Badger, over to South Harniss.He's a smart young chap, and an A-1 accountant at figgers.He's been keepin'
books down at the fish wharf--see? Now, he'd like that job and, bein' as you and George are so thick, I cal'lated maybe you'd sort of use your influence along of George, and--and get it for him.
There ain't nothin' in it for me--that is, nothin' much.But Ifeel friendly toward Josiah and you know I like to do little kindnesses for folks.So--""There! there!" I interrupted."It's no use, Sim.I can't help you.""Why! yes you can."
"No, I can't.I don't know your cousin, and besides--well, you are too late.The place is filled."Sim's expression changed.He looked surprised and crestfallen.
"Filled?" he exclaimed."Why, no, 'tain't! If 'twas I'd have known it, wouldn't I? Who'd you hear had got it? Whoever you heard, 'tain't so.""Yes, it is."
"How do you know? Who is it, then?"
I hesitated.Before noon of the next day every soul in Denboro would have heard the news.Eldredge might as well hear it now.
"I've taken the place myself," I said.
"You?" Sim actually forgot to whisper; he shouted the word."YOU!
Ha! ha! ha! Ros, quit your foolin'."
"I'm not fooling.I go to work in the bank to-morrow morning.""But-- Oh, my soul! You! Aw, I know better! Say, Ros, don't let's waste time like this.Fun's all right, but...My heavens to Betsy! YOU work for a livin'! If I believed that I'd believe anything.Tell me, now.Who has got that job?...Why don't you answer me?"I answered him."Shut up!" I said, fiercely.Then I vaulted the fence and set out for home across lots.
I heard the next day that Sim went back to the post-office and informed the gathering there that Ros Paine had taken to drinking.
"He was tight as a biled owl," declared Sim; "and ugly--don't talk!
Wanted to fight me because I wouldn't believe he was goin' to work.
Him! What in the everlastin' would HE want to work for? My heavens to Betsy!"
