"You ought to like Colton, then," I said."He hasn't knuckled, much."Captain Jed grinned."Well," he said, slowly, "I don't object to that in him.He seems to be a fighter and that's all right.Maybe if I was one of his tribe in New York I should like him.But Iain't.And you ain't, Ros.We're both of us country folks, livin'
here, and he's a city shark buttin' into the feedin' grounds.He wants to hog the whole place and you and I say he shan't.I'm thankful to him for one thing: his comin' here has waked you up, and it's goin' to make a man of you, or I miss my guess."I did not answer.
"You mustn't get mad because I talk this way," he went on."I'm old enough to be your dad, Ros Paine, and I know what I'm talkin'
about.I never took much of a shine to you in the old days.You was too much of what the story books call a 'gentleman' to suit me.
I've had to scratch all my life for what I've got, but I've got it.
When a young, able feller like you was contented to loaf around as you did and take no interest in nothin', I, naturally, figgered he was no-account.I see now I was wrong.All you needed was somethin' to stir you up and set you goin'.KEEP goin', that's my advice to you.And so long as you do, and don't bend when the pressure gets hard, you'll be somebody afore you die.And the friends you've made'll stand back of you.""How about the enemies I have made?"
"Enemies? I suppose likely you have made some enemies, but what of it? I've made enemies all my life.It ain't because I'm popular here in Denboro that I'm what I am.Now is it?"The truthful answer would have been no.Captain Dean was not popular, but he was respected even by the many who disliked and disagreed with him.I hesitated, trying to think what to say.
"You know 'tain't that," he said."Popularity I never had, though it's a pleasant enough thing and sometimes I wish-- But there, this ain't experience meetin'.I'm glad you're here in this bank.
You're smart, and George says you are worth more than Henry Small ever was, even so early.If you really are what it begins to look as if you are I'm glad for Denboro.Maybe there'll be somebody besides George fit to run this town after I'm gone."I smiled.The last remark was so characteristic that it was funny.
He was turning away, but he noticed the smile and turned back.
"That's a joke, hey?" he asked.
"Captain," I said, "you are not consistent.When you and I first talked about the Lane you said that you would not blame me if Iclosed it.If it was yours you wouldn't have Tom, Dick, and Harry driving fish carts through it.""Did I say that?"
"Yes.And you said, on another occasion, that anyone would sell anything if they were offered money enough.""Humph! Well, sometimes I say 'most anything but my prayers.
Matildy says I forget them pretty often, but I tell her her Friday night speeches are long enough to make up.Maybe I meant what Isaid to you at those times, Ros.I shouldn't wonder if I did.But 'twas a lie just the same.There are things I wouldn't sell, of course.Nellie, my daughter's one of 'em.She's goin' to get a good husband in George here, but her happiness means more to me than money.She's one of the things I wouldn't sell.And my Selectman's job is another.I fought for that, not so much for the honor, or whatever you call it, but because--well, because I wanted to show 'em that I could get it if I set out to.I don't presume likely you can understand that feelin'.""I think I can," I answered."Mr.Colton gave about the same reason for his determination to close the Lane.You and he seem to be a good deal alike, after all."He looked at me from beneath his bushy brows.His mouth twisted in a grim smile.
"Say, son," he said, "if I hadn't been so free with my proclamations about bein' your friend you and me would have a settlement for that little bit of talk.The Emperor and me alike! Ugh!"The next afternoon he came in again and asked me to step outside the railing.He had something to say to me, he declared.
We sat down together on the settee by the wall.
"Ros," he said, in a low tone, "have you had any new offer for your property? Not from Colton or the town, but from anybody else?""No," I answered."What do you mean?"
"You ain't heard anything from a Boston firm claimin' to represent the Bay Shore Development Company, or some such?""No.What sort of a company is that?"
"I don't know; that is, I don't know much about it.But there's talk driftin' 'round that a Boston syndicate is cal'latin' to buy up all the shore front land from South Ostable to the Bayport line and open it up for summer house lots.The name is the Bay Shore Development Company, or somethin' like that.You ain't heard from 'em, then?""Not a word.Where did your information come from?""From nobody in particular.It just seems to be in the air.Alvin Baker heard it over to Ostable.The feller that told him got it from somebody else, who got it from another somebody, and so on.
There's talk about good prices bein' offered and, accordin' to Alvin, Ostable folks are pretty excited.Elnathan Mullet, who owns that strip below your house, knows somethin' about it, I think.Ishouldn't wonder if he'd had an offer, or a hint, or somethin'.
But Elnathan's mouth shuts tighter than a muskrat trap and Icouldn't get nothin' out of him.He just looked knowin' and that was all.But, if it's so, it may mean a heap to Denboro."I was considering the news when he spoke again.
"It might mean a lot to you, Ros," he whispered.
"How so?"
