I'd like to punch him," growled Tunis, to the
girl's secret delight. It sounded boyish, but real. "I don't know
that I can stand him aboard the _Seamew_ much longer. He attends to
everybody's business but his own."
"He means you no good, Captain Latham," she said frankly. "To-night
he was repeating that silly story about the _Seamew_ being haunted."
"Cat's-foot!" ejaculated Tunis. "I wish I'd fired old Horry Newbegin
for starting _that_."
"But 'Rion keeps it up."
"If he believed she was hoodoed, you wouldn't get him aboard with a
wire cable," growled Tunis.
"It would be better for you and for the success of your business,
Captain Latham, if 'Rion was really afraid of going aboard the
_Seamew_," she said with confidence.
"Well, I don't see how I can fire him. He's my cousin--in a way. And
there is enough ill feeling in the family now. Gran'ther Peleg left
all his money to me, and it made Orion and his folks as sore as can
be."
"You are inclined to be too kind. I am not sure it is always wise to
be too easy."
"Like chopping off the dog's tail an inch at a time, so's not to
hurt him so much, eh?" he chuckled.
"Something like that."
"Well, I'm almost tempted to give 'Rion his walking ticket.
Pages:
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178