第44章

Barnes.Mr.Kendrick has begun to spend money here already, and he will doubtless spend more.He contemplates public improvements as well as private.He asked me what sort of spirit there was in our community.Ahem!"He paused, apparently to let the importance of the announcement sink in.It sank, or seemed to.Mr.Hammond, however, was somewhat puzzled.

"Now what do you cal'late he meant by that?" he queried.

John Kendrick answered.He and Emily had exchanged smiles.

Neither of them seemed as deeply impressed with the Daniels proclamation as the others of the group.

"Perhaps he wanted to buy a drink," suggested John, gravely.

Miss Timpson was shocked; her expression showed it.Caleb Hammond did not seem to know whether to be shocked or not; the Hammond appreciation of a joke generally arrived on a later train.Mrs.

Barnes and Captain Obed laughed, but not too heartily.

Mr.Daniels did not laugh.The frivolous interruption evidently jarred him.

"I scarcely imagine that to be the reason," he said, drily."If Mr.E.Holliday Kendrick does indulge I guess likely--that is, Ipresume he would not find it necessary to buy his--er--beverages here.He meant public spirit, of course.He asked me who our leading men were.""Who were they--the others, I mean?" asked John.

Emily rubbed away a smile with her handkerchief.Heman noticed her action, and his color brightened.

"They WERE public," he said, rather sharply."They were men of standing--long standing in the community.Prominent and prosperous citizens, who have lived here long enough for East Wellmouth to know them--and respect them."This was a shot in the bull's eye.Miss Timpson evidently thought so, for she nodded approval.Daniels continued.

"They were men of known worth," he went on."Practical citizens whose past as well as present is known.Your cousin--I believe he is your cousin, Kendrick, although he did not mention the relationship--was grateful to me for giving him their names.He is a practical man, himself."John nodded."He must be," he admitted."No one but a practical man could get all that advice, free, from a lawyer."Captain Obed laughed aloud.

"That's a good one," he declared."Lawyers ain't in the habit of GIVIN' much, 'cordin' to all accounts.How about it, Heman?"Mr.Daniels ignored the question and the questioner.He rose to his feet.

"There are SOME lawyers," he observed, crisply, "whose advice is not asked--to any great extent.I--I think I will join the group on the beach.It's a beautiful evening.Won't you accompany me, Miss Howes?"Emily declined the invitation."No, thank you, Mr.Daniels," she said."I am rather tired and I think I won't go out tonight.By the way, Mr.Kendrick," she added, "was the great man asking your advice also? I happened to see him go into your office yesterday."Everyone was surprised--everyone except the speaker and the person addressed, that is--but Heman's surprise was most manifest.His hand was on the knob of the door, but now he turned.

"In HIS office?" he repeated."Kendrick, was he in to see YOU?"John bowed assent."Yes," he said."He seems to be contemplating retaining a sort of--of resident attorney to look after his local affairs.I mentioned your name, Daniels."Mr.Daniels went out.The door banged behind him.

A half hour later, after Mr.Hammond also had gone to join the marshmallow toasters and Miss Timpson had retired to her room, John told the others the story.Mr.E.Holliday Kendrick HAD called upon him at his office and he did contemplate engaging a resident lawyer.There were likely to be many of what he termed "minor details" connected with the transfer of the Colfax estate to him and the purchases which he meant to make later on, and an attorney at his beck and call would be a great convenience.Not this only;he had actually offered his young cousin the position, had offered to engage him and to pay him several hundred dollars as a retaining fee.

He told his hearers so much, and then he stopped.Emily, who had seemed much interested, waited a moment and then begged him to continue.

"Well?" she said."Why don't you tell us the rest? We are all waiting to congratulate you.You accepted, of course."John shook his head."Why, no," he replied, "I didn't accept, exactly.I did say I would think it over; but I--well, I'm not sure that I shall accept."Here was the unexpected.His hearers looked at each other in amazement.

"You won't accept!" cried Thankful."Why, Mr.Kendrick.""Won't accept!" shouted Captain Obed."What on earth! Why, John Kendrick, what's the matter with you? Ain't you been settin' in that office of yours waitin' and waitin' for somethin' worth while to come along? And now a really big chance does come, and you say you don't know as you'll take it! What kind of talk's that, I'd like to know!"John smiled.Miss Howes, who seemed as much surprised as the others, did not smile.

"Why won't you take it?" demanded the captain.