CHAPTER XII
HOSTESSES AND GUESTS
Mike affected to be greatly embarrassed by the question of NoraFriestone. He swallowed what seemed to be a lump rising in his throat,grinned in a sickly way and then asked as if much distressed:
"Do ye insist on me answering yer quistion?"
"I do," she replied, with an expression of tremendous solemnity.
"Then I'll hev to own that I'm the champion post office robber in Maine.It was mesilf that plundered three offices, each a hundred miles from theither, on the same night and burned up an old man, his wife and sivenchildren that vintured to dispoot me will. I've been in the bus'ness iversince the year one and me home is Murthersville at the head ofMurthersville Creek in Murthersville County."
Rising from his chair, Mike bowed low.
"I thrust I have answered yer quistions satisfactorily, Miss."
"You couldn't have done better--hello, Jim!"
This salutation was to a big gawky boy, who slouched through the door,with the announcement:
"Wal, I'm ready: what shall I do?"
"Who's yer frind?" asked Mike of Nora.
"He comes round each morning to take out and place the things on theporch in front and brings them in again each evening"
"Jim," said Mike, addressing the gaping youngster, "ye're discharged furto-night. I'm doing yer job for the avening, but you git your wages justthe same."
With which Mike thrust his hand into his trousers pocket and drew out oneof the three silver quarters there, handing it to the boy, who was toomystified to understand what it meant.
"Yaws," he said, with a silly grin, looking at the coin and then claspingit tight; "what do yuh warnt me to dew?"
"Go right home to yer mommy and give her that quarter to save up fur ye.Don't git gay on the road and buy a horse and wagon."
"Yaws, but--uh--I don't understand what yuh am drivin' at."
"Ye don't understand anything in this wurruld and by yer looks niverwill."
"He means, Jim," interposed Nora, "that he will bring in the thingsto-night for us, but you must come round in the morning and set them outagain. That's plain enough, isn't it?"
"Yaws--but what did he give me so much money fur? I hain't done nothin'to earn it; I don't understand it."
"We all know that. Come wid me, James."
As Mike spoke, he slipped his arm under that of Jim and walked to thedoor, not pausing until they stood on the porch.
"Now, James, tell me where ye live."
"Yaws, what fur?"
"'Cause I asked ye; out wid it!"
The lad pointed a crooked finger down the street to the left.
"Now, see how quick ye can git thar. Don't look back, and whin ye tumblesover the doorsill, tell yer mither ye won't have any wurruk to do hereuntil to-morrer mornin'."
"Oh, yaws, I understand--why didn't ye say so afore?"
"'Cause ye wouldn't have understood if I did. Off wid ye!"
And to make sure of being obeyed, Mike gave him a push which caused hisdilapidated straw hat to fall off. He snatched it up and broke into alope, as if afraid of harm if he lingered longer in the neighborhood ofsuch strange doings.
"Now, Miss Nora, if ye'll tell me where ye want these things placed, Ishall be honored by carrying 'em in fur ye."
Mike stood in the front door and looked down the big store to Nora, atthe rear, who called:
"Set them in the back part of the room right here where I'm standing."
"How can I put 'em there, if ye stand there?" asked Mike.
"I expect to get out of your way."
"Oh, yaws," remarked the youth, mimicking Jim, who had shown so muchmental bewilderment.
The task was easy. There were picks, shovels, rakes, hoes, spades, pails,ice cream freezers, toy wagons with gilt letters, coils of rope and thevarious articles displayed by most village or country stores to attractcustom. These were carried in by the lusty Mike, a half dozen at a time,and set down somewhat loosely at the rear, Nora making a few suggestionsthat were hardly needed.
While this was going on, the mother employed herself in locking the safefor the night. It will be remembered that in addition to the stamps andmoney belonging to the government and to herself, a liberal amount wasalready there, the property of one of the leading citizens of Beartown,who was glad to entrust it to the keeping of the honest widow.
"I think," said the daughter when Mike had completed his work, which tookonly a few minutes, "you have earned your supper."
"Ah, now what reward can equal the light of yer blue eyes and the swatesmile that shows the purtiest teeth in the State of Maine?" was theinstant inquiry in return.
The mother had just finished locking the safe, and, standing up, shelaughed in her gentle way and said:
"Surely you have kissed the blarney stone, Mike."
"I would have done the same had the chance been mine, which it wasn't. Isthere any more play that ye call wurruk which I can do fur the likes ofye?"
"Nothing more, thank you. Nora and I will now close the store and attendto preparing supper."
"And I'll bring me frinds to enj'y the same."
So Mike bade them good night for a brief while, and strode down the roadto find Alvin and Chester, whom, as you know, he met on their way to lookfor him. The three lingered and chatted, with the view of giving motherand daughter time in which to make ready the evening meal.
Following a common fashion of the times, the veteran Carter Friestone, inbuilding his store and home, made the second story the living room of thefamily. It could be reached by the stairs at the back of the regularentrance, being through a narrow hall where visitors rang a bell whenthey called.
The upper front apartment served for parlor and sitting room, and wasneatly furnished, one of the principal articles being a piano. This was abirthday present to Nora, who was gifted with a naturally sweet voice andreceived instruction from the schoolmistress of Beartown. At the rear wasthe kitchen and dining room, with two bedrooms between that and theparlor, facing each other across the hall.
Nora answered the tinkle of the bell, and Alvin and Chester wereintroduced to her under the light of the hanging lamp overhead. Thelittle party found the mother awaiting them at the head of the stairs.
"Supper will be ready in a few minutes," she said. "Nora will entertainyou in the parlor until I call you."
The girl escorted them to the front room, where all sat down and chattedwith the cheery good nature proper in such a party of young folks. Mikewas at his best, and kept all laughing by his drollery. Nora's merrimentfilled the room with music. Michael had given his name soon after hisentrance into the store, but insisted that the way to pronounce it was"Mike," not "Michael."
"I never knew such a funny person," said Nora, after one of his quaintremarks. "Mother and I took to him from the first."
"I find it's a common wakeness whereiver I go," said Mike gravely.
"We find him fairly good company," said Alvin. "He seems to have beenborn that way and we can hardly blame him."
"He tries our patience very much," added Chester, "but we have learned tobear the affliction."
"I wish you all lived in Beartown," said Nora impulsively, "and that Mikewould call to see us every day."
"Whisht, now," said he, lowering his voice. "Whin I strolled through thetown on me arrival, I was so chaarmed I began hunting fur a house andproperty to buy fur me home. I sthruck the right spot and made an offerto the owner of the same. I think we'll come to tarms, being there's onlya difference of a thrifle of five or six thousand dollars in the price."
Mrs. Friestone now appeared with word that supper was waiting, and allpassed into the kitchen and dining room. Of course she presided, Noraacting as waitress whenever necessary. Alvin and Chester complimentedtheir hostess on the excellence of the meal, while Mike was soextravagant in his praise that they protested. Alvin told the particularsof their trip in the launch from home to Wiscasset and return, omittingof course all reference to Stockham
Calvert that would give a hint of hisprofession and his purpose in making what looked like an aimless ramblethrough this portion of Maine. The Captain was assured that his boatwould not be disturbed where it lay moored under the bank, and he andChester gave no further thought to it.
The group lingered long at the table, and at the close of the meal Norapreceded them to the parlor, were she excused herself in order to helpher mother in washing the dishes and clearing away things. The work wasfinished sooner than the friends expected, and the happy party gatheredin the parlor.
The presence of the musical instrument made its own suggestion, and thelads insisted that Nora should favor them with a song or two. She had thegood taste to comply after a modest protest, and gave them a treat. Hervoice, as I have said, was of fine quality though rather weak, and shesang several of the popular songs of the day with exquisite expression.She was so warmly applauded that she blushed and sang again until it wasevident to all she was tired.
"Now," said she as she rose from the stool and looked at Mike, "you mustsing for us, for I know you can."
"Certainly, Mike, show them what you can do in that line," joined Alvin,and Chester was equally urgent.
He objected and held back, but when Mrs. Friestone joined in the requesthe rose reluctantly and went to the instrument.
And straightway came the surprise of the evening.