Lawford was somewhat startled by this philosophy; but he was by no means convinced. "Whether or no," he repeated, "I think I should have the same right that you had of choosing a wife." His father brushed this aside without comment. "Do you understand what this means--if you are determined to disobey me?" he snarled. "I suppose you won't begrudge me a bite and sup till I find a job, dad?" the son said with just a little tremor in his voice. "I know I haven't really anything of my own. You have done everything for me. Your money bought the very clothes I stand in. You gave me the means to buy the _Merry Andrew_. I realize that nothing I have called my own actually belongs to me because I did not earn it----" "As long as you are amenable to discipline," put in his father gloomily, "you need not feel this way." "But I do feel it now," said Lawford simply. "You have made me. And, as I say, I'll need to live, I suppose, till I get going for myself." His father winced again. Then suddenly burst out: "D'you think for a minute that that society girl will stand for your getting a job and trying to support her on your wages?" "She will if she loves me." "You poor ninny!" burst out I. Tapp. "You've got about as much idea of women as you have of business. And where are you going to work?" "Well," and Lawford smiled a little whimsically, serious though the discussion was, "I've always felt a leaning toward the candy business. I believe I have a natural adaptability for that. Couldn't I find a job in one of your factories, dad?" "You'll get no leg-up from me, unless you show you're worthy of it." "But you'll give me a job?" "I won't interfere if the superintendent of any of the factories takes you on," growled I. Tapp. "But mind you, he'll hire you on his own responsibility--he'll understand that from me. But I tell you right now this is no time to apply for a job in a candy factory. We're discharging men--not hiring them." "I will apply for the first opening," announced the son. I. Tapp stamped away along the graveled walk, leaving the young man alone. Lawford's calmness was as irritating to him as sea water to a raw wound. CHAPTER XXIV GRAY DAYS Those days were dark for Louise Grayling; on her shoulders she bore double trouble. Anxiety for her father's safety made her sufficiently unhappy; but in addition her mind must cope with the mystery of Cap'n Amazon's identity and Cap'n Abe's whereabouts. For she was not at all satisfied in her heart that the storekeeper had sailed from the port of Boston on the _Curlew_; and the status of the piratical looking Amazon Silt was by no means decided to her satisfaction. Her discoveries in his bedroom had quite convinced the young woman that Cap'n Amazon was in masquerade.