CHAPTER IV THE SHADOW OF COMING EVENTS Cap'n Abe reached for his spectacles and pulled them down upon his nose to look at his guest through the lenses. Not that they aided his sight in the least; but the act helped to cover the fact that he was startled. "Stop here?" he repeated. "Where's your father? Ain't he with you up to the Inn?" "No, Cap'n Abe. He is in Boston to-day. But he will sail to-morrow for a summer cruise with a party for scientific research. I am all alone. So I came down here to Cape Cod." Louise said it directly and as simply as the storekeeper himself might have spoken. Yet it seemed really difficult for Cap'n Abe to get her meaning into his head. "You mean you was intendin' to cast anchor here--with _me_?" "If it is agreeable. Of course I'll pay my board if you'll let me. You have a room to spare, haven't you?" "Land sakes, yes!" "And I am not afraid to use my hands. I might even be of some slight use," and she smiled at him till his own slow smile responded, troubled and amazed though he evidently was by her determination. "I've roughed it a good deal with daddy-prof. I can cook--some things. And I can do housework----" "Bet Gallup does that," interposed Cap'n Abe, finally getting his bearings. "Hi-mighty, ye did take me aback all standin', Niece Louise! Ye did, for a fac'. But why not? Land sakes, there's room enough, an' to spare! Ye don't hafter put them pretty han's to housework. Betty Gallup'll do all that. An' you don't have to pay no board money. As for cookin'----That remin's me. I'd better git to work on our supper. We'll be sharp for it 'fore long." "And--and I may stay?" asked Louise, with some little embarrassment now. "You are sure it won't inconvenience you?" "Bless you, no! I cal'late it's more likely to inconvenience _you_," and Cap'n Abe chuckled mellowly. "I don't know what sort o' 'roughin' it' you've done with your pa; but if there's anything much rougher than an ol' man's housekeepin' down here on the Cape, it must be pretty average rough!" She laughed gayly. "You can't scare me!" "Ain't a-tryin' to," he responded, eying her admiringly. "You're an able seaman, I don't dispute. An' we'll git along fine. Hi-mighty! there's Am'zon!" Louise actually turned around this time to look at the door, expecting to see the mariner in question enter. Then she said, half doubtfully: "Do you suppose your brother will object if he does come, Cap'n Abe?" "Land sakes, no!" the storekeeper quickly assured her. "'Tain't that. But I cal'lated 'bout soon's Am'zon anchored here I'd cast off moorin's myself." "Go away?" Louise demanded. "Yes. Like poor old Jerry, mebbe," said Cap'n Abe, looking at the caged bird. "Mebbe I'll be glad to come back again--and in a hurry. But while Cap'n Am'zon is here I can take a vacation that I've long hankered for, Niece Louise. I--I got my plans all made."