Cy Whittaker's Place Part 13

"I haven't got any nightgown," called a voice from the other room. The captain gasped.

"Good land! so you ain't," he exclaimed. "What in the world--Humph! I wonder--"

He went to the lower drawer of a tall "highboy" and, from the tumbled ma.s.s of apparel therein took one of his own night garments.

"Here's one," he said, coming back with it in his hand. "I guess you'll have to make this do for now. It'll fit you enough for three times to once, but it's all I've got."

A small hand reached 'round the edge of the door and the nights.h.i.+rt disappeared. Captain Cy chuckled and resumed his pacing.

"I'm tucked up," called Miss Thomas. The captain entered and found her in bed, the patchwork points and diamonds of the "Rising Sun" quilt covering her to the chin and her head denting the uppermost of the two big pillows. Captain Cy liked to "sleep high."

"Got enough over you?" he asked.

"Yes, sir, thank you."

"That's good. I'll take your togs out and dry 'em in the kitchen. Don't be scared; I'll be right back."

In the kitchen he sorted the wet garments and hung them about the cook stove. It was a strange occupation for him and he shook his head whimsically as he completed it. Then he took a flat iron, one of Mrs.

Beasley's purchases, from the shelf in the closet and put it in the oven to heat. Soon afterwards he returned to the bedroom, bearing the iron wrapped in a dish towel.

"My ma always used to put a hot flat to my feet when I was a young one and got chilled," he explained. "I ain't used one for some time, but I guess it's a good receipt. How do you feel now? Any more icicles?"

"No, sir. I'm ever so warm. Isn't this a nice bed?"

"Think so, do you? Glad of it. Well, now, I'm goin' to leave you in it while I step down street and see about havin' your box sent for. I'll be back in a shake. If anybody comes to the door while I'm gone don't you worry; let 'em go away again."

He put on his hat and left the house, walking rapidly, his head down and his hands in his pockets. At times he would pause in his walk, whistle, shake his head, and go on once more. Josiah Dimick met him, and his answers to Josiah's questions were so vague and irrelevant that Captain Dimick was puzzled, and later expressed the opinion that "Whit's cookin'

must be pretty bad; acted to me as if he had dyspepsy of the brain."

Captain Cy stopped at Mr. Lumley's residence to leave an order for the delivery of the box. Then he drifted into Simmons's and accosted Alpheus Smalley.

"Al," he said, "what's good for a cold?"

"Why?" asked Mr. Smalley, in true Yankee fas.h.i.+on. "You got one?"

"Hey? Oh, yes! Yes, I've got one." By way of proof he coughed until the lamp chimneys rattled on the shelf.

"Judas! I should think you had! Well, there's 'Pine Bark Oil' and 'Sa.s.safras Elixir' and two kinds of sa.s.s'p'rilla--that's good for most everything--and--Is your throat sore?"

"Hey? Yes, I guess so."

"Don't you KNOW? If you've got sore throat there ain't nothin' better'n 'Arabian Balsam.' But what in time are you doin' out in this drizzle with a cold and no umbrella? Do you want to--"

"Never mind my umbrella. I left it in the church entry t'other Sunday and somebody got out afore I did. This 'Arabian Balsam'--seems to me I remember my ma's usin' that on me. Wet a rag with it, don't you, and tie it round your neck?"

"Yup. Be sure and use a flannel rag, and red flannel if you've got it; that acts quicker'n the other kinds. Fifteen cent bottle?"

"I guess so. Might's well give me some sa.s.s'p'rilla, while you're about it; always handy to have in the house. And--er--say, is that canned soup you've got up on that shelf?"

The astonished clerk admitted that it was.

"Well, give me a can of the chicken kind."

Mr. Smalley, standing on a chair to reach the shelf where the soup was kept, shook his head.

"Now, that's too bad, Cap'n," he said, "but we're all out of chicken just now. Fact is, we ain't got nothin' but termatter and beef broth.

Yes, and I declare if the termatter ain't all gone."

"Humph! then I guess I'll take the beef. Needn't mind wrappin' it up. So long."

He departed bearing his purchases. When Mr. Simmons, proprietor of the store, returned, Alpheus told him that he "cal'lated" Captain Cy Whittaker was preparing to "go into a decline, or somethin'."

"Anyhow," said Alpheus, "he bought sa.s.s'p'rilla and 'Arabian Balsam,'

and I sold him a can of that beef soup you bought three year ago last summer, when Alicia Atkins had the chicken pox."

The captain entered the house quietly and tiptoed to the door of the bedroom. Emily was asleep, and the sight of the childish head upon the pillow gave him a start as he peeped in at it. It looked so natural, almost as if it belonged there. It had been in a bed like that and in that very room that he had slept when a boy.

Gabe, brimful of curiosity, brought the box a little later. His curiosity was ungratified, Captain Cyrus explaining that it was a package he had been expecting. The captain took the box to the bedroom, and, finding the child still asleep, deposited it on the floor and tiptoed out again. He went to the kitchen, poked up the fire, and set about getting dinner.

He was warming the beef broth in a saucepan on the stove when Emily appeared. She was dressed in dry clothes from the box and seemed to be feeling as good as new.

"h.e.l.lo!" exclaimed Captain Cy. "You're on deck again, hey? How's icicles?"

"All gone," was the reply. "Do you do your own work? Can't I help? I can set the table. I used to for Mrs. Oliver."

The captain protested that he could do it himself just as well, but the girl persisting, he showed her where the dishes were kept. From the corner of his eye he watched her as she unfolded the tablecloth.

"Is this the only one you've got?" she inquired. "It's awful dirty."

"Hum! Yes, I ain't tended up to my was.h.i.+n' and ironin' the way I'd ought to. I'll lose my job if I don't look out, hey?"

Before they sat down to the meal Captain Cy insisted that his guest take a tablespoonful of the sarsaparilla and decorate her throat with a section of red flannel soaked in the 'Arabian Balsam.' The perfume of the latter was penetrating and might have interfered with a less healthy appet.i.te than that of Miss Thomas.

"Have some soup? Some I bought purpose for you. Best thing goin' for folks with icicles," remarked the captain, waving the iron spoon he had used to stir the contents of the saucepan.

"Yes, sir, thank you. But don't you ask a blessing?"

"Hey?"

"A blessing, you know. Saying that you're thankful for the food now set before us."

"Hum! Why, to tell you the truth I've kind of neglected that, I'm afraid. Bein' thankful for the grub I've had lately was most too much of a strain, I shouldn't wonder."

"I know the one mamma used to say. Shall I ask it for you?"

"Sho! I guess so, if you want to."

The girl bent her head and repeated a short grace. Captain Cy watched her curiously.