She says folks have been
murdered 'fore now and their bodies crammed into a chest----"
"Why, you long-winded sculpin!" exclaimed Cap'n Amazon, at length
goaded to speech. "Bring that chest in and take a reef in your
jaw-tackle. I knew a man once't looked nigh enough like you to be your
twin; and he was purt nigh a plumb idiot, too."
Louise had never before heard her uncle's voice so sharp. It was plain
he had not seen his niece until after Perry Baker turned and clumped
out upon the porch, thus giving the girl free entrance to the store.
She turned, smiling a little whimsically, and said to Bane:
"The moment is not propitious, I fear. Uncle Amazon seems to be put
out about something."
"Don't bother him now, I beg," urged the actor, lifting his hat. "I
will call later--if I may."
"Certainly, Mr. Bane," she said with seriousness. "Uncle Amazon and I
will both be glad to see you."
The expressman came heavily up the steps with a green chest on his
shoulder. It had handles of tarred rope and had plainly seen much
service; indeed, it was brother to the box in the storeroom which
Louise had found filled with nautical literature.
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