human
I hope ye feel hungry, said Uncle Terry, as he passed a well-filled plate to Albert,
gpt
Whatever tastes good is good, replied Albert, and turning to Aunt Lissy he added,
human
This fried lobster beats anything I have tasted for a long time.
gpt
Please accept these, Mr. Terry, and when you smoke them, think of the forlorn fellow you found by the wayside.
human
I've got ter leave ye ter th' tender marcies o' the wimmin folks, said Uncle Terry, after thanking Albert,
gpt
he added,
human
I will stay until to-morrow, thank you, replied Albert,
gpt
I should like to row up to where I was left boat-less yesterday, he said to Telly after Uncle Terry had gone,
human
I should be glad to if mother can spare me,
gpt
Now I am going to ask a favor of you, Miss Terry. I want you to stand in just the position I first saw you and let me make a sketch of you. You were leaning on a rock and resting your head on one hand.
human
You did not know I saw you out on the point last evening, did you? he added, smiling.
gpt
I stood and looked at you for five minutes and then walked away. I did not know who you were then, or that I should meet you later. If I had I would not have been so rude.
human
There, he exclaimed when it was finished,
gpt
I shall transfer that to canvas when I go back, and whenever I look at it I shall recall this day and--you.
human
Will you need the picture for that? she replied with a smile. It was the first little coquettish word she had uttered, and it amused Albert.
gpt
That sounds like Alice, he said, and added hastily,
human
Alice is my only sister, and I think more of her than of any other woman living.
gpt
Draw yourself as holding the oars, she said,
human
she added with a smile. Then, as the sun was getting low, they started for home. The breeze had all vanished and the sea was like glass. Only the long ground swells barely lifted their boat and made the shadows of the trees along the shore wave in fantastic undulations. When they reached the Cape Telly said,
gpt
You had better go around to the cove where father keeps his boats. It's nearer to the house, and there is a float there where you can pull your boat out.
human
I am going to paint them,
gpt
It's a little chilly to-night, she said,
human
Then turning to Albert she added,
gpt
Wouldn't you like one too, Mr. Page? He didn't in the least need any protection, but that made no difference.
human
I would, thank you, he answered,
gpt
He would have answered yes if she had asked him to put on woollen mittens. She returned to the house and came back, this time bearing a white zephyr wrap, and handed it to Albert.
human
I will bid you good-night, now, she said,
gpt
I s'pose ye'd rather be talking to Telly than me, out here in the moonlight, he said bluntly,
human
I've had a very pleasant visit with your daughter this afternoon, responded Albert;
gpt
We don't git cigars like this here, he said at last,
human
Mr. Page, said Uncle Terry at last,
gpt
I've worried a good deal since last night 'bout what you told me, an' I've made up my mind to tell ye the hull story an' trust ye with what no one else knows. To begin with, it's 'bout twenty years ago last March when thar war a vessel got a-foul o' a ledge jest off'n the pint here in a snow-storm, an' all hands went down; that is, all but a little yearlin' baby that cum ashore tied up 'tween two feather-beds. I fished her out o' the surf, an' Lissy an' me has taken care on her ever since, an' to-day she's worth a thousand times more'n she cost. How much she thinks o' me I'll let ye jedge by the way she thought 'bout my comfort to-night. There was a few trinkets came ashore with her--picturs o' her father an' mother, we knew, an' a locket an' ring and some other things, so we knowed her name and whar she cum from. Since then we have never heard a word from no one regardin' her people, or whether any was livin', till last winter I cum across a notice in a paper sayin' information was wanted 'bout an heir to an estate in Sweden, and tellin' facts that made me sure Telly was the one wanted. The notice was signed by that lawyer, Frye, that I asked ye 'bout, an' I went to see him. He wanted proofs an' all that, an' I gave 'em to him, an' wussen that, he wanted money, an' I gave that to him. He's kept askin' fer money ever since, an' I, like a dum fool, kept sendin' it, in hopes, if Telly had anything comin', she'd git her dues. I've sent him the locket and things that belonged to her, and all I've got so far is letters askin' for more money an' tellin' 'bout expenses an' evidence an' witnesses' fees an' bonds to be filed. Lissy an' Telly know 'bout the case, but they don't know how much money I've paid out, an' I don't want they should. That's the hull story, an' now as you're a lawyer, an' I b'lieve an honest one, I ask ye what's best to be done.
human
I see now, Mr. Terry, why you distrust lawyers, and I do not wonder at it. To the best of my belief you have been swindled in the most outrageous manner by Frye. He no doubt is acting for some law firm who have instructed him to find an heir, if there is one, to this estate, and they would naturally advance all expense money. Do you know the vessel's name, where she sailed from, and who her master was?
gpt
She was a square-rigger, and the master's name was Peterson; in the newspaper piece the name was Neils Peterson who cum from Stockholm, answered Uncle Terry.
human
I've got it in my wallet now, an' on the locket was the letters E. P., an' on a piece o' paper that was pinned to the baby's dress was the name Etelka Peterson.
gpt
And did you send these proofs to Frye?
human
I sent 'em six months ago, was the reply,
gpt
It would have been all right, answered Albert after a pause,
human
Then after thinking a moment he added,
gpt
I will gladly do what I can to help you, Mr. Terry, and at no cost to you for my own services. The first step must be to get possession of these material proofs, the next to find what firm has employed Frye. That will be easier than to get the trinkets, as you call them, back. We might issue a writ of replevin and search Frye's office, but then we are not sure of finding them. They are so valuable in the case that you may be sure Frye has them safe in hiding and will deny possession. Even if we find who employ him and lay the matter before them, he will declare us impostors and block us at once. As I said, we are helpless until we get possession of those proofs.
human
Ain't my word an' Lissy's as to savin' the baby no 'count?
gpt
Very good so far as it goes, answered Albert,
human
Has Frye ever written you admitting he has received or has those proofs in his possession?
gpt
Not a word, answered Uncle Terry;
human
How long since he has sent for money?
gpt
We might have you go into his office with one or two of your neighbors, he said,