"Nothing, very likely," he replied."That's what I've been doing for some time.""But--but, the last I heard of you, you was practicin' law over to New York.""So I was.That, for a young lawyer without funds or influence, is as near doing nothing as anything I can think of.""But--but, John--"
"Just a minute, Captain.The 'buts' are there, plenty of them.
Before we reach them, however, perhaps I'd better tell you the story of my life.It isn't exciting enough to make you nervous, but it may explain a few things."He told his story.It was not the story of his life, his whole life, by any means.The captain already knew the first part of that life.He had known the Kendricks ever since he had known anyone.Every person in East Wellmouth of middle age or older remembered when the two brothers, Samuel Kendrick and Bailey Kendrick--Bailey was John's father--lived in the village and were the "big" men of the community.Bailey was the more important and respected at that time, for Samuel speculated in stocks a good deal and there were seasons when he was so near bankruptcy that gossip declared he could not pass the poorhouse without shivering.If it had not been for his brother Bailey, so that same gossip affirmed, he would most assuredly have gone under, but Bailey lent him money and helped him in many ways.Both brothers were widowers and each had a son; but Samuel's boy Erastus was fifteen years older than John.
The families moved from Wellmouth when John was six years old.
They went West and there, so it was said, the positions of the brothers changed.Samuel's luck turned; he made some fortunate stock deals and became wealthy.Bailey, however, lost all he had in bad mining ventures and sank almost to poverty.Both had been dead for years now, but Samuel's son, Erastus--he much preferred to be called E.Holliday Kendrick--was a man of consequence in New York, a financier, with offices on Broad Street and a home on Fifth Avenue.John, the East Wellmouth people had last heard of as having worked his way through college and law school and as practicing his profession in the big city.
So much Captain Bangs knew.And John Kendrick told him the rest.
The road to success for a young attorney in New York he had found hard and discouraging.For two years he had trodden it and scarcely earned enough to keep himself alive.Now he had decided, or practically decided, to give up the attempt, select some small town or village and try his luck there.East Wellmouth was the one village he knew and remembered with liking.So to East Wellmouth he had come, to, as Captain Obed described it, "take soundin's and size up the fishin' grounds.""So there you are, Captain," he said, in conclusion."That is why I am here."The captain nodded reflectively.
"Um--yes," he said."I see; I see.Well, well; and you're figgerin' on bein' a lawyer here--in East Wellmouth?"Mr.Kendrick nodded also."It may, and probably will be, pretty close figuring at first," he admitted, "but at least there will be no more ciphers in the sum than there were in my Manhattan calculations.Honestly now, Captain Bangs, tell me--what do you think of the idea?"The captain seemed rather dubious.
"Humph!" he grunted."Well, I don't know, John.East Wellmouth ain't a very big place.""I know that.Of course I shouldn't hope to do much in East Wellmouth alone.But it seemed to me I might do as other country lawyers have done, have an office--or a desk--in several other towns and be in those towns on certain days in the week.I think Ishould like to live in East Wellmouth, though.It is--not to be sentimental but just truthful--the one place I remember where I was really happy.And, as I remember too, there used to be no lawyer there."Captain Obed's forehead puckered.
"That's just it, John," he said."There is a lawyer here now.
Good deal of a lawyer, too--if you ask HIM.Name's Heman Daniels.
You used to know him as a boy, didn't you?"Kendrick nodded assent.
"I think I did," he said."Yes, I remember him.He was one of the big boys when I was a little one, and he used to bully us small chaps.""That's the feller.He ain't changed his habits so much, neither.
But he's our lawyer and I cal'late he's doin' well.""Is he? Well, that's encouraging, at any rate.And he's the only lawyer you have? Only one lawyer in a whole town.Why in New York I couldn't throw a cigar stump from my office window without running the risk of hitting at least two and starting two damage suits."The captain chuckled.
"I presume likely you didn't throw many," he observed."That would be expensive fun.""It would," was the prompt reply."Cigars cost money."They jogged on for a few minutes in silence.Then said Captain Obed:
"Well, John, what are you plannin' to do first? After we get into port, I mean.""I scarcely know.Look about, perhaps.Possibly try out a boarding-house and hunt for a prospective office.By the way, Captain, you don't happen to know of a good, commodious two by four office that I could hire at a two by four figure, do you? One not so far from the main street that I should wear out an extravagant amount of shoe leather walking to and from it?"More reflection on the captain's part.Then he said:
"Well, I don't know as I don't.John, I'll tell you: I've got a buildin' of my own.Right abreast the post-office; Henry Cahoon has been usin' it for a barber-shop.But Henry's quit, and it's empty.The location's pretty good and the rent--well, you and me wouldn't pull hair over the rent question, I guess.""Probably not, but I should insist on paying as much as your barber friend did.This isn't a charity proposition I'm making you, Captain Bangs.Oh, let me ask this: Has this--er--office of yours got a good front window?""Front window! What in time--? Yes, I guess likely the front window's all right.But what does a lawyer want of a front window?""To look out of.About all a young lawyer does is look out of the window.Now about a boarding-place?"Captain Obed had been waiting for this question.
