Captain Obed introduced his passenger and
announced that the latter gentleman and he would dine there. The lady
seemed glad to hear this, but she seemed troubled, too. When she and the
captain were alone together she disclosed the cause of her trouble.
"I'm afraid I'm goin' to lose my best boarder," she said. "Mr. Daniels
says he's afraid he must take his meals nearer his place of business.
And, if he does that, he'll get a room somewheres uptown. I'm awful
sorry. He's about the highest payin' roomer I have and I did think he
was permanent. Oh, dear!" she added. "It does seem as if there was just
one thing after the other to worry me. I--I don't seem to be makin' both
ends meet the way I hoped. And--and lookin' out for everything myself,
the way I have to do, keeps me stirred up all the time. I feel almost
sort of discouraged. I know I shouldn't, so soon, of course. It's--it's
because I'm tired today, I guess likely."
"Yes, I guess likely 'tis. Tired! I shouldn't wonder? It ain't any of my
affairs at all, Mrs. Barnes, and I beg your pardon for sayin' it, but
if you don't have some good capable person to take some of the care and
managin' of this place off your shoulders you'll be down sick afore the
summer's through."
Thankful sighed, and then smiled. "I know I need help, the right kind of
help, just as well as you do, Cap'n Bangs," she said. "But I know,
too, that I can't afford to pay for it, so I must get along best I can
without it. As for gettin' sick--well, I can't afford that, either.
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