Jedediah Cahoon had not been in the Kelly
employ for more than six weeks. Kelly did not know where he had gone
and, apparently, did not care. Captain Obed then wired and wrote the San
Francisco police officials, urging them to trace the lost one. This they
promised to do, but nothing came of it. The weeks passed and no word
from them or from Jedediah himself was received. His letter had come to
prove that, at the time it was written, he was alive; whether or not he
was still alive, or where he might be if living, was as great a mystery
as ever. Day after day Thankful watched and waited and hoped, but her
waiting was unrewarded, and, though she still hoped, her hope grew
steadily fainter; and the self-reproach and the worry greater in
proportion.
She and Georgie and Imogene spent Thanksgiving Day alone. Heman Daniels
and Mr. Hammond were invited out and Captain Obed, who had meant to eat
his Thanksgiving dinner at the High Cliff House, was called to Boston on
business connected with his fish selling, and could not return in time.
Early in December Thankful once more drove to Trumet to call upon
Solomon Cobb. The question of the renewal of the mortgage she felt must
remain a question no longer. But she obtained little satisfaction from
her talk with the money-lender. Mr. Cobb's first remark concerned the
Holliday Kendrick offer to buy the "Cap'n Abner place."
"Did he mean it, do you think?" he demanded. "Is he really so sot on
buyin' as folks say he is?"
"I'm afraid so.
Pages:
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309