But his determination was
unshaken. He strode to the door.
"How do I get to Parker's?" he demanded.
"I tell you you mustn't go to Parker's or anywhere else. You're riskin'
your life."
Mr. Cobb did not answer. He lifted the latch and pulled the door open. A
howling gust of wind-driven rain beat in upon him, drenching the carpet
and causing the lamp to flicker and smoke. For a moment Solomon gazed
out into the storm; then he relinquished his hold and staggered back.
"I--I can't do it!" he groaned. "I've GOT to stay here! I've GOT to!"
Thankful, exerting all her strength, closed the door and locked it.
"Indeed you've got to," she declared. "Now go out into the kitchen and
set by the stove while I heat a kettle and make you some ginger tea or
somethin'."
Solomon hesitated.
"He must, Aunt Thankful," urged Emily; "he really must."
The visitor turned to stare at her.
"Who are you?" he demanded, ungraciously. Then, as another chill racked
him from head to foot, he added: "I don't care. Take me somewheres and
give me somethin'--ginger tea or--or kerosene or anything else, so it's
hot. I--I'm--sho--oo--ook all to--pi--ic--ces."
They led him to the kitchen, where Thankful prepared the ginger tea.
During its preparation she managed to inform Emily concerning the
identity of their unexpected lodger. Solomon, introduced to Miss Howes,
merely grunted and admitted that he had "heard tell" of her. His manner
might have led a disinterested person to infer that what he had heard
was not flattering.
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