You play a good game, dont you? Shall we have another? Ill be pleased to pay for it, you know. Glad to have some one that plays as well as you do for an opponent.
It being inbred in young Bracketts nature never to decline to enjoy himself at anothers expense, he accepted the invitation at once. Moreover, he was pleased at the compliment which was, perhaps, more in the nature of flattery, as he was but indifferently skilful at best.
Do you come from around this way? asked the stranger, as they proceeded to play.
Yes, answered young Brackett. My home is at Southport. Harry Brackett is my name. Im Squire Bracketts son.
Indeed! said the stranger, as though the answer was a matter of information, whereas he had distinctly heard the boys companion refer to him as coming from Southport. But you are not an islander. Youve been about some, I can see.
Most persons would have said that it would have been better for the boy if he had had more of the sturdy qualities of the islanders and less of those manners to which the stranger referred. But young Brackett took the remark as a compliment, as it was intended, and answered, Oh, yes, Ive been about a good deal up Boston way and that sort of thing Benton and different cities. But I live at Southport. My father owns a good deal of the place, you see.
Well, Im glad to know you, Mr. Brackett, said the stranger, with a renewed show of cordiality. My name is Carleton. I come from Boston, too. I am just living around at any place I take a fancy to for the summer. Oh, by the way, I came here to look at some boats. Do you know of a good one over your way that a man might buy?
Why, no, I dont know as I do, replied young Brackett. That is, not what you would want. Theres only one elegant boat, and I guess she is not for sale. She belongs to some boys. Theyd better sell her, though, if they get the chance. They think they are smart, but they cant sail her a little bit.
Hm! ejaculated Mr. Carleton, and made a mental note of the others evident antipathy to the boys he referred to.
You dont mean the Viking ? he inquired. Somebody in the town here was speaking about her the other day.
Yes, thats the one, replied young Brackett. But I dont think you can buy her.
Oh, most any one will sell a thing, if you only offer him enough, said Mr. Carleton, carelessly. Somehow I think she is about the boat I want. I had a talk with a captain here the other day, and he said she was the best sailer about here.
Oh, by the way, he added, apparently intent upon his game and studying a shot with great care, did you ever hear of anything queer about that yacht anything queer discovered about her?
Why, no! cried young Brackett, in a tone of surprise. Is there anything queer about her? Do you know about her? That is a funny question.
If Mr. Carleton, making his shot unmoved, had got exactly the information he was after, he did not betray the least sign of it. Instead, he laughed and said:
No, no. You dont understand. I mean any out about the boat. Has she any faults, I mean. Does she sail under? Run her counters under? Knock down in a wind and heavy sea? Carry a bad weather helm or still worse, a lee helm? You know what I mean. When a man is buying a boat he wants to know if she is all right.
He said it easily, in his deep, full voice, that seemed to emerge from behind his heavy moustache, without his lips moving.
Oh, I understand, said young Brackett. Then he added, mindful of his anger at the owners of the Viking , I guess the boat is good
enough better than the crowd that owns her.
Well, I want you to do something for me, continued Mr. Carleton. I think I want her. When you return to Southport, I wish you would make them an offer for me. Do you know what they paid for her?
Why, I think she brought only about eight hundred dollars, said young Brackett. Shes worth twice that, I guess. But there wasnt anybody to buy her. She went cheap.
Tell them you know of a party that will give them fifteen hundred dollars for the boat, said Mr. Carleton. And if you buy her for me for that price I will give you two hundred dollars. The boat is worth all of that from what I hear.
Young Bracketts eyes opened wide in surprise.
Oh, I am in earnest, said the man. I can afford it. Im out for a good time this summer. Ill be much obliged if you will do the business for me. Business is business, and I dont ask you to go to the trouble for nothing. Heres something on account.
He handed young Brackett a ten-dollar bill, which the boy pocketed promptly. It seemed a queer transaction, but he was satisfied.
And, say, dont mention my name, said Mr. Carleton, carelessly. You see, if a man that has any money is known to be looking for a particular boat, they always put the price up.
All right, I wont, replied Harry Brackett.
I hate to tackle that fellow, Harvey, he thought, as he turned the matter over in his mind. But its worth trying for two hundred dollars.
Then, in great elation, he proceeded to beat Mr. Carleton at the game; though that persons intimate friends, wherever they might be, would have laughed at his attempts to make poor shots instead of good ones. It pays to be a loser sometimes, was his way of looking at it. At least, he and Harry Brackett parted excellent friends.