Shadrach, after calling “Mary-’Gusta” several times at the foot of the stairs, went up to make sure.  The door of Mary’s room was closed but, as he received no answer to his knock, he opened it and entered.  Mary was not there, although it was evident that she had been there very recently.

Apparently she had been writing a letter, for her writing case was spread out upon the table.  Also the drawer in which she kept it had been left open, an unusual act of carelessness on her part, for, generally speaking, as her Uncle Shad said, “Nothin’s ever out of place in Mary-’Gusta’s room except some of the places, and that’s the carpenter’s fault, not hers.”

The Captain stepped over to close the drawer.  As he did so his attention was attracted by a photograph lying upon a pile of photographs in a box inside the drawer.  He picked up the photograph and looked at it.  It was that of Edwin Smith, taken when he seemed to be recovering from his illness, the one which showed him without a beard.

Shadrach’s eyes opened wide as he looked at the photograph.  He uttered an exclamation, stepped to the door of the upper hall and called, “Zoeth!” Then he returned to the table and took from the drawer the next photograph upon the pile in the box.  It was the old, faded picture of the partners of Hall and Company.

Isaiah came stumbling up the stairs.

“Anythin’ I can do for you, Cap’n Shad?” he asked.  “Zoeth, he’s gone out to shut up the barn door.  Rain was liable to beat in, he said.  I told him I’d do it, but—­Godfreys mighty!”

The Captain had paid no attention to him and he had entered the room and approached his employer from behind.  Now over the latter’s shoulder he saw the two photographs.

“Godfreys mighty!” cried the startled Isaiah.

Shadrach turned and looked at him.

“Well,” he demanded, “what’s the matter?  What are you starin’ like that for?”

“Them—­them pictures,” gasped Mr. Chase.

“Well, what about ’em?  Where did Mary-’Gusta get ’em, do you know?  Did—­Here!  Where are you goin’?”

“I—­I ain’t goin’ anywheres.  I’m a-goin’ downstairs.  I got my dishwashin’ to do.  I—­let go of me, Cap’n Shad!  I got to go this minute, I tell you.”

But the Captain did not let go of him.  Instead, keeping a firm hold upon the collar of the frightened cook and steward, he twisted him around until he could look him straight in the eye.  This was difficult, for Isaiah plainly did not wish to be looked at in that manner.

“Humph!” grunted Captain Shad, after a moment’s inspection.  “Humph!  I cal’late I’ve got the right pig by the ear this time.  Set down in that chair, Isaiah Chase; I want to talk to you.”

CHAPTER XXIX