He went, but, instead of helping the situation, he merely made it worse.  He found John seated at his office desk apparently engaged in his old occupation, that of looking out of the window.  The young man’s face was pale and drawn, but his manner was perfectly calm.

“Hello, Captain,” he observed, as his caller entered.  “I trust you’ve taken the necessary precautions, fumigated and all that sort of thing.”

“Fumigated?”

“Why, yes.  Unless I’m greatly mistaken, this office is destined to become the den of the moral leper.  As soon as my respected fellow-townsmen, the majority of them, learn that I am to battle with Heman the Great, and in such a cause, I shall be shunned and, so to speak, spat upon.  You’re taking big chances by coming here.”

The captain grunted.  “Umph!” he sniffed.  “They don’t know it yet; neither do I.”

“Ah yes, but they will shortly.  Daniels will take care that they do.”

“John, for thunder sakes—­”

“Better escape contagion while you can, Captain.  Unclean!  Unclean!”

“Aw, belay, John!  I don’t feel like jokin’.  What you’ve got to tell me now is that it ain’t so.  You ain’t goin’ to—­to try to—­to—­”

His friend interrupted.  “Captain Bangs,” he said, sharply, “this is a practical world we live in.  You and I have had that preached to us; at least I have and you were present during the sermon.  I don’t know how you feel, of course; but henceforth I propose to be the most practical man you ever saw.”

“Consarn your practicality!  Are you goin’ to help that—­that gold-dust twin—­that cussed relation of yours, grab Thankful Barnes’ house and land from her?”

“Look here, Bangs; when the—­gold-dust twin isn’t bad—­when the twin offered me the position of his attorney and the blanket retainer along with it, who was it that hesitated concerning my acceptance?  You?  I don’t remember that you did.  Neither did—­others.  But I did accept because—­well, because.  Now the complications are here, and what then?”

“John—­John Kendrick, if you dast to set there and tell me you’re cal’latin’ to—­you can’t do it!  You can’t be goin’ to try such a—­”

“Oh, yes, I can.  I may not succeed, but I can try.”

Captain Obed seldom lost his temper, but he lost it now.

“By the everlastin’!” he roared.  “And this is the young feller that I’ve been holdin’ up and backin’ up as all that’s fair and above board!  John Kendrick, do you realize—­”

“Easy, Captain, easy.  Perhaps I realize what I’m doing better than you do.”

“You don’t neither.  Emily Howes—­”

John’s interruption was sharper now.

“That’ll do, Bangs,” he said.  “Suppose we omit names.”

“No, we won’t omit ’em.  I tell you you don’t realize.  You’re drivin’ that girl right straight to Heman Daniels, that’s what you’re doin’.”

Kendrick smiled.  “I should say there was no driving necessary,” he observed.  “Daniels seems to be already the chosen guardian and adviser.  I do realize what I’m doing, Captain, and,” deliberately, “I shall do it.”