"Yes, sir!" Bradish made the admission rather sullenly.
"It's usually the case when there's eloping done!"
"But this will not seem like eloping when it's reported right in the
newspapers. Marriage at sea--it will seem like a romantic way of getting
rid of the fuss of a church wedding. We'll put out a statement of that
sort. It will give her father a chance to stop all the gossip. He'll be
glad if you perform the ceremony."
"Say, young fellow, you're not rehearsing the stuff on me that you used
on the girl, are you? Well, it doesn't go!
"Captain Downs, you must understand how bull-headed some rich men are in
matters of this kind. I am active and enterprising. I'll be a handy man
for him. He likes me in a business way--he has said so. He'll be all
right after he gets cooled down."
"More rehearsal! But I ain't in love with you like that girl is."
"We're in a terrible position, captain! Perhaps it wasn't a wise thing
to do. But it will come out all right if you marry us."
"What's her name?"
"I can't tell you."
"How in the devil can I marry you and her if I don't know her name?"
"But you haven't promised that you will do your part! I don't want to
expose this whole thing and then be turned down."
"I ain't making any rash promises," stated Captain Downs, walking to the
rail and taking a squint at the top-hamper. "Besides," he added, on his
tramp past to the other rail, "he may be an owner into this schooner
property, for all I know. Sixteenths of her are scattered from tophet to
Tar Hollow!"
"You needn't worry about his owning schooner property! He is doing quite
a little job at putting you fellows out of business!"
Curiosity and something else gleamed in Captain Downs's eyes. "Chance
for me to rasp him, hey, by wishing you onto the family?"
This new idea in the situation appealed instantly to Bradish as a
possibility to be worked. "Promise man to man that you'll perform the
marriage, and I'll tell you his name; then you'll be glad that you have
promised," he said, eagerly.
"I don't reckon I'd try to get even with Judas I-scarrot himself
by stealing his daughter away from him, sir. There's the girl to be
considered in all such cases!"
"But this isn't stealing! We're in love."