Page:Ballinger Price--The Happy Venture.djvu/96

 CHAPTER VII

HE City Transfer bill was paid; so were the other bills. Ken, on his way out from Asquam, stopped with a sudden light in his dogged face and turned back. He sought out the harbor-master, who was engaged in painting a dory behind his shop.

"Wal, boy, want to get a ﬁsh-hook?" he queried, squinting toward Ken with a preoccupied eye. (He sold hardware and ﬁshing-tackle, as well as attending to the duties of his post.)

Ken disclaimed any desire for the ﬁsh-hook, and said he wanted to ask about a boat.

"Ain't got none for sale ner hire, just now," the harbor-master replied.

Ken said, so he had heard, but that wasn't it. And he told the man about the abandoned power-boat in the inlet. The harbor-master stood up straight and looked at Ken, at last.

"Wal, ding!" said he. "That's Joe 82