Page:The Eight-Oared Victors.djvu/105

Rh, but I long for this country and I come. I do what you call a business on the edge."

"On the edge?" murmured Tom.

"Yes, senor, on the edge. Or maybe you say on the point. You see he is like this: I am the take-care man for the cottages in place of Senor Blasdell in Winter. In Summer I am the cut-the-grassman or the garden-man, what you like. Then, besides, in addition, on the edge I sell things in my store which it is unfortunately not open now, or I should show the senorita some pretty things. The store I do on the edge—or maybe on the point, I know not how you say," and he shrugged his shoulders expressively.

"Oh, he means on the side!" cried Ruth. "Don't you understand, Tom? He is a caretaker, and at odd times he sells things to the Summer cottagers."

"The senorita has said it," went on Mendez. "It Is on the side, not on the edge—pardon!"

"What do you sell?" asked Tom, curiously.

"Everything. Things from the country. Of a specialty I have the beautiful Mexican pushwork, senorita."

"Push-work, that's another new one," said Tom.

"I guess he means Mexican drawn-work," explained Ruth with a smile. "Some of it is very