A Captain Or Human Flotsam

"As overseer of the poor in this town I can't allow it, Captain Mayo!"

"Those people must land somewhere."

"Yes, yes, of course!" admitted Selectman Rowley. "But not here! I'm
beholden to the taxpayers."

"And I suppose the officers of all the other towns about here will say
the same?"

"Yes, yes! Of course."

"Do you still own that old fish-house?" asked the captain, after
hesitating for a few moments; "the sardine-canning plant?"

"Yes, sir."

"You're not using it now?"

"No, sir."

"It isn't paying you any revenue, eh?"

"No, sir."

"Then you ought to be willing to let it pretty cheap--month-to-month
lease!"

"Depends on what I'm letting it for."

"I want to stow those poor people in there till I can arrange further
for them, either show the matter up to the state, or get work for them,
or something! Will you let me have it?"

"No, sir!" declared the selectman, with vigor.

"It's only monthly lease, I repeat. You can prevent them from getting
pauper residence here, in case none of my plans work."

"Don't want 'em here--won't have 'em! I consider taxpayers first!"

"Don't ye ever consider common, ordinary, human decency?" roared Captain
Epps Candage.

It was astonishing interruption. Its violence made it startling. Mayo
whirled and stared amazedly at this new recruit.