Come; it is a bargain, isn't it?
Any brass to be scrubbed--boss ?" Of course, had Eastboro Twin-Lights been an important station, the possibility of John Brown's remaining there would have been nonexistent.
If it had been winter, or even early spring or fall, a regular assistant would have been appointed at once, and the castaway given his walking papers.

If Seth Atkins had not been Seth Atkins, particular friend of the district superintendent, matters might have been different.

But the Eastboro lights were unimportant, merely a half-way mark between Orham on the one hand and the powerful Seaboard Heights beacon on the other.
It was the beginning of summer, when wrecks almost never occurred.

And the superintendent liked Seth, and Seth liked him.

So, although Mr.
Atkins still scoffed at his guest's becoming a permanent fixture at the lights, and merely consented, after more parley, to see if he couldn't arrange for him to "hang around and help a spell until somebody else was sent," the conversation with the superintendent over the long distance 'phone resulted more favorably for Brown than that nonchalant young gentleman had a reasonable right to expect.
"The Lord knows who I can send you now, Atkins!" said the superintendent.