32/48 "Is there anything I can do ?" Phineas glowered at him. "Yes," he snarled between his clenched teeth, "you can mind your own darned business." Then, turning to the boy who had brought the message, he ordered: "You get out of here." The frightened youngster scuttled away and Babbitt, the telegram rattling in his shaking hand, followed him. The captain, hurrying to the window, saw him go down the walk and along the road in the direction of his store. He walked like a man stricken. "Now what in time was in that telegram ?" he demanded. |