15-REVSUE

"You want me to what? Mrs. Muir, are you out of your mind? What if he comes in here? You know he torments me all too often! What will I say if he sees it?"

Carolyn looked around the crowded, messy room. "You could cover it with papers and he'd never see it," she suggested.

"No. No, I don't think so. Nothing would be enough to . . . "

"Claymore . . ." she added, desperately, "If you did it for me as a favor, I might find it possible to, well, to put a little dedication or something to you in my next book."

"Oh! Oh, now you're talking, Mrs. Muir!" suddenly the man was all smiles.

"And, of course, you're more than welcome to come to the birthday party."

"Didn't we do that last November?"

"That was his death day, remember?"

"Oh, right." Claymore frowned. "Do you think I'd have to get him a present, then?"

"Tell you what, Claymore. You come and bring this along in Ed's truck and I'll personally tell the Captain that it was all due to your agreement to store it and drive it up that he got his chart rack back."

"Oh, Mrs. Muir, that's a wonderful idea. He will be pleased, won't he? And I won't have to spend a penny! Not that I mind, of course, but, well, you know . . . "

"Yes, I do. Look, there's Ed now . . . Can we get him to help us move this in here now? I'm in a bit of a hurry."

"Very well, Mrs. Muir."

"Thank-you, Claymore."

"I should think so," he grumbled.

As Carolyn headed out the door again after moving the chart rack out of the car, she smiled sweetly at Claymore. "We'll eat at six that night."

"I don't know if I can eat there. I lose my appetite, not to mention my . . . well . . . "

"You invitin' me, too, Ms. Muir?" Ed smiled. "Martha makes a mean cherry pie!"

"I . . . well . . . actually, Ed, it's a birthday party for . . . well, for Jonathan's imaginary friend." Carolyn stammered.

"That's fine. I'll even bring him a present. 'Bye now." And he was gone.

Carolyn and Claymore stared in dismay at one another.

"Blast!" Carolyn said at last.

"Maybe he'll change his mind, Mrs. Muir." Claymore said rather doubtfully.

"We shall see, I suppose," Carolyn muttered and she walked out.