He strode back to the door of the woodshed, handed his friend the crumpled envelope, and stalked off without another word.

The captain chuckled, laid the letter on the bench beside him and went on with his work.

It was perhaps ten minutes later when, happening to glance at the postmark on the envelope, he saw that it was "Concord, N.H." Asaph's vote-gathering trip "to the east'ard" made a full day for him.
He returned to the perfect boarding house just at supper time.

During the meal he realized that Mr.Bangs seemed to be trying to attract his attention.

Whenever he glanced in that gentleman's direction his glance was met by winks and mystifying shakes of the head.