Plattville had often discussed the editor's habit of silence, and Mr.Martin had suggested that possibly the reason Mr.Harkless was such a quiet man was that there was nobody for him to talk to.

His hearers did not agree, for the population of Carlow County was a thing of pride, being greater than that of several bordering counties.

They did agree, however, that Harkless's quiet was not unkind, whatever its cause, and that when it was broken it was usually broken to conspicuous effect.

Perhaps it was because he wrote so much that he hated to talk.
A bent figure came slowly down the street, and William hailed it cheerfully: "Evening, Mr.Fisbee." "A good evening, Mr.Todd," answered the old man, pausing.

"Ah, Mr.
Harkless, I was looking for you." He had not seemed to be looking for anything beyond the boundaries of his own dreams, but he approached Harkless, tugging nervously at some papers in his pocket.