On the nearest corner Mr.Todd encountered a fellow-townsman, who had been pacing up and down in front of a cottage, crooning to a protestive baby held in his arms.

He had paused in his vigil to stare after Harkless.
"Whereas he bound for, William ?" inquired the man with the baby.
"Briscoes'," answered William, pursuing his way.
"I reckoned he would be," commented the other, turning to his wife, who sat on the doorstep, "I reckoned so when I see that lady at the lecture last night." The woman rose to her feet.

"Hi, Bill Todd!" she said.

"What you got onto the back of your vest ?" William paused, put his hand behind him and encountered a paper pinned to the dangling strap of his waistcoat.

The woman ran to him and unpinned the paper.