Where's the store ?" "Which store ?" quite crossly.

The stranger seemed nonplussed at this.
"Have you more than--oh, to be sure.

I should say, where is the _nearest_ store ?" apologised the stranger.
"Well, this is a good one, I reckon," said Mr.Crow laconically, indicating the post-office and general store.
"Will you be good enough to hold my horse while I run in there for a minute ?" calmly asked the new arrival in town, springing lightly from the mud-spattered buggy.

Anderson Crow almost staggered beneath this indignity.

The crowd gasped, and then waited breathlessly for the withering process.
"Why--why, dod-gast you, sir, what do you think I am--a hitchin'-post ?" exploded on the lips of the new detective.