The men were young, well dressed and handsome; the woman a beauty of the most dashing type.

Tinkletown's best spellers quivered with excitement.
[Illustration: "The teacher was amazingly pretty on this eventful night"] "Ladies and gentlemen," said Miss Banks, her voice trembling with eagerness, "let me introduce my friends, Mrs.Farnsworth, Mr.
Farnsworth, and Mr.Reddon.They have driven over to attend the spelling-match." Ed Higgins and 'Rast Little observed with sinking hearts that it was Mr.Reddon whom she led forward by the hand, and they cursed him inwardly for the look he gave her--because she blushed beneath it.
"You don't live in Boggs City," remarked Mr.Crow, appointing himself spokesman.

"I c'n deduce that, 'cause you're carrying satchels an' valises." "Mr.Crow is a famous detective," explained Miss Banks.

Anderson attempted to assume an unconscious pose, but in leaning back he missed the end of the bench, and sat sprawling upon the lap of Mrs.Harbaugh.
As Mrs.Harbaugh had little or no lap to speak of, his downward course was diverted but not stayed.

He landed on the floor with a grunt that broke simultaneously with the lady's squeak; a fraction of a second later a roar of laughter swept the room.