The oftener you let people see you, the less curious they'll be." Sam's new way of life, too, began to be discussed where men most congregated.

Loungers at stores, the railway station, and the post-office talked of the town's only ex-convict who had not yet gone back to his old ways.

Most of the men who talked of him did it in about the manner of spectators of the gladiatorial combats in ancient Rome: they admired the endurance and courage of the man, but seldom did it occur to them to stretch out a hand to help him.

There were exceptions to this rule, however.

An old farmer who had brought a load of wheat to the station listened to the tale, asked a great many questions about the case, and said, finally,-- "I s'pose you're all doin' all you can to help him along ?" The by-standers looked at one another, but no one answered in the affirmative.