It was the 23d of December, and shortly after the closing hour.

Peleg had departed and our friend had just locked the vault when David came into the office and around behind the counter.
"Be you in any hurry ?" he asked.
John said he was not, whereupon Mr.Harum hitched himself up onto a high office stool, with his heels on the spindle, and leaned sideways upon the desk, while John stood facing him with his left arm upon the desk.
"John," said David, "do ye know the Widdo' Cullom ?" "No" said John, "but I know who she is--a tall, thin woman, who walks with a slight stoop and limp.

I noticed her and asked her name because there was something about her looks that attracted my attention--as though at some time she might have seen better days." "That's the party," said David.

"She has seen better days, but she's eat an' drunk sorro' mostly fer goin' on thirty year, an' darned little else good share o' the time, I reckon." "She has that appearance certainly," said John.
"Yes sir," said David, "she's had a putty tough time, the widdo' has, an' yet," he proceeded after a momentary pause, "the' was a time when the Culloms was some o' the king-pins o' this hull region.

They used to own quarter o' the county, an' they lived in the big house up on the hill where Doc Hays lives now.