The appearance of the man at so late an hour excited serious apprehensions in the mind of Angeline lest he should bring news of some disaster to the good ship Pacific.
Then turning to Mrs.Chapman, he said, "I hope, madam, I have not intruded on your privacy here to-night ?" That lady, having dropped him one of her best bows, assured him there was nothing private so far as she was concerned.

"We are friends and neighbors of these good people," she replied with a forced smile and an air of condescension.

"We like to be neighborly, and just dropped in to make a friendly call.

That's all, sir." "I am very glad to meet Mr.Toodleburg.Very glad to find him such an excellent person," the stranger repeated, turning to Hanz, and again taking him by the hand.

"Topman, I said my name was; Luke Topman, senior partner of the enterprising house of Topman and Gusher, doing a large miscellaneous business in Pearl, near Wall street.