Fortunately, being gifted with a keen perception, he was able to describe the stranger accurately, and to impart with his description that contempt for its subject which he had felt, and which to his frontier auditor established its truthfulness.

Peyton turned abruptly away, but presently returned with Harry and another man.
"You are sure of this ?" said Peyton, half-encouragingly.
"Yes, sir." "As sure as you are that your father is Colonel Brant and is dead ?" said Harry, with a light laugh.
Tears sprang into the boy's lowering eyes.

"I don't lie," he said doggedly.
"I believe you, Clarence," said Peyton quietly.

"But why didn't you say it before ?" "I didn't like to say it before Susy and--her!" stammered the boy.
"Her ?" "Yes, sir--Mrs.Peyton," said Clarence blushingly.
"Oh," said Harry sarcastically, "how blessed polite we are!" "That'll do.

Let up on him, will you ?" said Peyton, roughly, to his subordinate.