CHAPTER V.
A BABY AND A ROBBERY The morning train for Boston, at that season of the year, reached East Harniss at five minutes to six, an "ungodly hour," according to the irascible Mr.Ogden Williams, who, in company with some of his wealthy friends, the summer residents, was petitioning the railroad company for a change in the time-table.

When Captain Sol Berry, the depot master, walked briskly down Main Street the morning following Mr.Gott's eventful evening at the club, the hands of the clock on the Methodist church tower indicated that the time was twenty minutes to six.
Issy McKay was already at the depot, the doors of which were open.
Captain Sol entered the waiting room and unlocked the ticket rack and the little safe.

Issy, languidly toying with the broom on the front platform, paused in his pretense of sweeping and awaited permission to go home for breakfast.

It came, in characteristic fashion.
"How's the salt air affectin' your appetite, Is ?" asked the Captain, casually.
Issy, who, being intensely serious by nature, was uneasy when he suspected the presence of a joke, confusedly stammered that he cal'lated his appetite was all right.
"Payin' for the Major's glass ain't kept you awake worryin', has it ?" "No-o, sir.

I--" "P'r'aps you thought he was the one to 'do the worryin', hey ?" "I--I don't know." "Well, what's your folks goin' to have to eat this mornin' ?" Issy admitted his belief that fried clams were to be the breakfast.
"So?
Clams?
Is, did you ever read the soap advertisement about not bein' a clam ?" "I--I don't know's I ever did.