Only I thought I'd drop in a-passin', to keep you posted;" and, taking off his hat, he began to back from the porch.
"Is--is--this gentleman who is to assist me--a--a mature professional man--or a--graduate ?" hesitated Mrs.Martin, with a faint smile.
"Don't really know--I reckon Sam--Mr.Barstow--fixed that all right.
Must really go now;" and, still holding his hat in his hand as a polite compromise for his undignified haste, he fairly ran off.
Arrived at the stage office, he found the two other trustees awaiting him, and the still more tardy stage-coach.

One, a large, smooth-faced, portly man, was the Presbyterian minister; the other, of thinner and more serious aspect, was a large mill-owner.
"I presume," said the Rev.Mr.Peaseley, slowly, "that as our good brother Barstow, in the urgency of the occasion, has, to some extent, anticipated OUR functions in engaging this assistant, he is--a--a--satisfied with his capacity ?" "Sam knows what he's about," said the mill-owner cheerfully, "and as he's regularly buckled down to the work here, and will go his bottom dollar on it, you can safely leave things to him." "He certainly has exhibited great zeal," said the reverend gentleman patronizingly.
"Zeal," echoed Sperry enthusiastically, "zeal?
Why, he runs Pine Clearing as he runs his bank and his express company in Sacramento, and he's as well posted as if he were here all the time.

Why, look here;" he nudged the mill-owner secretly, and, as the minister's back was momentarily turned, pulled out the letter he had avoided reading to Mrs.
Martin, and pointed to a paragraph.

"I'll be d----d," said the writer, "but I'll have peace and quietness at Pine Clearing, if I have to wipe out or make over the whole Pike County gang.

Draw on me for a piano if you think Mrs.Martin can work it.