"Yes, my young friend, and you sat down and wrote her a pretty letter and sent her twenty dollars--which, permit me to say, was d----d poor pay! But that isn't your fault, I reckon: it's the meanness of your proprietors." "But it isn't the question, either, just now, Jack, however you have been able to answer it.

Do you mean to say seriously that you want to know anything more of a woman who could write such a letter ?" "I don't know," said Jack, cheerfully.

"She might be a devilish sight funnier than if she hadn't written it--which is the fact." "You mean to say SHE didn't write it ?" "Yes." "Who did, then ?" "Her brother Bob." After a moment's scrutiny of his friend's bewildered face, Mr.Hamlin briefly related his adventures, from the moment of his meeting Bob at the mountain-stream to the barkeeper's gossiping comment and sequel.
"Therefore," he concluded, "the author of 'Underbrush' is Miss Cynthia Delatour, one of four daughters of a widow who lives two miles from here at the crossing.

I shall see her this evening and make sure; but to-morrow morning you will pay me the breakfast you owe me.

She's good-looking, but I can't say I fancy the poetic style: it's a little too high-toned for me.