"I have heard of the late Mr. Sawyer and was sorry to hear of his early demise." He looked at Abner, then at Mr. Strout.

"Your friend here has told me about his wonderful exploits--how he thrashed the town bully, and beat the singing-master at his own game."

Bob Wood and Strout glared at Abner.

"But his experiences, which I have been told have appeared in print,"

the stranger continued, "are trifling compared with the perils and adventures which have fallen to my lot. I could make your blood run cold."

"Ef we open the front door, I guess the weather will do that," said Hiram, and it was the general opinion, though not verbally expressed, that Hiram had got one on the stranger.

Mr. Emmanuel Howe, the clergyman's son, was noted for his extreme politeness. He had attended one term at a divinity school before he met Miss Dixie Schaffer. He arose from the nail-keg upon which he had been sitting, and motioned for the stranger to take his place.

As he accepted the mute invitation, Mr. Ricker turned to the company and said: "Gentlemen, shall I intrude upon your time if I relate just one of my adventures?"

"Oh, go ahead," said Strout. "It's our rule to let a man talk until we get enough, and then--"

He raised his right foot, suddenly.

"I understand," said Mr. Ricker. "When I was about twenty-two years old our vessel was wrecked and I, the only one saved, was cast ash.o.r.e on a cannibal island--or, to be more correct ethnologically, an island inhabited by cannibals. I was a handsome young fellow, and it is not at all surprising that the Queen, who was young, unmarried, and, fortunately, very pretty, fell in love with me and wished to become my wife.

"But the Prime Minister, or Great Panjandrum, as he was called, wished his son to marry the Queen and become King, so he, and his minions planned to get rid of me.

"Lola-Akwa, that was the Queen's name, discovered the plot, and resolved to save me.

"You all read your Bibles, and you will remember that in the olden days there were places that were called 'Cities of Refuge.' On that island there was a Tree of Refuge. It was at least one hundred feet high and for two hundred feet from it, in every direction, not a tree or shrub could be found. This open s.p.a.ce gave the pursuers a fine chance for an arrow shot before the refugee reached the tree.

"Lola-Akwa told me to climb to the top of that tree and stay there until she sent word for me to come down.

"But the Great Panjandrum discovered my hiding place. The Queen declared that I was protected by all that was sacred in their religion, but the Great Panjandrum proved by the cannibal Bible that only cannibals were ent.i.tled to its protection. He said they would roast a man, and if I would eat him and pick his bones I might go free. I declined, for I am rather particular about my diet.

"Then the Great Panjandrum seized an axe and struck at the foot of the tree. Others followed his wicked example and it soon began to totter.

They next tied a rope about the trunk of the tree. The plotters were sixteen in number--I counted them. They stood in line, tugging at the rope.

"Lola-Akwa stood far back awaiting the terrible moment of my death. I could see that her eyes were filled with tears. The tree fell, and I went flying through the air--to certain death!

"When I came to, I found myself clasped in Lola-Akwa's arms. 'Where am I?' I asked. 'Look' she said. I did, and learned the wonderful truth.

"The Great Tree had fallen upon the Great Panjandrum and his fifteen conspirators and killed them all."

For a moment there was silence, then a chorus of voices exclaimed: "Did you marry the Queen?"

The stranger pressed his hand upon his forehead.

"No. If I remember correctly some one held an ace and took my Queen."

He rose from the nail-keg.

"I'm hungry. I would like some supper and a bed for the night. To-morrow I will embrace my only living relative. Is there a boarding house in town?"

"Somethin' better'n that," said Abner. "We've got a Hotel--the Hawkins House. Mrs. Hawkins keeps it. I'm going along that way and I'll interduce you. She's a pretty good talker herself," and Abner winked with both eyes as they went out.

"Well," said Benoni, as the door closed after them. "The Bible says Ananias was a pretty good story teller, but that gentleman seems to have added some modern improvements."

"He's a cussed liar," said Bob Wood.

"And if Mrs. Hawkins is smart she'll make him pay in advance."

The door was thrown open full width and two men rushed in.

"Have you seen him?" cried one.

"Seen who?" asked Strout.

"He's tall--black clothes--had on a straw hat--"

"Who in thunder is he?" cried Strout.

"He's a lunatic--just escaped from the asylum. We tracked him to this town--"

"He's gone to the hotel," said Bob Wood. "You can nab him easy there.

I'll show you the way."

The men started on the run, led by Bob Wood, and followed by all who had been enjoying the hospitality afforded by the soap-boxes, nail-kegs, and the red-hot stove.

"What beats me," said Hiram, "is how he knew all about the Ricker family."

"Simple enough," said Strout with a sneer, "That a.s.s Abner told him the whole business. He never could keep his mouth shet. That's the reason I wouldn't give him a job in this store."

Mr. Strout extinguished some of the lights, locked the door, and resumed his seat by the stove.

"Ain't you going home?" asked Hiram.

"Not jest yet; I've some thinkin' to do. I don't take much stock in fightin' but I'd like to punch Abner Stiles' head."

"What's he been doing?"

"Why, didn't you hear what he said he said to that crazy fellow about Sawyer getting the best of me at my own game?"

"Wall, he told the truth, didn't he, Strout?"

"Look here, Mr. Hiram Maxwell, I want you to understand that if we are to continue together as partners in this 'ere grocery business, there must be mutual respect atween us."

"Wall," said Hiram, "I s'pose you mean by that, that ef I ain't what you consider respec'ful to you, you'll get out and leave me the business.

You see, Obadiah, it's not for you or me to say who'll stay in--that's for the trustees. So, I wouldn't lay down the law too fine, Obadiah."

"Wall, I hoped," said Strout, "that when that Sawyer married 'Zeke Pettingill's sister and left this town that we'd be able to have a little peace round here and run things our own way. Course, I don't want any man to get drowned, but it wasn't my fault that the ship he was on ran into another. He was allus runnin' into somethin' that didn't concern him. But bein' he's gone, and no blame can be laid at my door, I thought we'd heard the last of him, but since he's died the air's fuller of Sawyer than it was afore. It makes me sick the way everybody tumbles over themselves to make of that boy of his'n. I don't think there's much to him."

"He's got a big head, an' he's a mighty bright little fellow," said Hiram.