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them； it would be to say nothing here until the thing was settled。
〃He evidently does not intend to give us a chance；〃 said Grant
good…humoredly to his companion； as they turned to prepare for
their journey； 〃we are to be conducted in silence to the outskirts
of the town like horse…thieves。〃
〃But you gave him the tip for himself；〃 said Rice reproachfully；
〃you cannot blame him for wanting to keep it。〃
〃I gave it to him in trust for his two incredible daughters；〃 said
Grant with a grimace。 〃But； hang it！ if I don't believe the fellow
has more concern in it than I imagined。〃
〃But isn't she perfect？〃 said Rice； with charming abstraction。
〃Who？〃
〃Clementina； and so unlike her father。〃
〃Discomposingly so；〃 said Grant quietly。 〃One feels in calling her
'Miss Harkutt' as if one were touching upon a manifest indiscretion。
But here comes John Milton。 Well； my lad； what can I do for you？〃
The boy； who had been regarding them from a distance with wistful
and curious eyes as they replaced their instruments for the
journey； had gradually approached them。 After a moment's timid
hesitation he said； looking at Grant： 〃You don't know anybody in
this kind o' business；〃 pointing to the instruments； 〃who'd like a
boy； about my size？〃
〃I'm afraid not； J。 M。；〃 said Grant； cheerfully； without suspending
his operation。 〃The fact is； you see； it's not exactly the kind of
work for a boy of your size。〃
John Milton was silent for a moment； shifting himself slowly from
one leg to another as he watched the surveyor。 After a pause he
said； 〃There don't seem to be much show in this world for boys o'
my size。 There don't seem to be much use for 'em any way。〃 This
not bitterly； but philosophically； and even politely； as if to
relieve Grant's rejection of any incivility。
〃Really you quite pain me； John Milton；〃 said Grant； looking up as
he tightened a buckle。 〃I never thought of it before； but you're
right。〃
〃Now；〃 continued the boy slowly； 〃with girls it's just different。
Girls of my size everybody does things for。 There's Clemmy；she's
only two years older nor me； and don't know half that I do； and yet
she kin lie about all day； and hasn't to get up to breakfast。 And
Phemie；who's jest the same age； size； and weight as me；maw and
paw lets her do everything she wants to。 And so does everybody。
And so would you。〃
〃But you surely don't want to be like a girl？〃 said Grant； smiling。
It here occurred to John Milton's youthful but not illogical mind
that this was not argument； and he turned disappointedly away。 As
his father was to accompany the strangers a short distance； he；
John Milton； was to…day left in charge of the store。 That duty；
however； did not involve any pecuniary transactionsthe taking of
money or making of change but a simple record on a slate behind the
counter of articles selected by those customers whose urgent needs
could not wait Mr。 Harkutt's return。 Perhaps on account of this
degrading limitation； perhaps for other reasons； the boy did not
fancy the task imposed upon him。 The presence of the idle loungers
who usually occupied the armchairs near the stove； and occasionally
the counter； dissipated any romance with which he might have
invested his charge； he wearied of the monotony of their dull
gossip； but mostly he loathed the attitude of hypercritical counsel
and instruction which they saw fit to assume towards him at such
moments。 〃Instead o' lazin' thar behind the counter when your
father ain't here to see ye； John；〃 remarked Billings from the
depths of his armchair a few moments after Harkutt had ridden away；
〃ye orter be bustlin' round； dustin' the shelves。 Ye'll never come
to anythin' when you're a man ef you go on like that。 Ye never
heard o' Harry Claythat was called 'the Mill…boy of the Slashes'
sittin' down doin' nothin' when he was a boy。〃
〃I never heard of him loafin' round in a grocery store when he was
growned up either；〃 responded John Milton； darkly。
〃P'r'aps you reckon he got to be a great man by standin' up sassin'
his father's customers；〃 said Peters； angrily。 〃I kin tell ye；
young man； if you was my boy〃
〃If I was YOUR boy； I'd be playin' hookey instead of goin' to
school； jest as your boy is doin' now；〃 interrupted John Milton；
with a literal recollection of his quarrel and pursuit of the youth
in question that morning。
An undignified silence on the part of the adults followed； the
usual sequel to those passages； Sidon generally declining to expose
itself to the youthful Harkutt's terrible accuracy of statement。
The men resumed their previous lazy gossip about Elijah Curtis's
disappearance； with occasional mysterious allusions in a lower
tone； which the boy instinctively knew referred to his father； but
which either from indolence or caution； the two great conservators
of Sidon； were never formulated distinctly enough for his
relentless interference。 The morning sunshine was slowly
thickening again in an indolent mist that seemed to rise from the
saturated plain。 A stray lounger shuffled over from the
blacksmith's shop to the store to take the place of another idler
who had joined an equally lethargic circle around the slumbering
forge。 A dull intermittent sound of hammering came occasionally
from the wheelwright's shedat sufficiently protracted intervals
to indicate the enfeebled progress of Sidon's vehicular repair。 A
yellow dog left his patch of sunlight on the opposite side of the
way and walked deliberately over to what appeared to be more
luxurious quarters on the veranda； was manifestly disappointed but
not equal to the exertion of returning； and sank down with blinking
eyes and a regretful sigh without going further。 A procession of
six ducks got well into a line for a laborious 〃march past〃 the
store； but fell out at the first mud puddle and gave it up。 A
highly nervous but respectable hen； who had ventured upon the
veranda evidently against her better instincts； walked painfully on
tiptoe to the door； apparently was met by language which no mother
of a family could listen to； and retired in strong hysterics。 A
little later the sun became again obscured； the wind arose； rain
fell； and the opportunity for going indoors and doing nothing was
once more availed of by all Sidon。
It was afternoon when Mr。 Harkutt returned。 He did not go into the
store； but entered the dwelling from the little picket…gate and
steep path。 There he called a family council in the sitting…room
as being the most reserved and secure。 Mrs。 Harkutt； sympathizing
and cheerfully ready for any affliction； still holding a dust…cloth
in her hand； took her seat by the window； with Phemie breathless
and sparkling at one side of her； while Clementina； all faultless
profile and repose； sat on the other。 To Mrs。 Harkutt's motherly
concern at John Milton's absence； it was pointed out that he was
wanted at the store；was a mere boy anyhow； and could not be
trusted。 Mr。 Harkutt； a little ruddier from weather； excitement；
and the unusual fortification of a glass of liquor； a little more
rugged in the lines of his face； and with an odd ring of defiant
self…assertion in his voice； stood before them in the centre of the
room。
He wanted them to listen to him carefully； to remember what he
said； for it was important； it might be a matter of 〃lawing〃
hereafter；and he couldn't be always repeating it to them；he
would have enough to do。 There was a heap of it that； as women…
folks； they couldn't understand； and weren't expected to。 But he'd
got it all clear now； and what he was saying was gospel。 He'd
always known to himself that the only good that could ever come to
Sidon would come by railroad。 When those fools talked wagon road
he had said nothing； but he had his own ideas； he had worked for
that idea without saying anything to anybody； that idea was to get
possession of all the land along the embarcadero； which nobody
cared for； and 'Lige Curtis was ready to sell for a song。 Well；
now； considering what had happened； he didn't mind telling them
that he had been gradually getting possession of it； little by
little； paying 'Lige Curtis in advances and installments； until it
was his own！ They had heard what those surveyors said； how that it
was the only fit terminus for the railroad。 Well； that land； and
that water…front； and the terminus were HIS！ And all from his own
foresight and prudence。
It is needless to say that this was not the truth。 But it is
necessary to point out that this fabrication was the result of his
last night's cogitations and his morning's experience。 He had
resolved upon a bold course。 He had reflected that his neighbors
would be more ready to believe in and to respect a hard； mercenary；
and speculative foresight in his taking advantage of 'Lige's
necessities than if he hadas was the casemerely benefited by