anion was too much absorbed in his own thoughts to
notice a matter like this.

"They're a long time in getting supper," remarked Carlton, in a
well-affected tone of impatience. "What is the time now?"

Wilkinson drew forth his watch, and, after glancing upon the face,
replied--

"Ten minutes after eight."

"We shall have it pretty soon now, I suppose. They don't understand the
double quick time movement out here."

As Carlton said this, his eyes rested, with more than a mere passing
interest, on the gold lever that Wilkinson, instead of returning to his
pocket, retained in one hand, while with the other he toyed with the
key and chain in a half-abstracted manner.

For the space of nearly a minute, neither of the men spoke, but the
thought of each was at the same point.

"That's a beautiful watch," at length Carlton ventured to say. There
was a well disguised indifference in his tones.

"It ought to be," was the reply of Wilkinson.

"What did it cost you?"

"One hundred and forty dollars."

"Is it a good time-keeper?"

"First-rate. It hasn't varied a minute in six months."

"Just such a watch as I would like to own. I've had terrible bad luck
with watches."

This was a kind of feeler.

No reply was made by Wilkinson, although an offer to sell trembled on
his tongue. He still kept the watch in his hand, and toyed with the key
and chain, as before, in an absent manner.

"Could you be tempted to sell?" finally asked Carlton.

"I don't know. Perhaps I might,"--said Wilkinson. He drew his breath
deeply as he spoke.

"Or, perhaps you would trade?" and Carlton now produced his gold lever.
"Mine is a very good watch, though not so valuable as yours. It keeps
fair time, however. I paid a hundred dollars for it three or four years
ago."

A mutual examination of watches took place.

"Well--what do you say to a trade?"

The servant appeared at this juncture, and announced supper. The two
watches were returned to their respective places of deposit, and the
two men proceeded to the dining-room. Here the traffic, just begun, was
renewed and completed. The watches were exchanged, and Wilkinson
received sixty dollars "boot."

"Shall I order the horse brought out?" asked Carlton, as they arose,
about half an hour afterwards, from the supper-table.

"Yes; if you please."

This was not said with much promptness of tone; a fact instantly noted
by the ear of Carlton.

"Well, I'm ready. Come--let's have a dri