we had hunted through that
wagon-body a dozen times.

"However, that makes no difference; we had the package, and I had just
started down-town to turn it in when I stopped to look at the
excitement here. Lucky for me, or I'd never had a bite of this
particular red apple, the sweetest pippin that orchard ever grew.
Excuse me, gentlemen, if I do the saphead act--by jinks! I FEEL like
it."

"The sentiment does you honor, Mr. Day," said Indiman, gravely. "You
ought to take that five-o'clock train."

"Wouldn't I like to!" sighed the enamoured youth. "But I can't go down
to the company office in Bowling Green and get back in time to make it.
It's three o'clock now."

"You would not care to intrust the delivery of the package to me?"

"Well, hardly," was the frank reply. "You see, mister, I've been living
in New York for three months, now, and I've cut most of my eye-teeth.
No offence, of course."

"Certainly not."

"You look straight goods, and I b'lieve I'd run almost any risk to
catch that train--well, by jinks! here comes Grenelli now; that makes
it all O.K."

I did not like the looks of the man who presently joined us in response
to Ben Day's hail. I distrust, on principle, people with thin,
bloodless lips and obliquely set eyes. Yet the fellow spoke pleasantly
enough, and he readily undertook to clear young Day's name and
reputation with his former employers. The boy handed over the parcel to
Grenelli, and then, as he turned to go, begged the honor of shaking
hands with Indiman and myself, a permission graciously granted. After
all, we had borne no inconsiderable share in the later developments of
his good-fortune. Suppose Indiman had NOT upset the apple-cart?

"And now," said Indiman, turning to Grenelli and speaking with great
suavity, "I am going to ask the favor of a short interview. My house is
only two numbers away."

Grenelli shook his head. "I've nothing to say to you--" he began,
defiantly.

Indiman stepped quickly to the fellow's side, took his arm and pressed
it closely. He said a few words in an undertone, and to my surprise
Grenelli instantly submitted. We entered the house and went to the
library on the first floor front. Indiman took from his side
coat-pocket a cocked revolver and laid it on the table. So that was the
kind of persuasion that it had been necessary to apply to secure Mr.
Grenelli's attendance. One is apt to yield the point when he feels a
pistol-barrel prodding him in the ri