yrus, we are here to claim--"

"Then do your claimin' inside. It's kind of chilly to-night, there's
plenty of empty chairs, and we don't need to hold an overflow meetin'.
Come ahead in."

The trio looked at each other in hesitation. Then Mr. Atkins
majestically entered the dining room. Thomas and Simpson followed him.

"Abe," observed Captain Cy to Leonard, who was advancing toward the
steps, "I'm sorry not to be hospitable, but there's too many of you to
invite at once, and 'tain't polite to show partiality. You and the rest
are welcome to sit on the terrace or stroll 'round the deer park. Good
night."

He closed the door in the face of the disappointed Abel and turned to
the three in the room.

"Well," he said, "out with it. You've come to claim somethin', I
understand."

"I come for my rights," shouted Mr. Thomas.

"Yes? Well, this ain't State's prison or I'd give 'em to you with
pleasure. Heman, you'd better do the talkin'. We'll probably get ahead
faster."

The Honorable cleared his throat and waved his hand.

"Cyrus," he began, "you are my boyhood friend and my fellow townsman and
neighbor. Under such circumstances it gives me pain--"

"Then don't let us discuss painful subjects. Let's get down to business.
You've come to rescue Bos'n--Emily, that is,--from the 'robber'--I'm
quotin' Deacon Thomas here--that's got her, so's to turn her over to her
sorrowin' father. Is that it? Yes. Well, you can't have her--not yet."

"Cyrus," said Mr. Atkins, "I'm sorry to see that you take it this way.
You haven't the shadow of a right. We have the law with us, and your
conduct will lead us to invoke it. The constable is outside. Shall I
call him in?"

"Uncle Bedny" was the town constable and had been since before the war.
The purely honorary office was given him each year as a joke. Captain Cy
grinned broadly, and even Tad was obliged to smile.

"Don't be inhuman, Heman," urged the captain. "You wouldn't turn me over
to be man-handled by Uncle Bedny, would you?"

"This is not a humorous affair--" began the congressman, with dignity.
But the "bereaved father" had been prospecting on his own hook, and now
he peeped into the sitting room.

"Here she is!" he shouted. "I see her. Come on, Emmie! Your dad's come
for you. Let go of her, you woman! What do you mean by holdin' on to
her?"

The situation which was "not humorous" immediately became much less so.
The next minute was a lively one. It ended as Mr. Thomas