my best to find someone who will,
though. I know a lot of good fellows who travel--"

I held up my hand. "That's enough," I interrupted. "They can't travel
with me. They wouldn't be good fellows long if they did."

He struck the chair arm with his fist.

"You're as near impossible as you can be, aren't you," he exclaimed.
"Never mind; you're going to do as I tell you. I never gave you bad
advice yet, now did I?"

"No--o. No, but--"

"I'm not giving it to you now. You'll go and you'll go in a hurry. I'll
give you a week to think the idea over. At the end of that time if I
don't hear from you I'll be down here again, and I'll worry you every
minute until you'll go anywhere to get rid of me. Kent, you must do it.
You aren't written out, as you call it, but you are rusting out, fast.
If you don't get away and polish up you'll never do a thing worth while.
You'll be another what's-his-name--Ase Tidditt; that's what you'll be. I
can see it coming on. You're ossifying; you're narrowing; you're--"

I broke in here. I didn't like to be called narrow and I did not like
to be paired with Asaph Tidditt, although our venerable town clerk is a
good citizen and all right, in his way. But I had flattered myself that
way was not mine.

"Stop it, Jim!" I ordered. "Don't blow off any more steam in this
ridiculous fashion. If this is all you have to say to me, you may as
well stop."

"Stop! I've only begun. I'll stop when you start, and not before. Will
you go?"

"I can't, Jim. You know I can't."

"I know you can and I know you're going to. There!" rising and laying a
hand on my shoulder, "it is time for ME to be starting. Kent, old man, I
want you to promise me that you will do as I tell you. Will you?"

"I can't, Jim. I would if I could, but--"

"Will you promise me to think the idea over? Think it over carefully;
don't think of anything else for the rest of the week? Will you promise
me to do that?"

I hesitated. I was perfectly sure that all my thinking would but
strengthen my determination to remain at home, but I did not like to
appear too stubborn.

"Why, yes, Jim," I said, doubtfully, "I promise so much, if that is any
satisfaction to you."

"All right. I'll give you until Friday to make up your mind. If I don't
hear from you by that time I shall take it for granted that you have
made it up in the wrong way and I'll be here on Saturday. I'll keep the
process up week in and week out until you give in. That's MY