ost you a cent."

For a full minute Colonel Ward stood before him and writhed his gaunt
form and twisted his blue lips and waggled his bony jaws. But not
a sound could he utter. Then he whirled and signalled a trolley-car
and climbed on board. With intense satisfaction the Cap'n noted that
the car was marked "Union Station."

"Well, home is the best place for him," muttered the Cap'n; "home
and a flaxseed poultice on his chist and complete rest of mind and
body. Now I'll settle for that schooner, hunt up Hime Look and that
pertickler and admirin' friend of his, that infernal elephant, and
then I reckon I'll--eraow-w-w!" he yawned. "I'll go home and rest
up a little, too."

That repose was not disturbed by Colonel Gideon Ward. The Colonel
had decided that affairs in his timber tracts needed his attention
during that autumn.

XXV

Events do bunch themselves strangely, sometimes.

They bunched in Smyrna as follows:

1. The new monument arrived for Batson Reeves's graveyard lot in
which was interred the first Mrs. Reeves; monument a belated arrival.

2. The announcement was made that Batson Reeves had at last caught
a new wife in the person of Widow Delora Crymble, wedding set for
Tuesday week.

3. Dependence Crymble, deceased husband of Delora, reappeared on
earth. This latter event to be further elaborated.

Cap'n Aaron Sproul, first selectman of Smyrna, on his way from his
home to the town office, found several men leaning on the graveyard
fence, gazing over into the hallowed precincts of the dead with
entire lack of that solemnity that is supposed to be attached to
graveyards. It was on the morning following the last stroke of work
on the Reeves monument.

The Reeves monument, a wholly unique affair, consisted of a
life-sized granite figure of Mr. Reeves standing on a granite
pedestal in the conventional attitude of a man having his photograph
taken. His head was set back stiffly, the right foot was well advanced,
and he held a round-topped hat in the hook of his elbow.

On the pedestal was carved:

ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF
LOANTHA REEVES,
WIFE OF BATSON REEVES, ACCORDING TO HER
LAST REQUEST.

It may be said in passing that Mrs. Reeves, having entertained a very
exalted opinion of Mr. Reeves during life, left a portion of her own
estate in the hands of trustees in order that this sentinel figure
should stand guard above her in the sunshine and the rain. The idea
was poetic.