f Noah had it with him in the Ark. But it is a fact that
I sat here asleep while a mob was in my house?"

"Yes," said Lyman, "you were asleep when I came down stairs."

"Well, sir, it's news to me. And it shows what licker will fetch a man
to. It will take me some little time to explain it to Tobithy."

"I suppose it will," said Lyman, smiling at him.

"Oh, it's a fact. Women fight against reason, you know, as long as
they can. Yes, sir, it will take me a month to convince her that I
wa'n't drunk. I admit that I drank a few drinks, small ones, not
enough to hurt me if I had been right at myself, but I was tired and
sleepy before I touched a drop. Lyman, I wish you would explain it to
her. She's got a good deal of confidence in you--a good deal more than
she has in me. I wish you would tell her that I wasn't drunk."

"I think the best plan, Uncle Jasper, would be to say nothing about
it."

"All right, we'll let it drop then. But I'll have to reason with her,
and, as I said before, it is goin' to take some time to explain. Go in
to breakfast and let me sit down here in my misery. Say, if you could
hint that I am awfully sorry I'd be obliged to you; and if you could
give them to understand that you don't think I'm goin' to live long,
it would be a big favor."

When Lyman stepped out upon the street he was soon made to feel that
the White Cap affair had become common property. Some of the villagers
were inclined to treat it as a great joke, but the graver ones looked
upon it as a serious infraction of the law. Sawyer's name was not
mentioned, but everyone appeared to understand that he was the leader.

Warren was standing at the foot of the office stairs as Lyman came up.
They smiled at each other.

"Well," said Warren, "have you got another piece of news to
suppress?"

"I am afraid so," Lyman answered, as he started up the stairs.

"You are afraid so?" said Warren, tramping beside him. "How much
longer is this suppression act to remain in force? Confound it, you
help make three-fourths of the news in the neighborhood and then won't
print it because it concerns you. All news concerns somebody, you must
understand."

They went into the editorial room. Lyman took up his pipe and Warren
stood looking at him. Lyman sat down and lighted his pipe. "My boy,"
said he, "it may seem hard, but I have a reason for keeping this thing
out of print. It is not for myself, for my own sense of delicacy does
not protest against