ain
Street, at least half a mile separating the home of the law and the home
of the lawless. Marshal Crow's innate love for the spectacular alone
explains the unneighbourliness of the two establishments. He felt an
inward glory in riding or walking the full length of the street, and he
certainly had no reason to suspect the populace of disregarding the
outward glory he presented.

The original plan of the merchantry comprehended the erection of the
jail in close proximity to the home of its chief official, but Mr. Crow
put his foot flatly and ponderously upon the scheme. With the dignity
which made him noticeable, he said he'd "be doggoned ef he wanted to
have people come to his own dooryard to be arrested." By which, it may
be inferred, that he expected the evil-doer to choose his own arresting
place.

Mr. and Mrs. Crow were becoming thrifty, in view of the prospect that
confronted them, to wit: The possible marriage of Rosalie and the
cutting off of the yearly payments. As she was to be absent for a full
month or more, Anderson conceived the idea of advertising for a lodger
and boarder. By turning Roscoe out of his bed, they obtained a spare
room that looked down upon the peony beds beyond the side "portico."

Mr. Crow was lazily twisting his meagre chin whiskers one morning soon
after Rosalie's departure. He was leaning against the town pump in front
of the post-office, the sun glancing impotently off the bright badge on
the lapel of his alpaca coat. A stranger came forth from the post-office
and approached the marshal.

"Is this Mr. Crow?" he asked, with considerable deference.

"It is, sir."

"They tell me you take lodgers."

"Depends."

"My name is Gregory, Andrew Gregory, and I am here to canvass the
neighbourhood in the interest of the Human Life Insurance Company of
Penobscot. If you need references, I can procure them from New York or
Boston."

The stranger was a tall, lean-faced man of forty or forty-five, well
dressed, with a brusque yet pleasant manner of speech. His moustache and
beard were black and quite heavy. Mr. Crow eyed him quietly for a
moment.

"I don't reckon I'll ask fer references. Our rates are six dollars a
week, board an' room. Childern bother you?"

"Not at all. Have you any?"

"Some, more or less. They're mostly grown."

"I will take board and room for two weeks, at least," said Mr. Gregory,
who seemed to be a man of action.

For almost a week the insurance agent plied