-five per volume, and throw in one
volume from for the Kilo Sunday School library, where one and all can
have reference to its helpful and civilizing pages."

In Eliph' Hewlitt's eyes glowed the fire of conquest that always shone
in them when he was "talking book," a glitter such as shines in the eyes
of the enthusiast, and they fell upon Miss Sally Briggs, who had been
drawn by his eloquence to the edge of the ring of ladies. As he paused,
she recognized the moment as that when the victim is supposed to utter
the words, "Well, I guess I'll take a copy," but she missed the direct
appeal, and its absence confused her, and she was still wondering
whether it was now time to say she would take a copy, or whether she had
better wait for the formal appeal, when Mrs. Doc Weaver spoke for the
Ladies' Mission Circle.

When Eliph' Hewlitt left the house, half an hour later with his order
signed, Miss Sally had disappeared, and, although he peeked eagerly into
both the side rooms as he passed through the hall, he could see nothing
of her. He was disappointed.

When he returned to the hotel the landlord was asleep in the chair
before the door. He arose with a yawn, rubbed his eyes, and led the
way into the office where a dingy kerosene lamp was burning dimly. He
stretched his arms as he looked at the clock that stood above the dusty
pigeon holes back of the desk.

"'Leven o'clock!" he yawned. "I must have been asleep two hours. Guess
you'll want to get right up to bed, won't you? I reckon you found out
Kilo don't want no books this trip, Sammy; an' if you want to git an
early start from town you'll need all the sleep you can get."

Eliph' tossed his package on the desk carelessly.

"Why, yes, Jim, I wish you WOULD call me early," he said. "I'll be ready
for bed in half an hour or so. I done a little business up yonder, and I
want to mail my report to New York. But you needn't hitch up my horse in
the morning."

"No?" asked the landlord sleepily.

"No," said Eliph', "and if any feller comes this way selling books in
the next month or so, just tell him there ain't no use for a raw hand
to waste time in this town. Tell him Eliph' Hewlitt has settled down to
live here."

CHAPTER VII. The Colonel

When Eliph' Hewlitt stepped out of the hotel the next morning, after he
had eaten his breakfast, and stood, with a wooden toothpick between his
lips, looking up and down the street, he felt a sense of exultation.
If he had b