e of statuary would look better, so long as we ain't
got water works to make the fountain fount out water. But it don't look
right to have a public square rented out to grow buckwheat in. It ain't
city-like."

"It brings in seven dollars a year to the town," said Pap, "an' that's
better than payin' out good money for statuary. I'm agin high taxes
every time. It costs too much to live, anyhow, especially when you've
got a daughter to support, and no money comin' in, to speak of. And just
when some does come in, along comes a pesky book agent or somethin'
and fools the women out of the money. They ought to be a law agin book
agent. City council ought to put a license on 'em, and keep 'em out of
town."

"Some towns," he said softly, "do have licenses against book agents.
One of the relics of the dark ages, but abolished wherever the light
o' culture is loved and esteemed. What so helpful as the book? What so
comforting? What so uplifting? And who but the book agent carries help
and comfort and uplift, and leaves it scattered around, one dollar down
and one dollar a month until paid; who but the humble but useful book
agent? To mention but one book, Jarby's Encyclopedia of Knowledge and
Compendium of Literature, Science and Art has carried wisdom into a
million homes, making each better and brighter. It is a book that makes
the toil of the day easy, by giving one thousand and one hints and
helps, and that sweetens rest after toil, by quotations from all the
world's great authors. In this one book----"

Pap Briggs had put his hands on the arm of his chair, preparing to run
away, but the landlord leaned forward and looked in Eliph' Hewlitt's
face.

"Say," he said, "is your name Mills?"

"Hewlitt," said the book agent, "Eliph' Hewlitt."

He turned to the landlord and looked him fairly in the face, and as
he looked the air of suspicion that had suddenly shone in his eyes
vanished.

"Jim Wilkins!" he exclaimed. "Isn't it Jim Wilkins?"

"Ain't it!" cried the landlord. "Well, I should say it is! And to think,
you little, sawed-off propagator of human knowledge didn't recognize
your old side pardner in the field of sellin' improvin' and
intellectooal works of genius! Don't say you don't remember the 'Wage of
Sin,' Sammy! Don't say you don't remember Kitty!"

"Kitty?" asked Eliph' doubtfully.

"Well, if the little red-head ain't forgot Kitty!" exclaimed Wilkins.
"Why, I MARRIED Kitty, Sammy. For an actual, truthful fact