Hettie and I did--yes. Soon's we landed him, we come over to bag old
Wixon. I thought one time he'd kill us before we got him, but he didn't.
How he did run that thing! He's a game sport.'

"'See here!' says I. 'YOU and Hettie sold--What do you mean by that?'

"'Mrs. Bassett is my backer in the auto business,' says he. 'She put in
her money and I furnished the experience. We've got a big plant up in--'
namin' a city in Connecticut.

"I fetched a long breath. 'WELL!' says I. 'And all this makin' eyes at
Tobe and Jonadab was just--just--'

"'Just bait, that's all,' says he. 'I told you she was a good business
woman.'

"I let this sink in good. Then says I, 'Humph! I swan to man! And how's
your heart actin' now?'

"'Fine!' he says, winkin'. 'I had that attack so's the Cap'n would learn
to run on his own hook. I didn't expect quite so much of a run, but
I'm satisfied. Don't you worry about my heart disease. That twenty-five
hundred cured it. 'Twas all in the way of business,' says Henry G.
Bradbury."

"Whew!" whistled Captain Hiram as Barzilla reached into his pocket for
pipe and tobacco. "Whew! I should say your partner had a narrer escape.
Want to look out sharp for widders. They're dangerous, hey, Sol?"

The depot master did not answer. Captain Hiram asked another question.
"How'd Jonadab take Hettie's leavin'?" he inquired.

"Oh," said Barzilla, "I don't think he minded so much. He was too crazy
about his new auto to care for anything else. Then, too, he was b'ilin'
mad 'cause Loveland swore out a warrant against him for speedin'.

"'Nice trick, ain't it?' he says. 'I knew Tobe was a poor loser, but
I didn't think he'd be so low down as all that. Says I was goin' fifty
mile an hour. He! he! Well, I WAS movin', that's a fact. I don't care.
'Twas wuth the twenty-dollar fine.'

"'Maybe so,' I says, 'but 'twon't look very pretty to have a special
auto constable hauled up and fined for breakin' the law he's s'posed to
protect.'

"He hadn't thought of that. His face clouded over.

"'No use, Barzilla,' says he; 'I'll have to give it up.'

"'Guess you will,' says I. 'Automobilin' is--'

"'I don't mean automobilin',' he snorts disgusted. 'Course not! I mean
bein' constable.'

"So there you are! From cussin' automobiles he's got so that he can't
talk enough good about 'em. And every day sence then he's out on the
road layin' for another chance at Tobias. I hope he gets that chance
pretty soon, because--well, t