am very
sure the person I recommend is all right.

Well, Markson disappeared a moment or two after, first carefully
replacing the sill, and carrying away the chips, and I got out of my
tree, forgetting all about the view I had discovered; and the unexpected
scene I had looked at ran in my mind so constantly that, during the
night, I dreamed that Markson stood in the hemlock-tree, with a gigantic
brace and bit, and bored holes in the hills beside the river, while I
kneeled in the second story window-frame, and kissed my contract with
Markson, and prayed that I might make a hundred thousand dollars out of
it. It is perfectly astonishing what things a sensible man will
sometimes dream.

Next morning I arrived at the building a few minutes before seven, and
found Markson there before me. He expressed himself satisfied with
everything, and paid me then and there a thousand dollars, which was due
on acceptance of the work as far as then completed.

He hung around all day while we put up the post and studding--probably
to see that the sill was not turned over and his secret disclosed; and
it was with this idea that I set the studding first on his particular
sill. By night we had the frame so near up, that there was no
possibility of the sill being moved; and then Markson went away.

He came up often, after that, to see how his house was getting along.
Each time he came he would saunter around to that particular sill, and
when I noticed that he did this, I made some excuse to call the men away
from that side of the house.

Sometimes he brought his family with him, and I scarcely knew whether to
be glad or sorry; for, while his daughter, a handsome, strong, bright,
honest, golden-haired girl of fifteen or sixteen, always affected me as
if she was a streak of sunshine, and made me hope I should some day have
a daughter like her, his wife always affected me unpleasantly.

I am not a good physiognomist, but I notice most people resemble animals
of some sort, and when I decide on what animal it is, in any particular
case, I judge the person accordingly.

Now, Mrs. Markson--who was evidently her husband's second wife, for she
was too young to be Helen's mother--was rather handsome and extremely
elegant, but neither manners nor dress could hide a certain tigerish
expression which was always in her face. It was generally inactive, but
it was never absent, and the rapidity with which it awoke once or twice
when she disapproved s