“It's all right, ma'am,--never you mind. We put the case square to Barstow. We allowed that the school was getting too large for you to tackle,--I mean, you know, to superintend single-handed; and that these Pike County boys they're running in on us are a little too big and sassy for a lady like you to lasso and throw down--I mean, to sorter control--don't you see? But, bless you, Sam Barstow saw it all in a minit! He just jumped at it. I've got his letter here--hold on”--he hastily produced a letter from his pocket, glanced ever it, suddenly closed it again with embarrassed quickness, yet not so quickly but that the woman's quicker eyes were caught, and nervously fascinated by the expression “I'm d----d” in a large business hand--and said in awkward haste, “No matter about reading it now--keep you too long--but he's agreed all right, you know. Must go now--they'll be waiting. Only I thought I'd drop in a-passin', to keep you posted;” and, taking off his hat, he began to back from the porch. “Is--is--this gentleman who is to assist me--a--a mature professional man--or a--graduate?” hesitated Mrs. Martin, with a faint smile. “Don't really know--I reckon Sam--Mr. Barstow--fixed that all right. Must really go now;” and, still holding his hat in his hand as a polite compromise for his undignified haste, he fairly ran off. Arrived at the stage office, he found the two other trustees awaiting him, and the still more tardy stage-coach. One, a large, smooth-faced, portly man, was the Presbyterian minister; the other, of thinner and more serious aspect, was a large mill-owner. “I presume,” said the Rev. Mr. Peaseley, slowly, “that as our good brother Barstow, in the urgency of the occasion, has, to some extent, anticipated OUR functions in engaging this assistant, he is--a--a--satisfied with his capacity?” “Sam knows what he's about,” said the mill-owner cheerfully, “and as he's regularly buckled down to the work here, and will go his bottom dollar on it, you can safely leave things to him.” “He certainly has exhibited great zeal,” said the reverend gentleman patronizingly.