As she turned about she saw a young man standing outside the railing, a medium-sized young man who wore his shoulders slightly rounded and spectacles of the largest and most glittering variety. The collar of his coat asked loudly to be brushed and his tie had the appearance of having been tied with one hand in a dark bedroom. He removed his hat and displayed a head of extraordinarily fine formation. It was difficult to tell if he were handsome, because the rims of his spectacles masked so much of his face and because his expression was one of gloomy wrath. Carmel was tempted to laugh at the expression because it did not fit; it gave the impression of being a left-over expression, purchased at a reduction, and a trifle large for its wearer. “May I ask,” he said, in a voice exactly suited to his stilted diction, “if you are in charge of this--er--publication?” “I am,” said Carmel. “I wish,” said the young man, “to address a communication to the citizens of this village through the--er--medium of your columns.” So this, thought Carmel, was the sort of person who wrote letters to newspapers. She had often wondered what the species looked like. “On what subject?” she asked. “Myself,” said he. “It should be an interesting letter,” Carmel said, mischievously. The young man lowered his head a trifle and peered at her over the rims of his glasses. He pursed his mouth and wrinkled one cheek, studying her as a naturalist might scrutinize some interesting, but not altogether comprehensible, bug. Evidently he could not make up his mind as to her classification. “I fancy it will be found so,” he said. “May I ask your name?” He fumbled in an inner pocket and continued to fumble until it became an exploration. He produced numerous articles and laid them methodically upon the railing--a fountain pen, dripping slightly, half a dozen letters, a large harmonica, a pocket edition of Plato’s _Republic_, a notebook, several pencils, and a single glove. He stared at the glove with recognition and nodded to it meaningly, as much as to say: “Ah, there you are again.... Hiding as usual.” At last he extracted a leather wallet and from the wallet produced a card which he extended toward Carmel. Before she read it she had a feeling there would be numerous letters upon it, and she was not disappointed. It said: Evan Bartholomew Pell, A.B., Ph.D., LL.D., A.M. “Ah!” said Carmel. “Yes,” said the young man with some complacency. “And your letter.” “I am,” he said, “or, more correctly, I _was_, superintendent of schools in this village. There are, as you know, three schools only one of which gives instruction in the so-called high-school branches.” “Indeed,” said Carmel. “I have been removed,” he said, and stared at her with lips compressed. When she failed to live up to his expectations in her manifestations of consternation, he repeated his statement. “I have been removed,” he said, more emphatically. “Removed,” said Carmel.