"E-up!" said David with a nod, backing up to the fire which was burning in the grate of the Franklin stove, "'Dug' Robinson. 'D he do the p'lite thing in the matter of questions an' gen'ral conversation?" he asked with a grin. John laughed in reply to this question. "Where'd you put up?" asked David, John said that he passed the night at the Eagle Hotel. Mr. Harum had seen Dick Larrabee that morning and heard what he had to say of our friend's reception, but he liked to get his information from original sources. "Make ye putty comf'table?" he asked, turning to eject a mouthful into the fire. "I got along pretty well under the circumstances," said John. Mr. Harum did not press the inquiry. "How'd you leave the gen'ral?" he inquired. "He seemed to be well," replied John, "and he wished to be kindly remembered to you." "Fine man, the gen'ral," declared David, well pleased. "Fine man all 'round. Word's as good as his bond. Yes, sir, when the gen'ral gives his warrant, I don't care whether I see the critter or not. Know him much?" "He and my father were old friends, and I have known him a good many years," replied John, adding, "he has been very kind and friendly to me." "Set down, set down," said Mr. Harum, pointing to a chair. Seating himself, he took off his cap and dropped it with his gloves on the floor. "How long you ben here in the office?" he asked. "Perhaps half an hour," was the reply. "I meant to have ben here when you come," said the banker, "but I got hendered about a matter of a hoss I'm looking at. I guess I'll shut that door," making a move toward the one into the front office. "Allow me," said John, getting up and closing it. "May's well shut the other one while you're about it. Thank you," as John resumed his seat. "I hain't got nothin' very private, but I'm 'fraid of distractin' Timson's mind. Did he int'duce himself?" "Yes," said John, "we introduced ourselves and had a few minutes conversation." "Gin ye his hull hist'ry an' a few relations throwed in?" "There was hardly time for that," said John, smiling. "Rubbed a little furn'ture polish into my char'cter an' repitation?" insinuated Mr. Harum. "Most of our talk was on the subject of his duties and responsibilities," was John's reply. ("Don't cal'late to let on any more'n he cal'lates to," thought David to himself.) "Allowed he run the hull shebang, didn't he?" "He seemed to have a pretty large idea of what was required of one in his place," admitted the witness. "Kind o' friendly, was he?" asked David. "Well," said John, "after we had talked for a while I said to him that I was glad to think that he could have no unpleasant feeling toward me, seeing that he had given up the place of his own preference, and he assured me that he had none." David turned and looked at John for an instant, with a twinkle in his eye. The younger man returned the look and smiled slightly. David laughed outright. "I guess you've seen folks before," he remarked.