"'Twan't much, mebbe," he replied, cautiously, "'n' then again, mebbe 'twas. It was kinder int'rusting, though. That--that thar was a good prayer o' his'n, warn't it?" "Yes," admitted Tom, rather blusteringly. "I daresay it was; I suppose you are a better judge of prayers than I am." "I'm a purty good judge on 'em," modestly. "I'd orter be, bein' a class-leader 'n' uster kinder critykisin'. I don't never do it much in public myself, but I've allus critikised them as did. Thet sounded more professionaller then they air mostly--unless comin' frum them, as has bin raised to it." "Did it?" said Tom. "Yes, it was more professionaller." Then he turned his hat again, setting it more carefully on his knee. He also fixed his eyes on Tom with a harmless smile. "They wus North'ners." Tom started, but managed to recover himself. "You might have mentioned that before," he remarked, with sarcasm. "I did," said Mr. Stamps, "along at the start, Tom; but ye wouldn't none on ye believe me." Tom remembered that this was true, it having been Mr. Stamps who suggested the Northern theory which had been so unitedly scouted by his hearers at the time of its propounding. "I h'ain't stayed as stiddy in North Car'lina as the rest on 'em," repeated Mr. Stamps. "When I was younger, I kinder launched out wunct. I thought I could make money faster ef I wus in a more money-makin'er place, 'n' I launched out. I went North a spell 'n' was thar a right smart while. I sorter stedded the folks' ways 'n' I got to knowin' 'em when I seed 'em 'n' heerd 'em talk. I know'd her for one the minit I set eyes on her 'n' heern her speak. I didn't say nuthin' much to the rest on ye, 'cause I know's ye'd make light on it; but I know'd it wus jest that ar way with the Northerners." "Well," said Tom, "it's valuable information, I suppose." Mr. Stamps coughed. He turned his hat over and looked into its greasy and battered crown modestly. "It mout be," he replied, "'n' then again it moughtent. It moughtent be if thar' wus nuthin' else to go 'long with it. They wus hidin' sumthin', ye know, 'n' they sot a heap on keepin' it hid. Ef a body know'd the whole thing from the start, thet'd be int'rustin', 'n' it 'ud be vallyable too." "Valuable be d----" Tom began, but he checked himself once more on glancing at the cradle. But Mr. Stamps was so far interested that he did not read the warning he might have read in the suddenly repressed outbreak. As he neared his goal he became a little excited and incautious. He leaned forward, blinking rapidly. "They wasn't no man 'n' wife," he said. "Lord, no! 'N' ef the two as knowed most on 'em 'n' was kinder quickest at readin' signs 'd kinder go partners 'n' heve confydence in one another, 'n' sorter lay to 'n' work it out 'n' foller it up, it ud be vallybler than stores, or post-offices, or farms to both on 'em." And he leaned so far forward and blinked so fast that he lost his balance and almost fell off his chair.