The brothers had reached the solitary building at the corners--a low, dingy store, with its sloping roof turned to the road, and a broad platform and steps stretching along its entire front. A horse and vacant buggy stood at the hitching-post. John proposed to go in and get some cigars, if Turner had any fit to smoke. Their surprise was great at meeting on the steps Mr. Beekman of Jay County, who was coming out. After terse salutations had been exchanged, Beekman said: “Lucky you fellows come daown jest ez yeh did. I come over this mornin’ a-purpose to see yeh, ’n’ yit I didn’t quite like to go up to th’ farm. I’ve got ever so many things I want to ask yeh, ’n’ say to yeh.” He led the way over to the farther end of the steps, and, following his example of sitting down on the platform, they waited curiously for him to proceed: “Fust of all, I was daown to Tecumsy last night, ’n’ saw Workman. He said you”--turning to Seth--“needn’t worry yerself ’baout comin’ back till yeh was ready. They kin keep th’ paper runnin’ for a week or sao, while you stay up here ’n’ dew yer duty like a Christian.” Seth said he was much obliged, and then asked how it happened that Beekman had posted off to Tecumseh--over seventy miles--and returned so soon. “Well, there was some things I wanted to see abaout daown there, ’n’ more thet I’m interested in keepin’ an eye on up here. So I kind o’ humped myself.” “I’m glad to see you taking such an interest in Ansdell’s campaign,” said John. Mr. Beekman’s gaunt visage relaxed for a second: “So yeh calc’late _thet’s_ what I’m buzzin’ ’raoun’ th’ State fur, do yeh? Yeh never’s more mistaken in yer life. I’ve heerd reports circ’latin’ ’raoun’ thet ther’d be an election a fortni’t or so from naow, ’n’ thet Ansdell ’n’ I was concerned in it, but yeh can’t prove it by _us_. We ain’t s’ much as give a thought to politics sence th’ Convention ended. _We’ve_ got somethin’ else to occupy aour minds with b’sides politics. I got a telegraph dispatch from him, sent from New York this mornin’, thet I want to talk to yeh ’baout presently, but fust----” “Ansdell in New York?” asked Seth, all curiosity-now. “Yes, he went on daown, while I got off at Te-cumsy, ’n’ I sh’d jedge from his telegraph thet he’d be’n on the go some sence he got there. But what I want to ask yeh ’baout is this: Do yeh knaow haow much money yer brother hed on him night ‘fore last, when he was--when he met his death?” The brothers looked at each other, then at, the speaker, “No,” answered Seth, finally. “We haven’t the least idea. Why do you ask?” “I’ll come to that bimeby. Naow next, do you knaow where he was th’ day b’fore th’ Convention?--thet is, Monday.” “Yes, I can tell you that. He was in New York. He only got back Monday evening.” “Pre-cisely. Well, naow, do yeh knaow what he went there for?” “No. Something connected with politics, I suppose, but I can’t say for certain. He had business there very often, you know.”