The major at once betrayed himself as such a person. He introduced himself, adding that as a neighbor he had felt it incumbent to call. I removed a couple of the family portraits and a collection of Indian relics and a few kitchen utensils, and one thing and another, from the seat of a chair, and begged him to sit down and make himself at home, which he did. He accepted a cigar, which I fished out of a humidor temporarily tucked away beneath a roll of carpet; and we spoke of the weather, to which he gave a qualified and cautious indorsement. Then, without further delay, he hitched his chair over and laid a paternal hand upon my arm. “I hear you've got Blank, the lawyer, searching out the title to your propputty here.” “Yes,” I said; “Mr. Blank took the matter in hand for us. Fine man, isn't he?” “Well, some people think so,” he said with an emphasis of profound significance. “Doesn't everybody think so?” I inquired. “Listen,” he said; “my motto is, Live and let live. And, anyhow, I'm the last man in the world to go round prejudicing a newcomer against an old resident. Now I've just met you and, on the other hand, I've known Blank all my life; in fact, we're sort of related by marriage--a relative of his married a relative of my wife's. So, of course, I've got nothing to say to you on that score except this--and I'm going to say it to you now in the strictest confidence--if I was doing business with Blank I'd be mighty, mighty careful, young man.” “You astonish me,” I said. “Mr. So-and-So”--naming a prominent business man of the county seat--“recommended his firm to me.” “Oh, So-and-So, eh? I wonder what the understanding between those two is? Probably they've hatched up something.” “Why, isn't So-and-So above suspicion?” I asked. “I wouldn't say he was and I wouldn't say he wasn't. But, just between you and me, I'd think twice about taking any advice he gave me. They tell me you've let the contract for some work to Dash & Space?” “Yes; I gave them one small job.” “Too bad!” “What's too bad?” “You'll be finding out for yourself before you're done; so I won't say anything more on that subject neither. I could tell you a good deal about those fellows if I was a-mind to; but I never believed in repeating anything behind a man's back I wouldn't say to his face. Live and let live!--that's my motto. Anyhow, if you've already signed up with Dash & Space it's too late for you to be backing out--but keep your eyes open, young man; keep your eyes wide open. Who's your architect going to be?” I told him. He repeated the name in rather a disappointed fashion. “Never heard of him,” he admitted; “but I take it he's like the run of his kind of people. I never yet saw the architect that I'd trust as far as I could sling him by the coat-tails. Say, ain't that Bink's delivery wagon standing over yonder in front of your stable?” “I think so. We've been buying some things from Bink.” “You've opened up a regular account with him, then?” “Yes.”