Many pairs of eyes were on the watch for the first public appearance of the big mogul. He would have to show himself sometime and when he did--how would he look and act? What would he have to say? They knew already what Elisha Cook was saying. According to Denboro reports he declared himself to be through with his grandson for good and all. “He is a fool, let him go his fool way. I’m done with him.” This, according to gossip, was the proclamation from Cook headquarters. And the Denboro doctor was reported to have added that the old man’s sole comfort in the situation was the thought of Foster Townsend’s fury. “I only wish I was where I could see him squirm,” chuckled Elisha. So all Harniss was agog, and rushed excitedly to its windows when, two days after the elopement, the Townsend span was again seen trotting majestically along the main road. Varunas, of course, was driving and his employer sat alone upon the rear seat of the carriage. He looked heavy-eyed and drawn and tired, that was the consensus of opinion, but to the bows and hat lifting of those he passed his own bow was as coolly dignified as ever. It was noon--mail time--and the group at the post office watched, with bated breath, as he alighted and walked into the building. Tobias Eldridge told it all to his wife when he reached home. “Everybody just stood around, or set on the settee, and looked at him when he come in,” narrated Tobias. “We didn’t none of us hardly dast to speak, or so much as say, ‘How are you, Cap’n Foster?’ Didn’t know how he’d take it, you understand. But he was just same as ever, seemed so. Just as grand and top lofty and off-hand to us bugs and worms under his feet as if nothin’ had happened. When somebody--Nathan Doane, seems to me ’twas--spunked up enough to say ‘Good day,’ he nodded his head and says ‘Good day’ back. Course he must know that every man, woman and child old enough to talk has been talkin’ about nothing but him and his family for two days and nights. You’d think he’d realize it and act sort of--well, fussed and ashamed, but not him, no sir! Darned if it wasn’t kind of disappointin’! Yes, ’twas so. “And,” went on Mr. Eldridge, “when he went up to the window after his mail and Reliance Clark handed it out to him, we was all set to see how he’d act to her. ’Twas in her house them two was married and we didn’t know but he’d tell her what he thought of her right there and then. And what happened? _Nothin’!_” in high disgust. “Nothin’ at all! ‘Good mornin’, Foster,’ says she, not lookin’ even so much as nervous. ‘Mornin’, Reliance,’ he says; grunted it just same as he’s grunted good mornin’ to her for two year. And that’s all there was to it. Can you beat that? _I_ don’t know how you’re goin’ to.”