"It is impossible," said Mr. Belford with some warmth. "It looks so," said the young man with the glass still up at his eyes. "I tell you it is impossible, sir. I built it myself, and I ought to know." "Oh! Beg pardon. You can take the glass and see for yourself." "I need no glass. I took the stage down only yesterday, and I ought to know." "Allow me to take your glass, cousin Franklin," said Mr. Denny. He took the glass, but quickly laid it down with a sigh. "My eyes are old and weak, and the glass does not suit them. I am very sorry to hear what you say. I would not have one of my chimneys out of line for the world." "I am sorry I said anything about it, sir. I did not know the chimney belonged to you." Alma was apparently distressed at the turn the conversation had taken, and tried to lead it to other matters, but the old gentleman's mind was disturbed, and he returned to the chimney. "I designed it to be the tallest and finest chimney I ever erected, and I hope it is all correct." "It is, sir," said Mr. Belford. "Everything is correct to the very capstones." "It is my tallest chimney, Mr. Franklin--eighty-one feet and six inches; and that is two feet taller than any chimney in the whole Salmon Falls valley." Mr. Franklin, in an innocent spirit of scientific inquiry, put his glass to his eyes and examined the chimney again. Alma began to feel ill at ease, and Lawrence Belford indulged in a muttered curse under his black moustache. "Eighty-one feet and six inches--the tallest chimney in the valley." No one seemed to heed the old gentleman's remark, and presently Mr. Franklin laid his field glass on the table, and taking out his brass sounder, he idly moved it as if absently thinking of something. Alma suddenly looked up with a little blush and a smile. Her eyes seemed to say to him: "I heard you call? What is it?" He nodded pleasantly, and said, "Would you like to see some of my traps?" "Oh, yes. Do open one of your trunks." Mr. Franklin took out a bunch of keys and went to one of the trunks. As he did so he said to himself: "Deuced bright girl! She learned my call in a flash. I must teach her the whole alphabet, and then will have some tall fun and circumvent that fool of a clerk." This remark was applied to Mr. Belford, and was eminent for its touching truth. While the young people were opening the trunk, Mr. Denny and Mr. Belford were engaged in examining the business papers spread on the table, and for several minutes they paid no attention to things done and said almost under their eyes. Such a very strange trunk. Instead of clothing, it contained the most singular assortment of scientific instruments. Each was carefully secured so that no rude handling would harm it, and all shining and glistening brilliantly as if kept with the most exquisite care. Mr. Franklin unfastened a small brass telescope, mounted upon a stand, with a compass, levels, plumb line, and weight attached.