"Nobody understands that dog, Bonaparte, but me," said Carpenter after a while--"he's to dogs what his namesake was to man. He's the champ'un fighter of the Tennessee Valley, an' the only cross-eyed purp in the worl', as I have often said. Like all gen'uses of course, he's a leetle peculiar--but him and me--we understan's each other." He pulled out some mill papers and was about to proceed to discuss his business when Travis interrupted: "Hold on," he said, good humoredly, "after my experience with that cross-eyed genius of a dog, I'll need something to brace me up." He handed Carpenter a glass and each drank off his cocktail at a quaff. Travis settled quickly to business. He took out his mill books, and for an hour the two talked in a low tone and mechanically. The commissary department of the mill was taken up and the entire accounts gone over. Memoranda were made of goods to be ordered. The accounts of families were run over and inspected. It was tedious work, but Travis never flagged and his executive ability was quick and incisive. At last he closed the book with an impatient gesture: "That's all I'll do to-night," he muttered decisively. "I've other things to talk to you about. But we'll need something first." He went to the side-board and brought out a decanter of whiskey, two goblets and a bowl of loaf sugar. He laughed: "Mammy knows nothing about this. Two cocktails are the limit she sets for me, and so I keep this private bottle." He made a long-toddy for himself, but Carpenter took his straight. In all of it, his furtive eyes, shining out of the splotch of eyebrows above, glanced inquiringly around and obsequiously followed every movement of his superior. "Now, Carpenter," said the Secretary after he had settled back in his chair and lit a cigar, handing the box afterwards to the other--"You know me--you and I--must understand each other in all things." "'Bleeged to be that way," drawled the Whipper-in--"we must wu'ck together. You know me, an' that Jud Carpenter's motto is, 'mum, an' keep movin'.' That's me--that's Jud Carpenter." Travis laughed: "O, it's nothing that requires so much heavy villain work as the tone of your voice would suggest. We're not in a melodrama. This is the nineteenth century and we're talking business and going to win a thing or two by common sense and business ways, eh?" Carpenter nodded. "Well, now, the first is quite matter of fact--just horses. I believe we are going to have the biggest fair this fall we have ever had." "It's lots talked about," said Carpenter--"'specially the big race an' purse you've got put up." Travis grew interested quickly and leaned over excitedly.