nt enough
time droolin' 'round here swapping lies, I think _I'll_ go to bed,"
which inhospitable and injurious remark was by no means taken in bad
part, for Dick said, with a laugh:

"Well, Ame, if you'll let me run my face for 'em, Bill 'n I'll take a
little somethin' for the good o' the house before we shed the partin'
tear." This proposition was not declined by Mr. Elright, but he felt
bound on business principles not to yield with too great a show of
readiness.

"Wa'al, I don't mind for this once," he said, going behind the bar and
setting out a bottle and glasses, "but I've gen'ally noticed that it's a
damn sight easier to git somethin' _into_ you fellers 'n 't is to git
anythin' _out_ of ye."

CHAPTER XIII.

The next morning at nine o'clock John presented himself at Mr. Harum's
banking office, which occupied the first floor of a brick building some
twenty or twenty-five feet in width. Besides the entrance to the bank,
there was a door at the south corner opening upon a stairway leading to
a suite of two rooms on the second floor.

The banking office consisted of two rooms--one in front, containing the
desks and counters, and what may be designated as the "parlor" (as used
to be the case in the provincial towns) in the rear, in which were Mr.
Harum's private desk, a safe of medium size, the necessary assortment of
chairs, and a lounge. There was also a large Franklin stove.

The parlor was separated from the front room by a partition, in which
were two doors, one leading into the inclosed space behind the desks and
counters, and the other into the passageway formed by the north wall and
a length of high desk, topped by a railing. The teller's or cashier's
counter faced the street opposite the entrance door. At the left of this
counter (viewed from the front) was a high-standing desk, with a rail.
At the right was a glass-inclosed space of counter of the same height as
that portion which was open, across which latter the business of paying
and receiving was conducted.

As John entered he saw standing behind this open counter, framed, as it
were, between the desk on the one hand, and the glass inclosure on the
other, a person whom he conjectured to be the "Chet" (short for Chester)
Timson of whom he had heard. This person nodded in response to our
friend's "Good morning," and anticipated his inquiry by saying:

"You lookin' for Dave?"

"I am looking for Mr. Harum," said John. "Is he in the office?"