to go round by
Montezuma to let off Jack Hill," curtly explained the driver, as he
swung himself from the box, and entered the hotel bar-room in company
with the new expressman, who had evidently taken Hill's place on the
box-seat. Autocratically indifferent to further inquiry, he called out
cheerfully: "Come along, boys, and hear this yer last new yarn about Sam
Barstow,--it's the biggest thing out." And in another moment the waiting
crowd, with glasses in their hands, were eagerly listening to the
repetition of the "yarn" from the new expressman, to the apparent
exclusion of other matters, mundane and practical.

Thus debarred from information, the three trustees could only watch
the passengers as they descended, and try to identify their expected
stranger. But in vain: the bulk of the passengers they already knew, the
others were ordinary miners and laborers; there was no indication of the
new assistant among them. Pending further inquiry they were obliged
to wait the conclusion of the expressman's humorous recital. This was
evidently a performance of some artistic merit, depending upon a capital
imitation of an Irishman, a German Jew, and another voice, which was
universally recognized and applauded as being "Sam's style all over!"
But for the presence of the minister, Sperry and the mill-owner would
have joined the enthusiastic auditors, and inwardly regretted the
respectable obligations of their official position.

When the story-teller had concluded amidst a general call for more
drinks, Sperry approached the driver. The latter recognizing him, turned
to his companion carelessly, said, "Here's one of 'em," and was going
away when Sperry stopped him.

"We were expecting a young man."

"Yes," said the driver, impatiently, "and there he is, I reckon."

"We don't mean the new expressman," said the minister, smiling blandly,
"but a young man who"--

"THAT ain't no new expressman," returned the driver in scornful
deprecation of his interlocutor's ignorance. "He only took Hill's
place from Montezuma. He's the new kid reviver and polisher for that
University you're runnin' here. I say--you fellers oughter get him to
tell you that story of Sam Barstow and the Chinaman. It'd limber you
fellers up to hear it."

"I fear there's some extraordinary mistake here," said Mr. Peaseley,
with a chilling Christian smile.

"Not a bit of it. He's got a letter from Sam for one of ye. Yere,
Charley--what's your name! Com yere.