h to have suited Major Billcord; though he
was sure that it would not have suited him, for the simple reason that
he was never suited with any thing. Mr. Hawlinshed offered to pay for
the meal, and Farmer Brookbine felt insulted by the proposition. The
visitor explained that he should not have offered to pay for his own
supper, but he had brought an entire stranger into the house. Mr.
Brookbine declared that he always gave a meal of victuals to any one who
needed it. With many thanks the visitors took their leave, and resumed
their walk to town. In less than half an hour they were at a hotel in
Plattsburgh.

"I can't stay here, Mr. Hawlinshed," said Dory, as they entered the
house. "I have no money to pay my bill."

"Do you think I am a heathen, that I won't pay your bill after the
service you have done me?" asked Mr. Hawlinshed with a smile.

"I don't want anybody to pay for me," protested Dory.

"Don't talk so, my boy," added his new friend. "Come to my room, for I
want to talk with you."

Dory assented, though he had set his teeth against taking any thing that
looked like charity. He followed Mr. Hawlinshed up-stairs, where it
appeared that he had a room. It contained a trunk, a valise, and other
baggage.

"Dory, you have rendered me a service that you cannot understand; and I
am glad you cannot. I should feel mean to the end of my life if I did
not attempt to make some slight return for it," said Mr. Hawlinshed, as
he seated himself at a table. "I don't think you saved my life, for I
don't believe my life was in danger for a moment."

"I don't think I saved your life, but I think your life has been in
danger. Why, the fellow might have hit you by accident, even if he
didn't mean to," replied Dory. "But the villain went at you as though he
meant to tear you in pieces after he had fired the gun."

"It is hardly worth while to argue the question. I am very confident of
what I say. My life has not been in danger, but my money was in great
peril. I had forty-seven hundred and fifty dollars in my pocket when
that person attacked me," continued Mr. Hawlinshed.

"Jerusalem!" exclaimed Dory, who did not remember that he had ever
before been near so much money in all his life.

"I should have lost that money if you had not saved it, Dory. This was
the point I was coming to. Don't ask me any questions, for I don't want
to answer them."

"I won't ask any, if you don't want me to," added Dory, who was very
much mys