f Jared Sparks Grant, the first selectman of the town.

Mr. Harnden did not look to right or left as his horse trotted past.
He did not appear to be interested in the affairs of Egyptians that
day--even in the case of the town's chief executive. When Harnden was
hailed raucously he did not pull up, though he heard his name. After a
few moments a gun banged behind him.

"I'm saving the other barrel," the voice announced, after Harnden had
steered his horse from the gutter into the road; the animal had been
frightened by the pattering of shot in the foliage of a tree overhead.
"You'll get it straight, Harnden, unless you drive back here!"

When Harnden wheeled the horse and returned he perceived a dooryard
group which he had affected not to see a few moments before.

There were Jared Sparks Grant, his son, his womenfolks, his hired
man; Mr. Harnden recognized all of them, of course. He also recognized
Deputy-sheriff Wagner Dowd from the shire town. Dowd had a couple of
helpers with him. It was plain that the shotgun which had halted Mr.
Harnden had been very nigh at hand and ready for use; there was a look
about the folks in the dooryard which suggested an armed truce, now
prolonged, for the handling of the new arrival.

"Don't you realize what's going on here?" demanded Selectman Grant, his
weapon in the hook of his arm.

"No!" asserted Mr. Harnden.

"I know a blamed sight better! You can't look at this deputy sheriff
without turning redder than one of the apples in that fake picture book
of yours. You know what you have been doing in this town."

The selectman's tone was offensively harsh and loud. Mr. Harnden
was moved to show a little spirit, having been cornered--and feeling
protected by the presence of an officer of the law. "I have been doing
business!"

"Scooping in town orders, you mean!"

"Taking them in the due course of my business, Mr. Selectman. I had a
right to do it!"

"And what did you do with those orders?"

"I passed them on--still in the course of my business."

"And you don't know into whose hands they have come?"

"Oh no!"

The selectman stepped close to the carriage and brandished his gun.
"While this town was staggering along, trying to find a way out, only
a hellion would take and make a club out of those orders and hit us the
last and final clip with 'em. You've done it, Harnden! For the sake of
the dirty money you've done it. They were letting those orders rest
easy till we co