l remarked, 'Innis is _item_ man and reporter for the _Clarion_, and
you will see his notice of Kean's performance, which he is just
finishing, in to-morrow morning's paper.'

This struck Hiram as rapid work, considerably increasing his respect for
the stranger, and led him to regard Innis still more critically. His
appearance had impressed him favorably from the first.

Suddenly he exclaimed, 'Wern't you at Newton Academy?'

'Yes; and so were you. I remember now. You were a little fellow. You
took the first prize in bookkeeping.'

'And _you_ learned shorthand of Chellis.'

'Which counts now, at any rate. I should starve without it.'

During this colloquy Hill sat in utter amazement.

'You a Newton boy?' he exclaimed at last.

'Yes,' said Hiram.

'And you know him, and no mistake?' to Innis.

Innis nodded.

'Then old Joslin may go to the devil. I--'

'He'll go soon enough, and without your permission; and if you are not
careful, you'll go with him,' interrupted Innis, rising. 'I am all right
now,' he continued. 'I've but to step a block and a half and back. I
will be with you again in three minutes;' and he darted off to hand in
his evening's report.

Hill sat looking at Hiram, who, with all his impenetrability wore a
surprised and puzzled expression.

'You don't remember me,' he said.

'No.'

'Why, I am Deacon Hill's son, of Newton. I quit the academy, I guess,
just about the time you came. Innis and I were there together. Well, I
declare, your innocent look threw me off the track; but I have seen you
many a time in Hampton. You used to be with Jessup, didn't you?'

'Yes.'

'You've been coming possum over Joslin; isn't it so?'

'I don't understand you.'

'Oh, never mind; he's a cursed knave, anyway. I shall quit him first of
January--keeps me on promises and the lowest kind of a salary, and no
end of the dirty work--'

'Such as sham sales of my employer's paper sold A.H. Hill,' interrupted
Hiram, dryly.

'Hallo! where did you get hold of that?' said Hill, laughing.

Hiram made no reply; and Innis entering at this moment, the subject was
changed.

Hill, who had already imbibed more than was good for him, ordered a
brandy toddy; and Hiram, true to his temperance principles, partook of a
cup of hot coffee. Before the toddy was half finished, Hill, who was
already illustrating the proverb that 'children, fools, and drunken men
speak truth,' commenced again about his employer, Joslin.

'Rea