"treason" to Denboro, and that he was keeping the discovery to
himself? Why should he keep it to himself? He had threatened to drive me
out of town.

"I had other business to-day, Phin," I answered, shortly.

"Yup. So I gathered from what Cap'n Jed said. He was in the depot this
noon sendin' a telegram and I asked him about you. 'Is Ros sick?' I
says. 'Huh!' says he--you know how he grunts, Ros; for all the world
like a hog--'Huh!' says he, 'sick! No, but I cal'late he'll be pretty
sick afore long.' What did he mean by that, do you s'pose?"

I knew, but I did not explain. I made no reply.

"Twas a queer sort of talk, seemed to me," continued Phin. "I asked him
again why you wan't at the bank, and he said you had other business,
just same as you said now. He was ugly as a cow with a sore horn over
somethin' and I judged 'twas best to keep still. That telegram he sent
was a surprisin' thing, too. 'Twas to--but there! he made me promise
I wouldn't tell and so I mustn't. I ain't told a soul--except one--and
then it slipped out afore I thought. However, that one won't make no
difference. She ain't interested in--in the one the telegram was sent
to, 'tain't likely."

"Where is Miss Colton now?" I asked.

"With her ma and pa, I presume likely. Her and me set and whispered
together for a long spell. Land sakes! she wouldn't let me speak
louder'n a whisper for fear of wakin' you up. A body'd think you was a
young-one in arms, the care she took of you."

Again I did not answer, and again the garrulous station master continued
without waiting for a reply.

"I says to her, says I, 'It's a pity George Taylor ain't to home,' I
says. 'I shouldn't wonder if he could help you with this Louisville
stock you're so worried about. George was consider'ble interested in
that stock himself a spell ago. I sent much as a dozen telegrams from
him about that very stock to some broker folks up to Boston, and they
was mighty anxious telegrams, too. I tell you!' I says."

He had caught my attention at last.

"Did you tell her that?" I demanded.

"Sure I did! I never meant to, nuther. Ain't told another soul. You see,
George, he asked me not to. But she's got a way with her that would make
Old Nick confess his sins, if she set out to larn 'em. I was sort of
ashamed after I told her and I explained to her that I hadn't ought to
done it. 'But I guess it's all right now, anyway,' I says. 'If there was
any trouble along of George and that sto