an eel, and as hard to catch as a flea. I want to see you
bad, Alf. It's a particular matter. I can't let it rest."

"I was busy, and I hain't any too much time left on my hands now."
Henley looked at the sun and then at his watch. "You'll have to talk
fast, Long. Seems to toe there's a lot o' hitches in my affairs here
lately. This 'un to see, and that 'un to talk to, and--"

"I'm in trouble, Alf, old man." Long laid a red, perspiring hand on his
friend's shoulder and bore down heavily. "I was out yore way yesterday.
I tried to see you as I started home, but didn't know where to find you.
Alf, I can't jest somehow make out that little trick. Looks like she's
sorter shifty. In the first place, havin' to postpone the trip on
account of that sick young brat that ain't no blood kin to anybody
concerned sort o' knocked me off my props, and then, when the day _did_
come round, very little was done--that is, in the _right_ direction."

"You--you'll have to have patience," Henley remarked, insincerely. "If
you can't hold in and take things as they come you'd better call the
deal off. I started you; I can't lay down everything and keep--keep
telling you what to do and say. Life's too short and makes too many
claims on a fellow."

"I want you to say a good word for me, Alf." Long wiped his anxious
mouth with his bare hand and tugged at his mustache. "She believes the
sun rises and sets in you. Looks to me like it's Alfred did this, an'
Alfred said that, an' Alfred thinks so and so and does so and so, with
every breath she draws. For a while I 'lowed it was because she was
grateful to you for helpin' her out in the marryin' line, but she don't
seem to want to marry much, nohow. She'd listen to you, though, if she
would to any man alive, and something has to be done."

"Well, I reckon the little woman _is_ friendly to me." Henley avoided
the fiercely anxious stare of his flurried companion. "She's done me
good turns, and I've tried to respond."

"She'd fight for you tooth and toe-nail," Long declared. "I know from
experience. Why, I just happened to say one little, tiny thing about
you, and la! she flew at me like a hen fightin' for her brood. I meant
no harm. I'd have said the same thing to your face, as I am saying it
now. Me 'n her was talking about the way men dress these days, and I
said, without meanin' any harm, that it was naturally expected that
chaps here in a town like Carlton would be more up to date than at the