dreadful to be so cross-grained that you can't like even your own
self without feelin' lonesome. . . . Yes, that's a bad state of
affairs. . . . I don't know but I'd almost rather be 'town crank'
than that."

The Major's farewell remark, made as he rose to go, contained an
element of mystery.

"I shall have another matter to talk over with you soon, Jed," he
said. "But that will come later, when my plans are more complete.
Good afternoon and thank you once more. You've been pretty fine
through all this secret-keeping business, if you don't mind my
saying so. And a mighty true friend. So true," he added, "that I
shall, in all probability, ask you to assume another trust for me
before long. I can't think of any one else to whom I could so
safely leave it. Good-by."

One more visitor came that afternoon. To be exact, he did not come
until evening. He opened the outer door very softly and tiptoed
into the living-room. Jed was sitting by the little "gas burner"
stove, one knee drawn up and his foot swinging. There was a
saucepan perched on top of the stove. A small hand lamp on the
table furnished the only light. He did not hear the person who
entered and when a big hand was laid upon his shoulder he started
violently.

"Eh?" he exclaimed, his foot falling with a thump to the floor.
"Who? . . . Oh, it's you, ain't it, Sam? . . . Good land, you
made me jump! I must be gettin' nervous, I guess."

Captain Sam looked at him in some surprise. "Gracious king, I
believe you are," he observed. "I didn't think you had any nerves,
Jed. No, nor any temper, either, until last night. You pretty
nigh blew me out of water then. Ho, ho!"

Jed was much distressed. "Sho, sho, Sam," he stammered; "I'm awful
sorry about that. I--I wasn't feelin' exactly--er--first rate or I
wouldn't have talked to you that way. I--I--you know I didn't mean
it, don't you, Sam?"

The captain pulled forward a chair and sat down. He chuckled.
"Well, I must say it did sound as if you meant it, Jed," he
declared. "Yes, sir, I cal'late the average person would have been
willin' to risk a small bet--say a couple of million--that you
meant it. When you ordered me to go home I just tucked my tail
down and went. Yes, sir, if you didn't mean it you had ME fooled.
Ho, ho!"

Jed's distress was keener than ever. "Mercy sakes alive!" he
cried. "Did I tell you to go home, Sam? Yes, yes, I remember I
did. Sho, sho! . . . Well, I'm