uppose Mr. Strout is at the bottom of this and he
has hired this Bob Wood to do what he can't do himself."

"I guess you have got it about right, Mr. Sawyer," said Hiram. "Can you
fight?" he asked of Quincy.

"I am a good shot with a rifle," Quincy replied. "I can hit the ace of
hearts at one hundred feet with a pistol."

"I don't mean that," said Hiram. "Can you fight with yer fists?"

"I don't know much about it," said Quincy with a queer smile.

"Then I am afraid you will find Bob Wood a pretty tough customer. He can
lick any two fellers in town. Why, he polished off Cobb's twins one day
in less than five minutes, both of 'em."

"Where does this Bob Wood spend most of his time?" asked Quincy.

"He loafs around Hill's grocery. When he ain't wokin' at his trade,"
said Hiram, "he does odd jobs for the Putnams in summer and cuts some
wood for them in winter. You know Lindy Putnam, the gal you sang with at
the concert?"

"Come along," said Quincy, "I feel pretty good this morning, we'll walk
down to Hill's and see if that Mr. Wood has anything to say to me."

"Don't you think the best plan, Mr. Sawyer, would be to keep out of his
way?" queried Hiram.

"Well, I can't tell that," said Quincy, "until I get better acquainted
with him. After that he may think he'd better keep out of my way."

"Why, he's twice as big as you," cried Hiram, with a look of
astonishment on his face.

"Come along, Hiram," said Quincy. "By the way, I haven't seen Miss
Putnam since the concert. I think I will have to call on her."

Hiram laughed until his face was as red as a beet.

"By gum, that's good," he said, as he struck both legs with his hands.

"What's good?" asked Quincy. "Calling on Miss Putnam?"

"Yes," said Hiram. "Wouldn't she be s'prised?"

"Why?" asked Quincy. "Such a call wouldn't be considered anything out of
the way in the city."

"No, nor it wouldn't here," said Hiram, "but for the fact that Miss
Putnam don't encourage callers. She goes round a visitin' herself, and
she treats the other girls fust rate, 'cause she has plenty of money and
can afford it. But she has got two good reasons for not wantin'
visitors."

"What are they?" asked Quincy.

"Well, I'm country myself," said Hiram, "and there are others in
Eastborough that are more country than I am. But if you want to see and
hear the genooine old Rubes you want to see old Sy Putnam and his wife
Heppy."

"But Miss Mason said Miss Putnam was quite wealthy