p his lamp. "I guess that nightcap won't hurt me," he muttered
to himself as he stumbled up the flight of stairs that led to his room.

The fire burned brightly and Strout resumed his seat and drew the bottle
towards him. He lifted it up and looked at it.

"The skunk!" said he half aloud; "a man that'll steal rum will hook
money next. Wall, it won't be many days before that city chap will buy
his return ticket to Boston. Then I shan't have any further use for
Abner. Let me see," he soliloquized, "what I've got to do to-morrer? Git
the Deacon's money at ten, propose to Huldy 'bout half past, git home to
dinner at twelve, buy the grocery store 'bout quarter-past three;
that'll be a pretty good day's work!"

Then the Professor mixed up a nightcap for himself and was soon sleeping
soundly, regardless of the broad smile upon the face of the Man in the
Moon, who looked down upon the town with an expression that seemed to
indicate that he considered himself the biggest man in it.

CHAPTER XXVII.

TOWN POLITICS.

At the table next morning the conversation was all about the surprise
party. The Cobb twins declared that without exception it was the best
party that had ever been given at Mason's Corner, to their knowledge.

After breakfast Quincy told Ezekiel that he was going over to
Eastborough Centre that morning; in fact, he should like the single
horse and team for the next three days, as he had considerable business
to attend to.

He drove first to the office of the express company; but to his great
disappointment he was informed that no package had arrived for him on
the morning train. Thinking that possibly some explanation of the
failure of the bank to comply with his wishes might have been sent by
mail, he went to the post office; there he found a letter from the
cashier of his bank, informing him that he had taken the liberty to send
him enclosed, instead of the five hundred dollars in bills, his own
check certified for that amount, and stated that the local bank would
undoubtedly cash the same for him.

As he turned to leave the post office he met Sylvester Chisholm. Quincy
greeted the young man pleasantly, and asked him if he were in business
at the Centre. Sylvester replied that he was the compositor and local
newsman on the "Eastborough Express," a weekly newspaper issued every
Friday. The bank being located in the same building, Quincy drove him
over. Sylvester asked Quincy if he would not step in