tely to Mr. Ezekiel Pettengill, and
has been for some time. Now, promise me not to put that in your paper."

"I promise," said Sylvester, "unless I obtain the same information from
some other source."

"All right," rejoined Quincy, and shaking hands with the young man he
crossed the passageway and went into the bank.

He presented his certified check, and the five hundred dollars in bills
were passed to him, and he placed them in his inside coat pocket. He was
turning to leave the bank when he met Deacon Mason just entering.

"Ah, Deacon," said he, "have you come to draw some money? I think I have
just taken all the bank bills they have on hand."

"I hope not," said the Deacon, "I kinder promised some one that I'd be
on hand about noon to-day with five hundred dollars that he wants to use
on a business matter this afternoon."

Quincy took the Deacon by the arm and pulled him one side, out of
hearing of any other person in the room.

"Say, Deacon Mason, I am going to ask you a question, which, of course,
you can answer or not, as you see fit; but if this business matter turns
out to be what I think it is, I may be able to save you considerable
trouble."

"I don't think you would ask me any question that I ought not to
answer," replied the Deacon, glancing up at Quincy with a sly look in
his eye and a slight smile on his face.

"Well," continued Quincy, "are you going to let Strout have that money
to pay down on account of the grocery store?"

"Why, yes," said the Deacon, "I guess you have hit it about right.
Strout seemed to think that there warn't any doubt but what he could get
the store, but as he said the town clerk was willing to endorse his
note, I came over here last night just on purpose to find that out. I
kinder thought I was perfectly safe in letting him have the money."

"Oh, you would be all right, Deacon, financially, if the town clerk or
any other good man endorsed his note; but you see Strout won't need the
money. I happen to know of another man that is going to bid on that
grocery store. How much money do you think Strout can command; how high
will he bid?"

"Well, he told me," the Deacon answered, "that he had parties that would
back him up to the extent of two thousand dollars, and this five hundred
dollars that I was goin' to lend him would make twenty-five hundred, and
he had sort o' figured that the whole place, including the land and
buildings and stock, warn't wuth any more than that