rout & Maxwell.
I'll put in another thousand dollars to buy a couple of horses and
wagons, and we'll take orders and deliver goods free to any family
within five miles of the store. Maxwell will have a third, and I'll have
a third as silent partner, and I'll see that you get your appointment
as postmaster."

Quincy looked at Strout expectantly, awaiting his answer. Finally it
came.

"Considerin' as how you put it," said Strout, "I don't think you and me
will clash in the futur'."

Quincy extended his hand, which Strout took, and the men shook hands.

"That settles it," said Quincy.

"Just half an hour!" exclaimed Strout, looking at his watch.

A loud knock was heard on the door.

"I guess Abner has got tired o' waitin' and has come arter me," remarked
Strout.

Quincy opened the door and Mr. Stiles stood revealed.

"Is Professor Strout here?" asked he.

"Yes," said Quincy; "come in."

"I guess I'll see him out here," continued Abner. "What I've got to say
may be kinder private."

"Come in, Abner," cried Strout, "and let's hear what's on your mind."

"Wall," said Abner, looking askance at Quincy, "if yer satisfied, I am.
Hiram Maxwell's jest came down from Mis' Putnam's, and Mis' Heppy
Putnam's dead,"--Quincy started on hearing this,--"and Samanthy Green is
at her wits' end, 'cause she never was alone in the house with a dead
pusson afore, an' Hiram's goin' to take Betsy Green back to stay with
her sister, and then he's goin' to take Miss Alice Pettengill down home,
cuz Miss Pettengill's most tired out; cuz, you see, she's been there
since eight o'clock this mornin', and Mis' Putnam didn't die till about
one o'clock, and Samanthy says Mis' Putnam took on awful, so you could
hear her all over the house, and Miss Lindy Putnam, she's goin' to take
the next train to Bosting--she's goin', bag and baggage--and I've got to
drive her over to the station, and Bob Wood, he's comin' along with a
waggin to carry her trunks and bandboxes and sich, and so I've come to
tell yer, Professor, that I can't take yer over to the Centre this
arternoon, no how."

"That's all right, Abner," said Strout; "considerin' as how things has
gone, to-morrow will do just as well, but I wish you'd drop in and tell
the town treasurer that I'm goin' into business with Mr. Maxwell and Mr.
Sawyer here,"--Abner's eyes dilated,--"under the firm name of Strout,
Maxwell, & Co."

"No!" interrupted Quincy, "let the sign read, Strout & Maxwell."