onal matters strictly private in the
futer, and you mustn't drop a word of what I've told yer to any livin'
soul."

"I've carried a good many of yer secrets 'round with me," responded
Abner, "and never dropped one of 'em, as far as I know."

"Oh, yer all right, old man," said the Professor; "but, yer know, for
the last two months our game has been to keep talkin'; now it will pay
us best to keep our mouths shet."

"Mine's shut," said Abner; "now, what do I git? That job in the grocery
store that you promised me?"

"Well, you see," said Strout, "when I made yer that promise, I expected
to own the whole store, but now, yer see, Maxwell will want ter pick one
of the men."

"Yis, I see," said Abner; "but that leaves one fer you to pick, and I'm
ready to be picked."

"Yes, I know," answered Strout; "but the work is goin' to be very hard,
liftin' barrels and big boxes, and I'm afraid you couldn't stand it very
long."

A disappointed look came over Abner's face; he mused for a moment, then
he broke out, "Yes, I see; I'm all right for light work, sech as tellin'
lies 'bout people and spyin' out their actions, and makin' believe I've
seen things that I never heard of, and hearin' things that were never
said; but when it comes to good, clean, honest work, like liftin'
barrels and rollin' hogshead's, the other feller gets the job. All
right, Professor!" said he, getting up and walking towards the door;
"when you want anythin' in my line, let me know." And he went out and
slammed the door behind him.

As he went upstairs to his room, he said to himself, "I have sorter got
the opinion that the Professor took what wuz given him, instid of
gittin' what he asked fer. I kinder guess that it'll pay me to be much
more partickler about number one in the futer than I've been."

CHAPTER XXXII.

AUNT ELLA.

Deacon Mason had an early caller Wednesday morning. He was out in the
barn polishing up his silver-plated harness, for he was going to the
funeral on Friday with his family. Hiram had given him notice that he
would have to go up to the store at once. The Deacon didn't have anybody
in mind to take Hiram's place, and thought he might as well get used to
doing his own work until he came across the right party.

He heard a voice. It said, "Good mornin', Deacon Mason;" and, looking
up, he saw Abner Stiles standing before him.

"Good mornin', Abner," answered the Deacon, pleasantly; "what does the
Professor want?"

"I