n't it understood between us that
them cigars was to be kept for me?"

"That's so," acknowledged Mr. Hill, "but you see, when I told that
gentleman on the soap box over yonder that you smoked them, he bought
the whole box, paid me a cent more apiece than you do. A dollar's worth
saving nowadays. He says they sell for fifteen cents, two for a quarter,
up in Boston."

"If he's so well posted on Boston prices," growled Strout, "why didn't
he pay them instead of cheatin' you out of two dollars and a half? I
consider it a very shabby trick, Mr. Hill. I shall buy my cigars at
Eastborough Centre in the future. Perhaps you'll lose more than that
dollar in the long run."

"Perhaps the gentleman will let you have some of them," expostulated Mr.
Hill, "till I can get another box."

"All I can say is," said Strout in snappish tones, "if the man who
bought them knew that you got them for me, he was no gentleman to take
the whole box. What do yer say, Stiles?" he asked, turning to Abner,
who had kept his eyes fixed on the placid Quincy since entering the
store, though listening intently to what the Professor said.

"Well, I kinder reckon I agree to what you say, Professor," drawled
Abner, "unless the other side has got some sort of an explanation to
make. 'Tain't quite fair to judge a man without a hearin'."

"Allow me to offer you one of your favorite brand, Professor Strout,"
said Quincy, jumping down from the soap boxes and extending his cigar
case.

"No! thank you!" said Strout, "I always buy a box at a time, the same as
you do. Judging from the smell of the one you are smoking, I guess they
made a mistake on that box and sent second quality. Give me a five-cent
plug, Mr. Hill, if some gentleman hasn't bought out your whole stock. I
fancy my pipe will have to do me till I get a chance to go over to
Eastborough Centre."

During this conversation Hiram Maxwell had come in to do an errand for
Mrs. Mason, and several more platform idlers, having heard the
Professor's loud words, also entered.

Strout was angry. When in that condition he usually lost his head, which
he did on this occasion. Turning to Quincy he said with a voice full of
passion:

"What's yer name, anyway? You've got so many of them I don't know which
comes fust and which last. Is it Quincy or Adams or Sawyer? How in
thunder did you get 'em all, anyway? I s'pose they tucked 'em on to you
when you was a baby and you was too weak to kick at being so abused."