d anxious to take
care of her before many years, or I miss my guess," he said. "She is
likely to marry, you know. There must be some promising young fellows
down here."

Shadrach sniffed. It was a subject he never discussed with his partner
and did not like even to think about. The remark of the hat and cap
drummer concerning the coming of a "Mr. Right" had troubled him not a
little.

"Ugh!" he grunted; "there's promisin' ones enough. Most of those that
are contented to stay here in South Harniss are nothin' BUT promise;
they ain't so strong on makin' good. 'Tain't like 'twas when Zoeth and
me were young ourselves. Now all the smart, ambitious boys go up to the
city to work."

"Some of the girls go up there, too, don't they? To school, or college?
Didn't I hear that Christopher Mullet's daughter was at school in
Bridgewater?"

"Ugh!" grunted Shadrach again. "I cal'late you did hear. If you didn't
you're the only one in town that ain't. Becky Mullet--yes, and Chris,
too--ain't done anything but brag about their Irene's goin' off to what
they call 'finishin' school.' Judas! I see HER finish. She ain't got--I
swan that girl ain't got anything in her head but gas, and every time
she opens her mouth she loses enough of that to keep a lighthouse lit up
all night."

"Shadrach," murmured Zoeth, "don't say such unlikely things about folks.
Be charitable as you can."

"Judas! I am--as much as I can. If I wasn't charitable to that Mullet
girl I'd be talkin' yet. I hove to afore I'd got scarcely under way."

Keith put in a word. "Finishing schools are not all bad, by any means,"
he said. "There are various kinds and grades, of course, but a good
private school for girls is a fine thing. It teaches them to meet and
judge people of all kinds, and that fine feathers don't always make fine
birds. Then, too, a girl at a good school of that sort is under strict
discipline and her acquaintances, male acquaintances especially, are
chosen with care. Sixteen to eighteen is a dangerous age for the average
girl.

"By the way," he added, "did your niece tell you of her experience with
that traveling salesman the other day, the fellow selling Christmas
novelties? No? Well, I happened to be here at the time. It was rather
interesting."

He told of Mary-'Gusta's session with Mr. Kron. The partners listened
with growing indignation.

"Well, by the jumpin'!" exclaimed Captain Shad. "Did you ever hear such
brassy talk in your life! I w