't seen that much money in one
piece. That's none of my lookout. Say, are you comin' to the town
meetin' to-night?"

They were all at the meeting of the town board that night. It was held,
as usual, in Odd Fellows' Hall, above Peterson's dry-goods store, and
there was not so much as standing room in the place when the clerk read
the minutes of the last meeting. Word had gone forth that something
unusual was to happen. It was not idle rumour, for soon after the
session began, Anderson Crow arose to address the board.

"Gentlemen," he said, his voice trembling with emotion, "I have come
before you as I notified you I would. I hereby tender my resignation as
marshal of Tinkletown, street commissioner and chief of the fire
department--an' any other job I may have that has slipped my mind. I now
suggest that you app'int Mr. Ed Higgins in my place. He has wanted the
job fer some time, an' says it won't interfere with his business any
more than it did with mine. I have worked hard all these years an' I
feel that I ought to have a rest. Besides, it has got to be so that
thieves an' other criminals won't visit Tinkletown on account o' me, an'
I think the town is bein' held back considerable in that way. What's the
use havin' a marshal an' a jail ef nobody comes here to commit crimes?
They have to commit 'em in New York City er Chicago nowadays, jest
because it's safer there than it is here. Look at this last case I had.
Wasn't that arranged in New York? Well, it shouldn't be that way. Even
the train robbers put up their job in New York. I feel that the best
interests of the town would be served ef I resign an' give the criminals
a chance. You all know Ed Higgins. He will ketch 'em if anybody kin. I
move that he be app'inted."

The motion prevailed, as did the vote of thanks, which was vociferously
called for in behalf of Anderson Crow.

"You honour me," said the ex-marshal, when the "ayes" died away. "I
promise to help Marshal Higgins in ever' way possible. I'll tell him
jest what to do in everything. I wish to say that I am not goin' out of
the detective business, however. I'm goin' to open an agency of my own
here. All sorts of detective business will be done at reasonable prices.
I had these cards printed at the _Banner_ office to-day, an' Mr. Squires
is goin' to run an ad. fer me fer a year in the paper."

He proudly handed a card to the president of the board and then told the
crowd that each person present could have