s'
points about it.

Then it was suddenly noised abroad that Mrs. Baggs, Sr., who knew
everybody, had given Guzzy a letter of introduction to the Governor of
the State.

Bowerton was simply confounded. What _could_ he want? The Governor had
very few appointments at his disposal, and none of them were fit for
Guzzy, except those for which Guzzy was not fit.

Even the local politicians became excited, and both sides consulted
Guzzy.

Finally, when Guzzy started for the State capital, and Helen Wyett, as
people still called her, accompanied him, the people of Bowerton put on
countenances of hopeless resignation, and of a mute expectation which
nothing could astonish.

It might be an elopement--it might be that they were going as
missionaries; but no one expressed a positive opinion, and every one
expressed a perfect willingness to believe anything that was supported
by even a shadow of proof.

Their mute agony was suddenly ended, for within forty-eight hours Guzzy
and his traveling companion returned.

The latter seemed unusually happy for the wife of a convict, while the
former went straight to Squire Jones and the constable's.

Half an hour later all Bowerton knew that William Beigh, _alias_ Bay
Billy, _alias_ Handsome, had received a full and free pardon from the
Governor.

The next day Bowerton saw a tall, handsome stranger, with downcast eyes,
walk rapidly through the principal street and disappear behind Mrs.
Wyett's gate.

A day later, and Bowerton was electrified by the intelligence that the
ex-burglar had been installed as a clerk in Guzzy's store.

People said that it was a shame--that nobody knew how soon Beigh might
take to his old tricks again. Nevertheless, they crowded to Guzzy's
store, to look at him, until shrewd people began to wonder whether Guzzy
hadn't really taken Beigh as a sort of advertisement to draw trade.

A few months later, however, they changed their opinions, for the
constable, after the expiration of his term of office, and while under
the influence of a glass too much, related the whole history of the
night of Beigh's first arrival at Bowerton.

The Bowertonians were law-abiding people; but, somehow, Guzzy's
customers increased from that very day, and his prosperity did not
decline even after "Guzzy & Beigh" was the sign over the door of the
store which had been built and stocked with Mrs. Wyett's money.

A ROMANCE OF HAPPY REST.

Happy Rest is a village whose