heriff;" and the porter rattled some keys in his
pocket.

Instantly a great horror overspread the countenance of Baker from
Georgia. He looked wildly about and seemed ready to run, and labored
with an imaginary weight that clung to his ankles. He took a single
step in his agitation, and suddenly realized that no such encumbrance
detained him. He shook off the delusion and sprang to the bottom of the
stairs. His whole appearance had changed. Humility had given way to
uncontrollable fear, and he had become a fleeing wild beast that was
hunted for its life. He sprang through the outer door and reached the
ground in another bound, and gathered his strength for immediate flight
from terrors without a name.

"Stop, there!" called a stern, full voice.

Baker obeyed instantly; obeyed as might a man long accustomed to the
most servile obedience; as might a dog that has been beaten until his
spirit is broken. He bared his head, and stood in the warm glow of the
fading light, meek and submissive. All signs of fear had disappeared
from his face; but he was no longer the Baker from Georgia who, a few
minutes ago, had trudged along the gravelled walk after the ungainly
shadow. He had sought a thing and had not found it--had bitten a rosy
apple and was choked with dust. Even the rakish boots looked
submissive, and showed their brass teeth in solemn acquiescence to an
inevitability; and somehow they looked not nearly so rakish as
formerly.

The voice that had checked Baker had not a kindly tone; it was that of
a suspicious man, who believed that he had detected a thief in the act
of making off with dishonest booty stored in ample pockets. Yet his
face had a generous look, though anger made his eyes harsh. The two men
surveyed each other, anger disappearing from the face of one to give
place to pity, the other regarding him with mild docility.

"Come along with me," said the gentleman to Baker.

Evidently Baker had heard those words before, for he followed quietly
and tamely, with his dusty old hat in his left hand and his head bowed
upon his breast. He walked so slowly that the gentleman turned to
observe him, and found him moving laboriously, with his feet wide apart
and his right hand grasping an invisible something that weighted down
his ankles. They were now passing the end of the hotel on their way to
the rear, when they came near a hitching-post, to which rings were
affixed with staples. Baker had been looking around for s