oom, and in a few minutes more Layton might
steal away, and, reaching the outskirts of the town, gain the wagon that
was to convey him to Lebanon.

"You 'll not forget this place, I reckon," said he, as he assisted
Layton to close and fasten up his carpet-bag. "You'll be proud, one of
these days, to say, 'I was there some five-and-twenty, or maybe thirty,
years back. There was only one what you 'd call a first-rate hotel
in the town; it was kept by a certain Dan Heron, the man that made
Bunkumville, who built Briggs Block and the Apollonicon. I knew him.'
Yes, sir, I think I hear you sayin' it."

"I half suspect you are mistaken, my friend," said Lay-ton, peevishly.
"I live in the hope never to hear the name of this place again, as
assuredly I am determined never to speak of it."

"Well, you Britishers can't help envy, that's a fact," said Heron, with
a sigh that showed how deeply he felt this unhappy infirmity. "Take a
glass of something to warm you, and let's be movin'. I'll see you safe
through the town."

Layton thankfully accepted his guidance, and, each taking a share of the
luggage, they set forth into the street. Night was now fast falling,
and they could move along without any danger of detection; but,
besides this, there were few abroad, the unaccustomed attraction of the
lecture-room having drawn nearly all in that direction. Little heeding
the remarks by which Heron beguiled the way, Layton moved on, only
occupied with the thought of how soon he would be miles away from this
unloved spot, when his companion suddenly arrested his attention by
grasping his arm, as he said, "There; did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" asked Layton, impatiently.

"The cheerin', the shoutin'! That's for old Poll. It's the joy of our
folk to see the old boy once more about. It would be well for some of
our public men if they were half as popular in their own States as he is
with the people down here. There it is again!"

Layton was not exactly in the fit humor to sympathize with this success,
and neither the lecturer nor his audience engaged any large share of
his good-will; he, therefore, merely muttered an impatient wish to get
along, while he quickened his own pace in example.

"Well, I never heerd greater applause than that. They 're at it again!"

A wild burst of uproarious enthusiasm at the same moment burst forth and
filled the air.

"There ain't no mockery there, stranger," said Heron; "that ain't like
the cheer t