“I had been thinking of that,” Hamilton said, “if a farmer was on the other side of a plowed patch, I’d have no way of getting to him in a buggy except by tying the horse and walking, while in the saddle I could easily take short cuts.  And I imagine, in a countryside such as you say this is, I’ll probably need to see every one on the place in order to get anything like accurate figures.”

“It’s not at all unlikely,” the supervisor rejoined.  “Well, I thought you would be needing a horse, and I’ve been looking round for one for some time.  I think I have the very one you will want.  I told the owner to hold back sale until you had a chance to look at her.”

“Then the quicker I see the owner, the better?” suggested the boy.

“I think I had better go with you,” the supervisor said, “and then they won’t try any over-clever work.  Horse-dealing isn’t always the most guileless business, you know.”

“So I’ve understood,” Hamilton said, “and I really don’t know enough to judge the fine points of a horse.”

“I was born and bred in the Blue Grass,” his friend remarked, “and so I’ve been around horses pretty much all my days.  The census work is quite a change from that.”

“I hope you didn’t have any bother over my coming in this somewhat irregular way?” asked Hamilton, remembering what Mr. Burns had said to him in Washington.

The supervisor laughed.

“Nothing serious,” he said, “but there were several people who tried to cut you out,—­one of them especially.  There were three applicants for this district, and the one who was most resentful about an outsider coming in wouldn’t have been appointed under any circumstances.  Indeed, the best of the three undertook to describe the other two.  His letter was a wonder,” he added, picking up one of the files; “I think I saved it.—­Yes, here it is.  Read it, while I get ready to go out with you,” and he handed the letter to Hamilton.

The letter was as follows in every detail: 

     “MR. ——­

     “Dr. Sir I made out the Blank for a Job taking Census was a going
     to make it & when I Got to the Postoffice there was such an a ray
     of aplicants I concluded not to do so

“in the first Place there is two of these aplicants are Habichual Drunkards one Professor A——­ the other Mr. P——­ A——­ was born in Canaday & has NO Interest here Except to be Suported by his wife & the Publick & has had his Last School to Teach in this Town. he is so Imoral People will not Tollerate him any Longer the Wrighter has seen him on a Saturday SO Drunk he would Fall against People he met if that is the Kind of Man you are looking For I don’t want a Job I can get along without

     “I will send in my application Just the Same

     “Mr. P——­ is Not fare behind and is Dealer in Coal & Feed & his
     Father has to take Cair of the Business for him.