“Waal, I guess if you git my war record you will find I didn’t tell yer any lie about that.”

“Well, no,” said Quincy, “that’s all right; but why didn’t you tell me that on one occasion, when the captain of your company was shot down, together with half the attacking force, that you took his body on your back and bore him off the field, at the same time sounding the retreat with your bugle?  Why didn’t you tell me that on two separate occasions, when the color sergeants of your company were shot and the flag fell from their grasp, that you took the flag and bore it forward, sounding the charge, until you were relieved of your double duty?  In other words, when there were so many good things that you could say for yourself, why didn’t you say them?”

Hiram thought for a moment and then he said, “Waal, I didn’t think that I had any right to interduce outside matters not connected with what we were talkin’ about.  You asked me if I’d ever been shot, and I told yer how I got hit; but I didn’t consider the luggin’ the cap’n off the field or h’istin’ Old Glory, when there wasn’t anybody else to attend to it jest that minute, come under the head of bein’ shot.”

Quincy laughed outright and extended his hand, which Hiram took.  Quincy gave it a hearty shake and said, “Hiram, I think you’re all right.  I’ve decided to buy that grocery store for you for two reasons.  The first is that you have served me well; Mandy has been very kind and attentive to me, and I want to see you both prosper and be happy.  My second reason relates to the Professor, and, of course, does not need any explanation, so far as you’re concerned.  Now, you go up to the house, put on your best suit of clothes, tell the Deacon that I want your company this afternoon; I will drive up your way about two o’clock, and we will go to the auction.”

While these events were taking place, others, perhaps equally interesting, were transpiring in another part of Mason’s Corner.  The Professor had not arisen until late, but ten o’clock found him dressed in his best and surveying his personal appearance with a pleased expression.  He felt that this was a day big with the fate of Professor Strout and Mason’s Corner!

When he left Mrs. Hawkins’s boarding house he went straight to Deacon Mason’s.

“Is the Deacon in?” he asked, as pleasant-faced Mrs. Mason opened the door.

“No, he has gone over to the Centre.  He said he’d got to go to the bank to get some money for somebody, but that he’d be back ’tween ’leven and twelve.”

“Oh, that’s all right,” said Strout, stepping inside the door; “is Miss Huldy in?”

“Yes, she’s in the parlor; she went in to practise on her music lesson, but I guess she’s reading a book instead, for I haven’t heard the piano since she went in half an hour ago.”

“Waal, I’ll step in and have a little chat with her whilst I’m waiting for the Deacon,” said the Professor; “but you just let me know as soon as the Deacon comes, won’t you, Mrs. Mason?”