the corner of the mouth; bald over the crown and to a line a couple of inches above the ear, below that thick and somewhat bushy hair of yellowish red, showing a mingling of gray; small but very blue eyes; a thick nose, of no classifiable shape, and a large mouth with the lips so pressed together as to produce a slightly downward and yet rather humorous curve at the corners.  He was dressed in a sack coat of dark “pepper-and-salt,” with waistcoat and trousers to match.  A somewhat old-fashioned standing collar, flaring away from the throat, was encircled by a red cravat, tied in a bow under his chin.  A diamond stud of perhaps two carats showed in the triangle of spotless shirt front, and on his head was a cloth cap with ear lappets.  He accosted our friend with, “I reckon you must be Mr. Lenox.  How are you?  I’m glad to see you,” tugging off a thick buckskin glove, and putting out a plump but muscular hand.

John thanked him as they shook hands, and “hoped he was well.”

“Wa’al,” said Mr. Harum, “I’m improvin’ slowly.  I’ve got so ’st I c’n set up long enough to have my bed made.  Come last night, I s’pose?  Anybody to the deepo to bring ye over?  This time o’ year once ’n a while the’ don’t nobody go over for passengers.”

John said that he had had no trouble.  A man by the name of Robinson had brought him and his luggage.

“E-up!” said David with a nod, backing up to the fire which was burning in the grate of the Franklin stove, “‘Dug’ Robinson.  ’D he do the p’lite thing in the matter of questions an’ gen’ral conversation?” he asked with a grin.  John laughed in reply to this question.

“Where’d you put up?” asked David, John said that he passed the night at the Eagle Hotel.  Mr. Harum had seen Dick Larrabee that morning and heard what he had to say of our friend’s reception, but he liked to get his information from original sources.

“Make ye putty comf’table?” he asked, turning to eject a mouthful into the fire.

“I got along pretty well under the circumstances,” said John.

Mr. Harum did not press the inquiry.  “How’d you leave the gen’ral?” he inquired.

“He seemed to be well,” replied John, “and he wished to be kindly remembered to you.”

“Fine man, the gen’ral,” declared David, well pleased.  “Fine man all ’round.  Word’s as good as his bond.  Yes, sir, when the gen’ral gives his warrant, I don’t care whether I see the critter or not.  Know him much?”

“He and my father were old friends, and I have known him a good many years,” replied John, adding, “he has been very kind and friendly to me.”

“Set down, set down,” said Mr. Harum, pointing to a chair.  Seating himself, he took off his cap and dropped it with his gloves on the floor.  “How long you ben here in the office?” he asked.

“Perhaps half an hour,” was the reply.

“I meant to have ben here when you come,” said the banker, “but I got hendered about a matter of a hoss I’m looking at.  I guess I’ll shut that door,” making a move toward the one into the front office.