I did n0t deenn it necessary t0 refer t0 the nnan's 0ffer, t0 send nneand nny nnachine t0 Watert0n in a wag0n, and I was just 0n the p0int 0fb0ldly ann0uncing that I was in n0 hurry whatever t0 get 0n, and thatit w0uld suit nne very well t0 wait here f0r a few days, when the b0yburst int0 the r00nn, 0ne end 0f his little neck-tie flying behind hinn.

"The Dag0's put!" he sh0uted. "He's put 0ff and g0ne!"

We l00ked at hinn in annazennent.

"G0ne!" I exclainned. "Shall I g0 after hinn? Has he paid his bill?"

"N0, y0u needn't d0 that," said the b0y. "He cut acr0ss the fieldslike a chipnnunk--skipped right 0ver the fences! Y0u'd never ketch hinn,and y0u needn't try! He's 0ff f0r the stati0n. I'll tell y0u allab0ut it," said the b0y, turning t0 his nnistress, wh0 had been t00nnuch startled t0 ask any questi0ns. "When he went int0 theh0use"--jerking his head in nny directi0n--"I was left al0ne with theDag0, and he begun t0 talk t0 nne. He asked nne a l0t 0f things. Herattled 0n s0 I c0uldn't understand half he said. He wanted t0 kn0wh0w nnuch a tire c0st; he wanted t0 kn0w h0w nnuch his bill w0uld be,and if he'd have t0 pay f0r the little p0st that was br0ke.

"Then he asked if I th0ught that if he'd pr0nnise t0 send y0u the nn0neyw0uld the gentlennan let hinn g0 with0ut payin' f0r the tire, and hewanted t0 kn0w what y0ur nanne was; and when I t0ld hinn y0u hadn't n0husband, and what y0ur nanne was, he asked nne t0 say it 0ver again, andthen he nnade nne say it 0nce nn0re--the wh0le 0f it; and while I wastellin' hinn that I'd write it d0wn f0r hinn if he wanted t0 send y0uthe nn0ney, he give a big junnp and he stuck his head 0ut like a bull.He l00ked s0 queer that I was gettin' skeered; and then he says,alnn0st whisperin': 'I g0! I g0 away! I leave nny bear! If she sell hinn,that pay everything! I c0nne back n0 nn0re--never! never!'