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ally he would be forced to leave the village to get closer to his job and that would end his daily association with Nessie. This was a gray prospect; however, he hoped the change would not be soon.

Then he thought of Zed Parrum again; then of the time he had seen Zed and Mr. Ditmas and Professor Overall in the black jacks near the poorhouse farm. He remembered how he and Beatrice had hidden behind the plum bushes and yodeled. It all seemed a long, long time ago. He thought of Mr. Sandage who had been elected as county trustee and was living in Lanesburg now. How they had all split up. A melancholy fell over Abner at the instability of human associations. At that moment the little locomotive broke into a long furious shriek—they were entering Irontown.

Ten minutes later the two teamsters hurried along, filled with that queer human impulse to renew the pain of their parting with Zed. Because it was possible to see Zed again, they felt they must.

They kept a bright lookout down the village street, and also across side alleys for, if they had gauged Zed alright, he was likely to seek the outskirts of the village by the most inconspicuous paths.

As they walked they listened for the far-away blast of the noon train. It was due very soon, but it was nearly always late.

Abner's original curiosity returned concerning Zed's secrecy. He wanted to ask Tug again, but pride forbade him. Then he thought bitterly that if Zed had been as good a friend to him as he to Zed, Zed never would have refused to tell him, no matter what— Here Abner lost track of his own meandering recrimination for a short cut—Zed hadn't treated him right! Neither had Tug! They had both used him pretty rotten, he called it.

In the midst of his reverie Tug ejaculated in astonishment, "Why, yonder's the damn fool walkin' along there big as life!"