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serted during the supper hour. His object was to find Nessie, take her away, and marry her.

As he turned toward the Scovell House he heard the faint shriek of the evening train as it blew for some distant crossing. It brought to Abner its habitual implication of danger and uncanniness and hurried the youth's steps. Then he formed a plan for him and Nessie to catch this train and so escape the rising mob. He thrust his hand into his pocket, felt some bills. That would be enough to start them somewhere.

Under the urgency of his thoughts he began trotting through the silent thoroughfares, between rows of gray houses tinted with the yellows and reds of the evening sky. Presently he sighted the scraggly mulberry before the Scovell House. The teamster slowed up, entered the gate, and without pausing to knock at the door, walked on into the dining room.

There were a number of guests at the table and Miss Scovell was waiting on them. When Abner opened the door he saw the landlady's ungainly figure leaning over the table offering her guests hot biscuits. The chore boy was gone again. A glance showed that Nessie was not at the table, and this sent a quiver of apprehension through the teamster. Amid the clinking of knives and plates, he blurted out anxiously, "Miss Scovell, where's Nessie?"

The landlady looked around and broke into instantaneous wrath.

"Look here, Ab Teeftaller!" she began in a tense undertone which implied that her guests were not supposed to hear or mark what she was going to say. "Don't mention no disreputable names in my house, an' don't come hangin' aroun' here yo'se'f! You jest git out o' here! You've done enough dirt to this hotel already!"

"B-but, Miss Scovell," stammered Abner with lips stiff from embarrassment, "I-I got to see her! It-it's important!"