this man, it would seem, treated the matter very seriously.

Hutchins had no desire to annoy, but he did not know how to desist from
further question, and, supposing that the story of Cameron was known, he
said in a more ingratiating way:

"Well, but, sir, you don't want us to believe the crazy tale of the
station hand there, that he saw the dead walk?"

Again there was that in Trenholme's manner which astonished his
hearers. Had they had the slightest notion they were offending him, they
would have known it was an air of offence, but, not suspecting that,
they could only judge that he thought the subject a solemn one.

"I would have you believe his word, certainly. He is a man of honour."

A facetious man here took his pipe out of his mouth and winked to his
companions. "You've had private information to that effect, I suppose,
Principal."

Very haughtily Trenholme assented.

He had not been in the room more than a few moments when all this had
passed. He was handed a newspaper, which gave still another account of
the remote incident which was now at last ticklings the ears of the
public, and he was told that the man Cameron was supposed to be the
preacher who was now without. He heard what part Harkness had played,
and he saw that his brother's name was not mentioned in the public
print, was apparently not known. He took a little pains to be genial (a
thing he was certainly not in the habit of doing in that room), in order