"Oh, we didn't agree," said Harry; "and we're better off without him. We
have Directors enough as it is. Five is a very good number. There can't
be a tie vote with five members in the Board."

Kate suspected that something had happened that she was not to be told.
But she asked no questions.

After a few minutes of swinging and whittling, in which neither of them
said anything, Kate got out of her grape-vine swing and picked up her
hat from the ground, and Harry jumped up and whistled for Rob.

As they walked home together, Kate said:

"Harry, I think I'd better resign as Treasurer. Perhaps the officers
ought all to be boys."

"Look here, Kate," said Harry; and he stopped as he spoke, "I'm not
going to have anybody else as Treasurer. If you resign that office I'll
smash the company!"

Of course, after that there was nothing more to be said, and Kate
remained Treasurer of the Crooked Creek Telegraph Company.

Before very long, of course, she heard the particulars of George
Purvis's resignation. She did not say much about it, but she was very
glad that it was not Harry who had been whipped.

The next morning, quite early--the birds and the negroes had been up
some time, but everybody in Mr. Loudon's house was still sleeping
soundly--Harry, who had a small room at the front of the house, was