"What part of the Cape has interested you, Mr. Green?" she inquired for
the sake of saying something.

"Eh? Oh--er--South Harniss. Little town down near the elbow. Do you know
it?"

Mary was surprised, of course. The answer which was on the tip of her
tongue was naturally, "Why, yes, I live there." But she did not make
that answer, although she has often wondered, since, why. What she said
was: "Yes, I know South Harniss."

"Do you, indeed?" went on Green. "Well, I don't, but I have known some
people who live there for ever so long. My father knew them before me.
They were customers of his and they have been buying of our firm for
years. Two old chaps who keep what I believe they would call a 'general
store.' Fine old fellows, both of them! Different as can be, and
characters, but pure gold inside. I have had some bad news concerning
them. They're in trouble and I'm mighty sorry."

Mary was bored no longer. She leaned forward and asked breathlessly:

"What are their names, Mr. Green?"

"Eh? Oh, the firm name is Hamilton and Company. That is simple and sane
enough, but the names of the partners were cribbed from the book of
Leviticus, I should imagine--Zoeth and Shadrach! Ho, ho! Think of it!
Think of wishing a name like Shadrach upon a helpless infant. The S. P.
C. A. or C. C. or something ought to be told of it. Ho, ho!"