This was the letter:


Roscoe Paine, Esq.

Dear Sir:

I should like to see you at my house this--Thursday--forenoon, on a
matter of business. I shall expect you at any time after ten in the
morning.

Yours truly,

JAMES W. COLTON.


"From Mr. Colton!" exclaimed Mother. "Why! what can he want of you?"

"I don't know," I answered. "And I don't particularly care."

"Roscoe!"

"Mother, did you ever hear such a cool, nervy proposition in your life?
He wants to see me and he orders me to come to him. Why doesn't he come
to me?"

"I suppose he didn't think of it. He is a big man in New York and he has
been accustomed to having people come at his convenience. It's his way
of doing things, I suppose."