stimulants, as the doctor says. If you hear my knees rattle just nudge
me, will you, Bailey?"

Mr. Tidditt removed his hat. Bailey touched his. Captain Cy looked
provokingly indifferent; he even whistled.

"Good mornin', Mr. Atkins," hailed the town clerk, raising his voice
because of the whistle. "I'm proud to see you back among us, sir. Hope
you and Alicia had a nice time out West. How is she--pretty smart?"

Mr. Atkins smiled a bland, congressional smile. He approached the group
by the fence and extended his hand.

"Ah, Asaph!" he said; "it is you then? I thought so. And Bailey, too. It
is certainly delightful to see you both again. Yes, my daughter is well,
I thank you. She, like her father, is glad to be back in the old
home nest after the round of hotel life and gayety which we
have--er--recently undergone. Yes."

"Mr. Atkins," said Bailey, glancing nervously at Captain Cy, who had
stopped whistling and was regarding the Atkins hat and whiskers with an
interested air, "I want to make you acquainted with your new neighbor.
You used to know him when you was a boy, but--but--er--Mr. Atkins, this
is Captain Cyrus Whittaker. Cy, this is Congressman Atkins. You've heard
us speak of him."

The great man started.

"Is it possible!" he exclaimed. "Is it possible that this is really my
old playmate Cyrus Whittaker?"