Knowles cursed him for a "slippery customer," and was cheated by
him the next hour. While he and Holmes were counting out the
bills, a little white-headed girl crept shyly in at the door, and
came up to the table,--oddly dressed, in a frock fastened with
great horn buttons, and with an old-fashioned anxious pair of
eyes, the color of blue Delft. Holmes smoothed her hair, as she
stood beside them; for he never could help caressing children or
dogs. Pike looked up sharply,--then half smiled, as he went on
counting.

"Ninety, ninety-five, AND one hundred, all right,"--tying a bit
of tape about the papers. "My Sophy, Mr. Holmes. Good girl,
Sophy is. Bring her up to the mill sometimes," he said,
apologetically, "on 'count of not leaving her alone. She gets
lonesome at th' house."

Holmes glanced at Pike's felt hat lying on the table: there was a
rusty strip of crape on it.

"Yes," said Pike, in a lower tone, "I'm father and mother, both,
to Sophy now."

"I had not heard," said Holmes, kindly. "How about the boys,
now?"

"Pete and John 's both gone West," the man said, his eyes
kindling eagerly. " 'S fine boys as ever turned out of Indiana.
Good eddications I give 'em both. I've felt the want of that all
my life.. Good eddications. Says I, `Now, boys, you've got your
fortunes, nothing to hinder your bein' President. Let's see what