He said he had missed his train on the previous day, and being a
superstitious man he regarded that as an augury of evil. Nevertheless he
had resolved to take the stuff even at a price that was ruinous. He
unfolded two hundred dollars in the presence of Clem, and wished to know
if he might send a wagon at once. Clem brought back word from Miss
Caroline, who had declined to appear, that the strange gentleman would
oblige her by ceasing his remarkable intrusions. Whereupon the gentleman
had said: "Oh, very _well_! Then I go!"
But he went no farther than the City Hotel; and here one may note a
further contrivance of indirection on the part of our attending Fates.
From the evening train of that day the 'bus brought another strange
gentleman, of an Eastern manner, but somewhat neater of dress than the
first one and speaking with an accent much less obtrusive. This
gentleman wrote "James Walsingham Price, N.Y.," on the register, called
for a room with a bath, ordered "coffee and rolls" to be sent there at
eight-thirty the next morning, and then asked to see the "dinner card."
After mine host, Jake Kilburn, had been made to understand what "dinner
card" meant, he made Mr.
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