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第28章

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them。  If you will go in with me; and say that you have often

heard me preach; and that I am the Rev。 Mr。 Barnes; of Hayfield

Centre; I won't mind paying you five dollars for your trouble。〃



〃All right; I'll do it;〃 said the rustic; considering that it

would be an unusually easy way of earning few dollars。



〃You'll remember the name; won't you?〃



〃YesParson Barnes; of Hayfield Centre。〃



〃That is right。  The store is near by。  Walk along with us; and

we will be there in five minutes。〃







CHAPTER XXIII



A NEW EXPEDIENT



〃I believe your name is Peck?〃 said Mr。 Montgomery; hazarding a

guess。



〃No; it's Young; Ephraim Young。〃



〃Of course it is。  I remember now; but I am apt to forget names。 

You said your parents were quite well?〃



〃Yes; they're pretty smart。〃



〃I am glad to hear it; I have the pleasantest recollections of

your excellent father。  Let me see; didn't you call there with me

once; Mrs。 Barnes?〃



〃Not that I remember。〃



〃You must go with me the next time。  I want you to know the

parents of our young friend。  They are excellent people。  Do you

go back this afternoon; Mr。 Young?〃



〃Yes; I guess so。  You don't know of any sitooation I could get

in a store round here; do you?〃



〃Not at present; but I have some influential friends to whom I

will mention your name。  Suppose; now; I could obtain a situation

for you; how shall I direct the letter letting you know?〃



〃Just put on the letter 'Ephraim Young。' Everybody in Plainfield

knows me。〃



〃So he lives in Plainfield;〃 said Mr。 Montgomery to himself。 

〃It's as well to know that。〃  Then aloud: 〃I won't forget; Mr。

Young。  What sort of business would you prefer?〃



〃Any kind that'll pay;〃 said the gratified youth; firmly

convinced of his companion's ability to fulfill his promise。 

〃I've got tired of stayin' round home; and I'd like to try York a

little while。  Folks say it's easy to make money here。〃



〃You are right。  If I were a business man; I would come to New

York at once。  For a smart young man like you it offers a much

better opening than a country village。〃



〃That's what I've told dad often;〃 said the rustic; 〃but he's

afraid I wouldn't get nothing to do and he says it's dreadful

expensive livin' here。〃



〃So it is expensive; but then you will be better paid than in the

country。  However; here we are。  You won't forget what I told

you?〃



〃NoI'll remember;〃 said the young man。



The reappearance of Mr。 Barnes and wife so soon excited some

surprise in the store; for it had got around; as such things

will; that he was an impostor; and it was supposed that he would

not venture to show his face there again。  The appearance of his

rustic companion likewise attracted attention。  Certainly; Mr。

Montgomery (it makes little difference what we call him) did not

exhibit the slightest appearance of apprehension; but his manner

was quite cool and self…possessed。  He made his way to that part

of the counter attended by the clerk with whom he had before

spoken。  He observed with pleasure and relief that the man who

had questioned his identity with any of the ministers of Hayfield

Centre was no longer in the store。  This would make the recovery

of the ring considerably easier。



〃Well; sir;〃 he said; addressing the clerk; 〃I suppose you did

not expect to see me again so soon?〃



〃No; sir。〃



〃Nor did I expect to be able to return for the ring before

to…morrow; not supposing that I could bring witnesses to prove

that I was what I represented。  But fortunately I met just now a

young friend; who can testify to my identity; as he has heard me

preach frequently in Plainfield; where he resides。  Mr。 Young;

will you be kind enough to tell this gentleman who I am?〃



〃Parson Barnes; of Hayfield Centre;〃 said the youth; confidently。



〃You have heard me preach; have you not; in Plainfield?〃



〃Yes;〃 said the young man; fully believing that he was telling

the truth。



〃And I have called on your parents?〃



〃Yes。〃



〃I think;〃 said the adventurer; 〃that will be sufficient to

convince you that I am what I appear。〃



It was hard to doubt; in the face of such evidence。  Ephraim

Young was so unmistakably from the rural districts that it would

have been absurd to suspect him of being an artful city rogue。 

Besides; Mr。 Barnes himself was got up so naturally that all the

clerk's doubts vanished at once。  He concluded that the customer

who had questioned his genuineness must be very much mistaken。



〃I ought to apologize to you; sir;〃 he said; 〃for doubting your

word。  But in a city like this you know one has to be very

careful。〃



〃Of course;〃 said the adventurer; blandly; 〃I do not blame you in

the least。  You only did your duty; though it might have cost me

some trouble and inconvenience。〃



〃I am sorry; sir。〃



〃No apologies; I beg。  It has all turned out right; and your

mistake was a natural one。  If you will kindly return me the

ring; I will defer selling it; I think; till another day。〃



The clerk brought the ring; which he handed back to Mr。

Montgomery。  The latter received it with so much the more

satisfaction; as he had made up his mind at one time that it was

gone irrevocably; and put it away in his waistcoat pocket。



〃I had intended to buy some silver spoons;〃 he said; 〃but it will

be necessary to wait until I have disposed of the ring。  However;

I may as well look at some; eh; Mrs。 Barnes?〃



〃If you like;〃 assented the lady。



So the pair examined some spoons; and fixed upon a dozen; which

they said they would return and buy on the next day; and then;

with a polite good…by; went out of the store; leaving behind; on

the whole; a favorable impression。



Ephraim Young accompanied them out; and walked along beside them

in the street。  He; too; was in good spirits; for had not his

companion promised him five dollars for his services; which he

had faithfully rendered?  Five dollars to the young man from the

rural districts was a very considerable sum of moneyquite a

nugget; in factand he already enjoyed in advance the pleasure

which he anticipated of telling his friends at home how easily he

had earned such a sum in 〃York。〃  He walked along beside the

adventurer; expecting that he would say something about paying

him; but no allusion was made by the adventurer to his promise。 

Indeed; five dollars was considerably more than he had in his

possession。  When they reached Amity street; for they were now

proceeding up Broadway; he sought to shake off the young man;

whose company he no longer desired。



〃This is our way;〃 he said。  〃I suppose you are going further。  I

am very glad to have met you; Mr。 Young。  I hope you will give

our regards to your excellent parents;〃 and he held out his hand

in token of farewell。



〃Ain't you goin' to pay me that money?〃 said Ephraim; bluntly;

becoming alarmed at the prospect of losing the nugget he had

counted on with so much confidence。



〃Bless me; I came near forgetting it!  I hope you will excuse

me;〃 and to Ephraim's delight he drew out his pocketbook。  But

the prospect of payment was not so bright as the young man

supposed。



〃I don't think I have a five…dollar bill;〃 said Mr。 Montgomery;

after an examination of the pocketbook。  〃Mrs。 Montgomery; do you

happen to have a five with you?〃



〃No; I haven't;〃 said the lady; promptly。  〃I spent all my money

shopping this morning。〃



〃That is unfortunate。  Our young friend has rendered us such a

service I don't like to make him wait for his money。〃



Ephraim Young looked rather blank at this suggestion。



〃Let me see; I have a hundred…dollar bill here;〃 said Mr。

Montgomery。  〃I will go into the next store; and see if I can't

get it changed。  Mr。 Young; will you be kind enough to remain

with my wife?〃



〃Certain;〃 said Ephraim; brightening up。



Mr。 Montgomery went into a 

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