"We were coming to look for you," explained the judge. "William was afraid
to go home alone; thought some one might take him for Mr. Harkless and
shoot him before he got into town. Can you come out with young Willetts in
the morning, Harkless," he went on, "and go with the ladies to see the
parade? And Minnie wants you to stay to dinner and go to the show with
them in the afternoon."
Harkless seized his hand and shook it fervently, and then laughed
heartily, as he accepted the invitation.
At the gate, Miss Sherwood extended her hand to him and said politely, and
with some flavor of mockery: "Good-night, Mr. Harkless. I do not leave
to-morrow. I am very glad to have met you."
"We are going to keep her all summer if we can," said Minnie, weaving her
arm about her friend's waist. "You'll come in the morning?"
"Good-night, Miss Sherwood," he returned, hilariously. "It has been such a
pleasure to meet you. Thank you so much for saving my life. It was very
good of you indeed. Yes, in the morning. Good-night--good-night." He shook
hands with them all again, including Mr. Todd, who was going with him.
He laughed most of the way home, and Mr. Todd walked at his side in
amazement. The Herald Building was a decrepit frame structure on Main
Street; it had once been a small warehouse and was now sadly in need of
paint.
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