"I s'pose he fixed it with the trustees"
said Benoni Hill to Abner Stiles.
"Danged if I think so," was the reply. "He's allers been meaner'n
dirt to Hiram, an' has allers wanted to git him out. Burnin' up the
store giv' him his chance."
"You mean the store burnin' up," corrected Benoni.
"I dunno. The Bible says God works in a mysterious way his wonders to
perform, an' so do some individooals."
One noon after dinner, Mr. Strout said to his wife. "Bessie, put on
your things an' come down to the new store. I want to show you
somethin'."
"And leave the dishes?"
"You can bring 'em with you if you want to," her husband replied.
When they reached the store, upon which the painters were at work, he
pointed to the new sign.
"See that? Read it out loud."
Mrs. Strout complied:
"O. STROUT. FINE GROCERIES."
"What did I tell yer?" was his only comment.
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE HOME COMING
Quincy desired to have his return to America unheralded by items in
the newspapers of stories of his wonderful rescue, captivity, and
final recovery of his reason, so when he booked for passage on the
_Gallia_ he gave the name of Mr. S. Adams, wife and son.
During the homeward voyage the father and son had an opportunity to
become acquainted. The father told the story of his life at Mason's
Corner; first going back to his college days.
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