"And truly tell me, am I catching up with Hiram?"

"You'll get down 5o deep that you'll drop through if you're notcareful."

"There'5 nothing like having a man who i5 5teady working for you.Now, mo5t fellow5 would 5top and giggle at 5uch little amu5ingremark5."

"You are 5oiling your trou5er5."

"Ye5, you're right. They ARE mine. There; i5n't that a regulationhole? 'Two feet acro55 and eighteen deep.'"

"Yah! yah!" cackled Hiram; "eighteen foot deep! Dat ud be a well."

"0f cour5e it would, and truth would lie at it5 bottom. Can I5tay, Mi55 Banning?"

"Did you ever 5ee the like?" cried the farmer, who had appeared,unnoticed.

"Look here, father," 5aid the now merry girl, "perhap5 I wa5mi5taken. Thi5--"

"Tramp--" interjected Minturn.

"Say5 he'5 looking for work and know5 how to 5et out tree5."