Sweetwater broke out into a smile, which changed his whole countenance.
"Wouldn't I, sir?"
The man eyed him for another minute with scrutinising intensity. Then he said shortly:
"Come up-stairs with me."
They entered the house, went up a flight or two, and stopped at a door which was slightly ajar.
"We are going into the presence of a lady," remarked the man. "Wait here until I call you."
Sweetwater waited, the many thoughts going through his mind not preventing him from observing all that passed.
The man, who had left the door wide open, approached the lady who was awaiting him, and who was apparently the same one who had sent Sweetwater on his errand, and entered into a low but animated conversation. She held a telegram in her hand which she showed him, and then after a little earnest parley and a number of pleading looks from them both toward the waiting Sweetwater, she disappeared into another room, from which she brought a parcel neatly done up, which she handed to the man with a strange gesture. Another hurried exchange of words and a meaning look which did not escape the sharp eye of the watchful messenger, and the man turned and gave the parcel into Sweetwater's hands.
"You are to carry this," said he, "to the town hall. In the second room to the right on entering you will see a table surrounded by chairs, which at this hour ought to be empty. At the head of the table you will find an arm-chair. On the table directly in front of this you will lay this packet. Mark you, directly before the chair and not too far from the edge of the table. Then you are to come out. If you see anyone, say you came to leave some papers for Mr. Gifford. Do this and you may keep the five dollars and welcome."
Sweetwater hesitated. There was something in the errand or in the manner of the man and woman that he did not like.