“Good evening, sir,” responded Mr. Kerr.
“How d’ye do, sir,” thundered out Mr. Steele.
“This has been a very pleasant day,” ventured the traveler.
“Yes, sir,” curtly replied Mr. Steele.
“I am very tired,” continued the stranger; “could I stay with you to-night?”
“You are the fellow who goes about lecturing on temperance, and getting up Sunday-schools, aint you?” sarcastically rejoined Mr. Steele, his face reddening.
“That is my calling,” meekly added the man of God.
“Then you don’t stay all night in my house; I don’t harbor fellows who are too lazy to work,” sneeringly answered the excited Mr. Steele.
“But I am very tired, and my head aches badly; I’ll pay you well.”
“Cant help it. The sooner you make tracks the better,” retorted the unfeeling man.