“A common fellow from the upper end of the county, who schemed to keep his sons out of the draft. This Andrews and some other fellows went to Larkland and actually asked Mayo about a guest of his and what his business was. Mayo refused to tell, and when Andrews persisted, why, he settled the matter——�
“‘Settled the matter,’ how?� asked Mrs. Wilson.
“Knocked him down, of course. That was all right. The idea of Andrews catechizing him! It was infernally insolent.�
“I wonder he dared do it,� said Mrs. Blair.
“Oh! The fellow is a justice of the peace or a deputy sheriff or some sort of little officer,� conceded Mr. Blair. “It seems that Andrews has been sneaking around, watching Mayo. And he’s found out, he claims, that Mayo has been harboring an enemy alien, a German——�
“I don’t believe any one at all has been there,� said Mrs. Blair.
“So the thing has gone on, but——� Mr. Blair paused and frowned.
“But what?� asked Mrs. Wilson.
“Why doesn’t Mayo explain?� he exploded. “I gave him the opportunity, deuce take it! I was so sure he would make it all right that I brought up the subject yesterday when there was a crowd here in the office, waiting for the mail. But instead of saying where he went or who his guest was—I’m a Dutchman if he didn’t walk out of the office without a word!�
“And that makes it worse than if you had not given him the chance to explain,� said Mrs. Wilson.