"Without exactly understanding the reason for this earnest injunction, Abner went to the gate. He was accustomed to taking Sam's advice if he saw no good reason against it.
"The toll-gate woman was on her feet, but Sam detained her, and said something about the relation between sex and toll.
"'Well, well,' said the woman, 'she must be a queer one. I'll go out to her.'
"'Oh, no,' cried Sam. 'Sit here and finish your dinner. He's comin' right back, and I'll collect the toll.' Half-way to the toll-house Sam met Abner. 'What do you think of her?' he asked hurriedly. 'Did you take a good look at her?'
"'Yes, I did,' replied his friend, 'and I don't think nothin' of her. What is there to think about her?'
"'Go back to your dinner,' cried Sam. 'I've got to collect her toll.'
"'I want you to tell me,' said the girl, not smiling now, 'do you keep a detective here? Do you think I want to cheat the road out of its toll? I am ready to pay the charge, whatever it is.'
"'Detective!' exclaimed Sam.
"'Yes,' said she; 'that little brown man who came out here and looked at me as if he were determined to know me the next time he saw me.'
"'Oh, him!' said Sam. 'That's a friend of mine, Cap'n Abner Budlong. He's no detective, nor nothin' like one. He jes came out to see who was passin' while I was findin' out about the toll. He's always fond of seein' people.'