Mrs. Darling was not wholly satisfied with second-hand news, so she ran into Mrs. Thornton's, next door; and, while the baby with a new tooth was having his morning "sample," his mamma related her version of the story of the first meeting of the club.
In order to put on the front chamber windows, it was necessary for Sam to get out on the roof of the piazza. Just as he was climbing out of a window, Alick Purbeck, Mr. Stout's clerk, drove up, and when he saw Sam stopped.
"Hello, Sam," he called, "what you doin' up there?"
"Workin' for my health; doctor says I've got to have three meals a day."
"Doctor nothin'."
"No, Doctor Jones."
"Say, what's this I hear about Billy Flint?"
"Not knowin', I hesitate to say." Mrs. Darling's coffee had put Sam in a facetious mood.
"There was a man lookin' for him over to the store half an hour ago," said Alick, gravely.
"What d' he have, a bill or a warrant?"