"I don't see but what me'n' you'll hef to go halves, and turn in together," said a voice at his other elbow.
Mr. John Harmon looked up. A stranger, of tall figure, prominent cheek-bones, sallow complexion, dressed in a very new and very stiff suit of clothes, smiled upon him in a decidedly friendly manner.
"There's jest one room, the landlord says'st we can hav' on a pinch," confined the speaker. "It's up pooty high, and an't a very sizable room, at that. I've got the furst offer on't, but I won't mind makin' a team'th you, if you're a mind to hitch on, and make the best on't. What d'ye say?"
Mr. John Harmon said he supposed he would accept his new friend's proposal. But at the same time he hinted to the clerk at the desk that he was from the Hon. Mr. Ames' District.
"If you were the President, himself, we could not do any better by you, under the circumstances," said the clerk.
This assurance served to soothe John Harmon's injured feelings, and he retired to the room in the top of the house, with his new acquaintance.
"Come down on Gov'ment business, I s'pose likely?" suggested the latter.
"Yes," replied John Harmon, "on post-office business."
"I want to know! Glad we fell in," cried the stranger. "I came down on some sich business myself."
"Indeed!" said John Harmon. "You are going to call on the Post Master General, then?"