"You don't want me to stay to supper, I reckon."
"Well, I guess not to-night. Fact is, I don't know when we shall have supper. Mrs. B. ought to be here gettin' it ready."
"Come out and have a walk, Brandon. I will introduce you to Colonel Johnson, and we can talk this thing over."
"All right. That'll take up the time till supper."
The two men walked over to the tavern, and Colonel Johnson walked out with them. They had a conference together, but it is not necessary to give the details here.
A little after six o'clock Brandon directed his steps homeward.
"I'll be a little late to supper," he said to himself, "but Mrs. B. will save some for me. I feel confoundedly hungry. Must be in the air. There's nothing like country air to give a man a good appetite."
Brandon opened the door of the cottage, and went in. All was quiet and solitary, as he had left it.
"Well. I'll be blowed!" he ejaculated. "What does all this mean? Where's Mrs. B., and where's supper?"
He sat down, and looked about him in surprise and bewilderment.