I looked at it close and severe, but not one word could I make out, only I thought I could partly make out the word “remove,” and along down the sheet the word “place,” and there wus one word that did look like “free.” And Josiah jumped at them words; and says he,—
“It means, you know, the pass reads like this, for me to remove myself from place to place, free. Don't you see through it?” says he.
“No,” says I, holdin' the paper up to the light. “No, I don't see through it, far from it.”
“Wall,” says he, highly excited and tickled, “I'll try it to-morrow, anyway. I'll see whether I am in the right, or not.”
And he went on dreamily, “Lemme see—I have got to move that lumber in the mornin' up from my wood-lot. But it won't take me more'n a couple of hours, or so, and in the afternoon I'll take a start.”
Says I, “What under the sun, Josiah Allen, should the Railroad Company give you a free pass for?”
“Wall,” says he, “I have my thoughts.”
He spoke in a dretful sort of a mysterious way, but proud; and I says,—