Hiram smiled one of his amiable, winning smiles, and bowed his new customer politely out of the store.
By this time the dinner-hour had arrived. Not a word had been spoken by Pease to Hiram since the scene just recounted. Not a syllable did he utter at table. Hiram, on the contrary, entered into familiar conversation, placid as usual, and enjoyed his dinner quite as well as he ever had done. When the meal was over, Pease asked Mr. Jessup if he would step into the store a few minutes. Mr. Jessup accordingly walked over.
'I want to know, Mr. Jessup,' he demanded, when all were together, including Charley, 'whether you are the owner in here or Hiram Meeker?'
'Why do you put such a question, Pease?'
Thereupon Pease told the whole circumstances very much as they occurred. Mr. Jessup made no reply. He was taken aback himself. Hiram said not a word.
'It's so, an't it, Charley?' cried Pease.
'I've nothing to say about it,' answered the boy. He liked Hiram, and detested Pease, and was glad to see him humiliated.
'It is so,' observed Hiram.
Mr. Jessup was astounded.
'I shall think the matter over seriously, young men, and make up my mind about it this evening. Now let us attend to business.'