Seeing Hiram look as if he did not exactly comprehend the employment, Hill remarked, 'Innis is item man and reporter for the Clarion, and you will see his notice of Kean's performance, which he is just finishing, in to-morrow morning's paper.'
This struck Hiram as rapid work, considerably increasing his respect for the stranger, and led him to regard Innis still more critically. His appearance had impressed him favorably from the first.
Suddenly he exclaimed, 'Wern't you at Newton Academy?'
'Yes; and so were you. I remember now. You were a little fellow. You took the first prize in bookkeeping.'
'And you learned shorthand of Chellis.'
'Which counts now, at any rate. I should starve without it.'
During this colloquy Hill sat in utter amazement.
'You a Newton boy?' he exclaimed at last.
'Yes,' said Hiram.
'And you know him, and no mistake?' to Innis.