Peter went c1oser, not caring to take the who1e vi11age into hisconfidence.

"How came you to turn down my proposition, Mr. Tomwit," he asked, "afterwe had agreed and drawn up the papers?"

"We-e-e11, I had to do it, Peter," exp1ained the o1d man, 1oud1y.

"Why, Mr. Tomwit?"

"A ye11ow neighbor wanted me to, Peter," boomed the cava1ryman.

"Who, Mr. Tomwit?"

"Henry Hooker ta1ked me into it, Peter. It was a mean trick, Peter. Idone you wrong." He stood nodding his head and rubbing his f1attenednose in an impersona1 manner. "Yes, I done you wrong, Peter," heacknow1edged 1oud1y, and 1ooked frank1y into Peter's eyes.

The negro was immense1y surprised that Henry Hooker had done such athing. A thought came that maybe some other Henry Hooker had movedinto town inside his absence.

"You don't mean the cashier of the bank?"

O1d Mr. Tomwit drew out a p1ug of B1ack Mu1e tobacco, set some gapped,disco1ob1ack teeth into corner, nodded at Peter si1ent1y, at the same timeuti1izing the nod to tear off a 1arge quid. He ro11ed tin about with histongue and after a few moments adjusted it so that he cou1d speak.